Neighbours trusted with your post under new Royal Mail scheme

1:46pm Saturday 18th August 2012 in News By Tim MacFarlan, Bexley and north Kent reporter

Postal group puts its trust in the neighbours Postal group puts its trust in the neighbours

WOULD you trust a neighbour with your post?

Royal Mail are hoping the answer is yes after announcing a scheme to deliver mail to neighbours if no-one is at home is to be extended across the UK.

The initiative will be rolled out to millions of homes around the country after a three-month trial during which 220,000 items were delivered to an alternative address. 

Of these Royal Mail said there were only two cases where a neighbour claimed not to have signed on behalf of a customer.

The postal group said customers welcomed the convenience of letters and parcels being left at a nearby address if they were not in.

The practice will become widespread from late September, subject to regulatory approval.

Homeowners and neighbours will be included in the scheme unless they registered to opt out.

In most cases it will be up to postal workers to decide which neighbour a letter or package should be left with.

Leaflets will be delivered to 29 million addresses next week explaining how the scheme works.

What do News Shopper readers think? Do you trust the Joneses next door to look after your post? Comment here, tweet us @NewsShopper or e-mail tim.macfarlan@london.newsquest.co.uk

 

 

 

Comments(11)

Virtual-Monster says...
2:48pm Sat 18 Aug 12

Our posite already leaves parcels etc with neighbours and to be honest I've never had a problem.

It's a neighbourly act and encourages a little doorstep interaction which isn't a bad thing in my opinion.

Report this post »

cherished says...
3:32pm Sat 18 Aug 12

As long as they leave a card to say which neighbour it is with. I suppose this is a way of cutting more jobs in the office where parcels/registered letters are sent back to but it is annoying to have to try and collect when you work full time.

Report this post »

Tim Macfarlan says...
4:01pm Sat 18 Aug 12

Both fair points but what if you didn't like the neighbours? Would you opt-out or try and make it work?

Report this post »

mouthalmighty says...
11:11pm Sat 18 Aug 12

All good points. I once had a parcel for several days as I was unable to deliver. My neighbour said a card had not been left plus she showed no gratitude I had taken parcel in AND delivered in my bad state of health. Bur having said that I normally do not mind with other neighbours, it works ok.

Report this post »

JadeB86 says...
9:09am Sun 19 Aug 12

I think it's fine and they are giving an option to opt out so it's not like you don't have a choice my neighbours and I always take in eachothers post and parcels and on the one occasion a parcel of mine was taken to the royal mail sorting office they lost it so I'd rather my post was left with a neighbour anyway :)

Report this post »

Donna_T says...
11:58am Sun 19 Aug 12

No I don't like this idea at all. The only parcels I get are the type with " batteries not included " on them. I don't want my neighbours knowing my bizz, or should that be buzz, LOL . Its bad enough when I have to go to the sorting office to collect them.

Report this post »

justjackuk says...
1:19pm Mon 20 Aug 12

Donna_T wrote:
No I don't like this idea at all. The only parcels I get are the type with " batteries not included " on them. I don't want my neighbours knowing my bizz, or should that be buzz, LOL . Its bad enough when I have to go to the sorting office to collect them.
hahaha Donna_T ... this has really put a smile on my face on a crappy Monday.

I do agree with both sides, I get on well with my neighbors so I dont have a issue with this, I would rather they leave it with my neighbor then what they normally do .. leave on door step, throw over fence in the rain and leaves in a puddle of water... and thats lucky if my post actually turns up!

Report this post »

Marty1979 says...
4:18pm Wed 22 Aug 12

This already happens with a lot of other delivery firms, I often get a card that a parcel has been left next door

Better than having to go to the sorting office

Report this post »

cherished says...
5:13pm Wed 22 Aug 12

I spoke our postie today and he said this has been the routine for years, it is not a new initiative, just that they found out they should have your permission to do it !! I think if you don't get on with the neighbours it's worth completing the opt out form rather than worrying about it..

Report this post »

Dr Lester Piggott says...
8:42pm Wed 22 Aug 12

This is more a question of where one resides actually. I'm lucky enough to live in a nice area and my property has a large porch so our post person opens the door and just leaves parcels inside. Of course a nice card and a 'drink' at Christmas works wonders too.

Report this post »

dean007 says...
12:43pm Thu 23 Aug 12

This practice was common for posties a few years back, strangely it stopped, as a courier it is good that i can deliver to a neighbour and card the address to tell them which neighbour has the parcel,a lot of people expect the parcels and if they cannot be in will leave a note on door asking to be left with neighbour and which one they prefer and which ones should not be asked, this helps greatly and most neighbours are glad to help but i do ask if they mind taking parcel rather than feeling obliged to, people would rather knock at neighbours than call a number no one answers, then hoping it turns up as arranged, bring back the practice and get the parcels delivered, after all the postie delivers to the neighbours as well.....p.s Donna_T any good postie will know the brown envelope and DA14 postcode... Lmao

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree