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Postal workers to strike

4:23pm Thursday 20th September 2007

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Postal workers will stage two 48-hour national strikes next month - only adding to Watford's mail woes.

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) will protest over pay and Royal Mail's modernisation plans.The strikes will take place on October 5 and 6 and October 8 and 9 and will cause even further disruption at Watford's troubled sorting office in Ascot Road.Royal Mail has condemned the strike action and criticised the CWU for "failing during seven months of talks to produce any serious proposals that could help resolve the issues that lie between us and move the business forward".A Royal Mail statement said: "It is clear from our discussions that the CWU leadership does not begin to understand the challenges facing Royal Mail and the very serious consequences for the business if we do not push ahead and modernise."However Dave Ward, deputy general secretary of the CWU, said: "Despite five weeks of negotiations Royal Mail have failed to take on board the union's message that in order for the business to succeed Royal Mail need to invest in their workforce."Strikes are a proportionate response to an employer that is completely out of control. Rather than running the business, Royal Mail's actions demonstrate they are intent on destroying it."To comment on the latest plans to strike, and share your views as to how they could affect the services in Watford, fill out the form below.


Your Say YourWatford Observer

Alison, Watford says...
4:48pm Tue 21 Aug 07

I have been waiting for my new debit card and cheque book, the bank say its stuck in the sorting office. I now don't know if its lost or stolen!

Paul Glaser, Oxhey says...
5:13pm Tue 21 Aug 07

the goings on with the post in Watford is an absolute disgrace..At our shop we are waiting for two packages, both posted to us at the end of July. What use is a package that arrives a month later than it was expected? ..there must be hundreds of disappointed people waiting for birthday presents..and business people waiting for urgent documents..whoever is responsible for this fiasco should be called to account

Paul, Watford says...
5:15pm Tue 21 Aug 07

I have had two packages go missing in the last two weeks, and another that is now overdue by a day or so. I am not happy!

karen, watford says...
5:16pm Tue 21 Aug 07

I have been waiting siince the beginning of august for post. Its ridiculous always the customer that has to suffer

barbelybob, watford says...
5:16pm Tue 21 Aug 07

All this aggro because the postal workers are resisting modern working practices......it would be poetic if the royal mail went tits up and then they could whistle for their pensions.I sincerley hope royal mail lose contracts because of the industrial action and start to lay off the slackers and shirkers that are all the rage down at the post,cos its not the management who suffer just joe public...

martin, watford says...
6:00pm Tue 21 Aug 07

I expect people will remember this when it comes to xmas tips!

Alison, Watford says...
6:01pm Tue 21 Aug 07

I have also been waiting for several parcels since July. I asked my postman and he just sighed and said that they are pushing the mailbags to the side, or in rooms and not bothering with them, he said no-one really cares. I have a tracking number for one, but it has not even been logged on the system! My husband went to the Sorting Office last Friday and was told that all the parcels have been transferred to Berkhamstead and they expected the backlog to be clear by Wednesday. I'm amazed that my bills are still arriving though!

cazza, Watford says...
6:23pm Tue 21 Aug 07

I have been waiting for a parcel which was dispatched from the sender at the beginning of august and still has not arrived, also bank statements still not received , wonder if the postmans paycheques were in the postbags, how quick would they be delivered.

Watford Res, says...
6:30pm Tue 21 Aug 07

I awaiting 3 parcels all about 3 weeks late. I phoned the sorting office last week and was told that back log would be sorted by this Wednesday, Don't look like that is going to happen.

Dan, Leavesden says...
6:42pm Tue 21 Aug 07

It's beyond a joke , been waiting over 3 wks for parcels from amazon , don't know if they've been stolen or just forgotten about conveniently as royal mail lost the amazon contract recently. My postman doesn't even turn up til gone midday anyway so i'll more than likely not even be here when handfuls of letters and packets turn up at the same time , no doubt entailing me to take trips myself down to ascot road to sort it out

Pat, watford says...
7:42pm Tue 21 Aug 07

Did managers at the sorting office really believe that they could hold on to thousands of letters and packages, and then quietly release them weeks or months later without anyone noticing? And where has the explanation and apology to the puzzled people of Watford got to? Is that held up in the post too? How sad that the Watford Observer has had to bring this to light, but at least we now know where our long lost mail is languishing.

James, Watford says...
7:49pm Tue 21 Aug 07

Perhaps they should organise another strike!!

Stephen, Watford says...
8:09pm Tue 21 Aug 07

Still waiting for package sent 1st class from Birmingham on 10th Aug, they sent another on 16th Aug, not got. My son waiting for package 10th Aug. My wifes credit card bill not got so she was charged extra interest. Important letter from council 31st july not got. Council now posted me 3 sep copies, still not got. Not forgetting a birthday card from Newcastle I still await. I went to Ascot Road and was told they can't help, and advised me to get my mail delvered "for example to a friend in St Albans" (that I don't have !)

Watford Res, says...
8:50pm Tue 21 Aug 07

Shame the weathers not better as it would be far more pleasant sitting outside Dalys and the Rising Sun thinking about the overtime available in the leadup to Christmass trying to clear the back log.

nicky, herts says...
10:37pm Tue 21 Aug 07

im waiting for leteer posted 26/6/07 also soliciters letters.but its not just a recent thing ive several "lost" letters in the last year. and there just one we know of what about the mail that looks like its been opened aswell ive complained three times in laast year about missing items.also ive had problems with postmen not turning up till pm ,2 local posties manage to do our area before 10am but the otheer 1 turns up after 12,but then why are they stricking better pay well maybe a little sympathy for the ones thaat do there jobs but ceirtanly not the one that dont try. also are we going to have a stamp price rise soon?...... hope not.

Dave, Watford says...
12:03am Wed 22 Aug 07

It's the incompetetn management at Watford Mail Centre who are to blame. NOT the postal workers

Pete., watford says...
12:45am Wed 22 Aug 07

i've been waiting for sir jimmy saville to reply to me after i asked him to meet ELO back in 1979,it's just one excuse after the other&i'm fed up with it all!!!

fran, watford says...
12:52am Wed 22 Aug 07

I have been waiting for my credit cards which were issued 2nd august. pay them and lets get back to normallity

Julie, Watford says...
1:01am Wed 22 Aug 07

Im so sad about this, We are waiting on our family members ashes that have been sent, We are just hoping that tey have not got lost. and that they will turn up,

Its a terrible time and and awfull worry,

Surly they should employ extra staff?

john, watford says...
1:05am Wed 22 Aug 07

I'm still waiting on a delivery from amazon for 8 weeks now,but after checking my invoice it's coming all the way from that river that runs through Brazil,so not sure if it's our south american friends to blame or them bumbaclots down at the royal mail depot.

Gary, Watford says...
6:19am Wed 22 Aug 07

I have been waiting for a recorded delivery package posted out to me on the 7th Aug,what a JOKE

WHATS BEING DONE TO RESOLVE THE BACK LOG MAIL ?

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DISGRACEFUL SITUATION ?

WHEN WILL I GET MY PACKAGE.?

WHO CAN WE LOG HOW COMPLAINTS WITH ?



JohnBoy, Watford says...
7:39am Wed 22 Aug 07

It's a total disgrace. While Adam Crozier enjoys his £1M+ salary there are people waiting for mail containing pain relief.

I'd advise everyone to write to him but by the time the letters arrived it would all be forgotten.

Stephen, Watford says...
7:44am Wed 22 Aug 07

I've been waiting 3 weeks for my wedding "Thank-you" cards to arrive. I planned it all perfectly for them to arrive just after the wedding and now all the guests must think I'm an unthankful host.

berni, says...
9:11am Wed 22 Aug 07

im waitin 4 gifts sent 2 me on the birth of my baby. the way things r goin she'll have out grown everythin b4 it gets here. all posted end of july!!!!!!!!!!

Alison, Watford says...
9:20am Wed 22 Aug 07

I was left a note saying my letterbox was too small to deliver a package, the note didn't say what had happened to the package, I called the post office, got no response after 10 minutes I went down to Ascot Road, queued for 30 minutes, the package couldn't be found and the excuse was that "an agency postman must have delivered it because the form was not filled out correctly" when asked where the postman thought it might be he responded "your guess is as good as mine, they (the agency postmen) don't know what they are doing, it could be here, it could be anywhere, come back tomorrow". What sort of business are they running down there? Why are the agency postmen not trained, have they been security checked, all this missing post has to be dealt with urgently, tell the postmen that ARE employed not to skive off on the night shift for 3 or 4 hours to either drink in Dalys or the Rising Sun or join a card school and get on with some real work, they have had it too easy for too long. We should all watch out on Ebay for our missing items!

Mark, Watford says...
9:22am Wed 22 Aug 07

I subscribe to three magazines a week. I normally get mail every day (also bank, credit card statements etc), but for each week they have been on strike I have not received one or more of the magazines. The publishers say they have been dispatched. It doesn't surprise me that Royal Mail have crates that haven't been delivered. Disgraceful. Please pursue the Royal Mail bosses.

Graham, watford says...
9:29am Wed 22 Aug 07

Dave wrote:
It's the incompetetn management at Watford Mail Centre who are to blame. NOT the postal workers
Don't think so - who was on strike?

Eric, garston says...
9:29am Wed 22 Aug 07

Its a known fact that the postmen get paid for 8 hours work, but only work for 4 hours. They never work overtime and only get paid for it.
The management should make them work to time to clear the backlog.
My post used to arrive at 0700, but now its anytime after 12. Who runs Ascot road sorting office ? Well i don't think its the management.

eric, garston says...
9:37am Wed 22 Aug 07

Graham wrote:
Dave wrote: It's the incompetetn management at Watford Mail Centre who are to blame. NOT the postal workers
Don't think so - who was on strike?
I presume dave is a postal worker, probably waiting for the Rising sun to open

Vince, Reality Town says...
9:41am Wed 22 Aug 07

It is The 'Royal mail' so I would expect the Queen and her family to come and deal with this personally.They should sort it and deliver it themselves.They have shirked thier responsibilities far too long. C,mon you Windsor's, get those red bags slung over your shoulders and start pounding the WD1 postal district.

maresa, watford says...
10:15am Wed 22 Aug 07

i was broken into 2 weeks ago and am still waiting for my new bank and credit cards.etc..
also waiting for a new phone which was posted over two weeks to us.and my partner is waiting for his insurance to come through so he can tax his car! its crazy ive not had any post at all for the last 3 days!

karen, Watford says...
10:22am Wed 22 Aug 07

I am waiting for no less than 14 parcels - many are for my business - all of them posted iwithin the UK up to 5/6 weeks ago - long before the postal strike took effect. I have reported the problem to Royal Mail & have had no response. Just over a week ago, someone with Royal Mail was delivering packages on a SUNDAY - and amongst my lot was a parcel postmarked JULY 18th - that was also a RECORDED packet! I'm beyond angry & frustrated with the Watford sorting office.

bek, says...
10:44am Wed 22 Aug 07

im still waiting for items to be delivered that have been sent after the postal stike (and ive just ordered from amazon and ebay so now im worring abt that) and as a single mum of 3 kids on benefits i cant afford for things to go missing (thou no one can) why are the postal workers allowed to strike anyway. shop workers etc cant and there not handling valiable/vital mail for people. i know of people who work at the post office and they arent exactly trustworthy. its a good job giros dont go thru the post anymore or they'd be havin a good time on that and if theres such a backlog why arent the royal mail hiring people temporary to clear it

dave, watford says...
10:49am Wed 22 Aug 07

Postal workers went on strike on 4 different occasions. They are the ones that disrupted the service. They walked out and returned to work expecting to be given un-limited overtime to clear the backlog which they had caused which dd not happen.They wont get paid overtime to clear the work, maybe they will think twice about walking out next time!

Stephen May, South Oxhey says...
10:50am Wed 22 Aug 07

I have noticed over the last 6 months that postal deliveries have been very poor, and the post office keeps changing the postmen deliveries arrive anytime betwwn 8am and 2pm of which is not very good.
I help run a darts league and to keep upto date is getting worse because results are not arriving when the should.

Roy Stockdill, Garston says...
10:52am Wed 22 Aug 07

Two proof copies of a book I am due to review for a magazine were sent to me 2-3 weeks ago and neither has arrived, the publishers have no more proof copies left, so the magazine won't get its review and I will lose money as a result. Do the managers or the staff at Ascot Road care about letting down their customers? Of course they don't, they are far too busy scrapping and scoring points off each other. My problem is tiny compared with the lady waiting for her vital medical equipment, but it's still irritating.

Once upon a time the Royal Mail used to be the most revered and respected institution in the land. Now it is the most REVILED. With increasing use of e-mail, faxes, couriers and alternative delivery services, it will eventually become irrelevant and probably disappear altogether. Will anyone miss it? I doubt it, since it is clear that Royal Mail would be sorely pressed to run a toffee stall in Watford Market.

Andy, watford says...
10:58am Wed 22 Aug 07

All I keep on getting is junk mail!

Misery guts, Watford says...
12:19pm Wed 22 Aug 07

How postal workers can blame management is beyond me. The strikers expect our sympathy and support but are all to ready to further disrupt postal delivery at the drop of a hat. privitise the lot and smash the union.

Grace, Bushey says...
12:35pm Wed 22 Aug 07

Our mail has recently been arriving alternate days, and when it does, mostly arrives after 12.
We have also had other peoples mail who live in Bushey and have had to re-post them, and have also had my mail gone to other addresses, and have had them re-directed. Do we still have a First Class Post?

Jean, Garston says...
12:55pm Wed 22 Aug 07

My son is waiting for football boots, he has been in touch with the supplier who have informed him they were despatched 3 weeks ago!!

I speak to my postman and he tells me they are all fed up with the way they are working now! In future I think I would prefer to pay for a courier to deliver any packages!!!!!!

The Plinth of Darkneth, Watford says...
1:02pm Wed 22 Aug 07

JohnBoy wrote:
It's a total disgrace. While Adam Crozier enjoys his £1M+ salary there are people waiting for mail containing pain relief. I'd advise everyone to write to him but by the time the letters arrived it would all be forgotten.
He's on the board of another rather large organisation too isn't he? :)

vicky Burrows, Rickmansworth says...
1:07pm Wed 22 Aug 07

My husband ordered a birthday gift for my son back at the end of July, and we are still waiting for it to be delivered nearly a month later. This is despite the item being sent out twice over the last few weeks. If the Royal Mail had notified everyone of the situation we may feel less annoyed. However their failure to communicate with their customers has resulted in one very disgrunted and impatient 7 year old and a very annoyed trader who has received negative feedback on his website.

Lauren, Watford says...
1:12pm Wed 22 Aug 07

I havent received any post for over a week! Also two special delivery packages sent in July have not materialised. This is costing me money and making me very frustrated. Do the postal workers think about the all the problems they are causing for the customers when they decide to go on strike?

Ian, Watford says...
1:16pm Wed 22 Aug 07

I'm afraid this problem stems from something much bigger - the privatisation of the postal industry. Royal Mail is still a public body yet it is trying to compete in a private market. This means corners are cut, jobs lost and profits maximised. The only way now to make the board of Royal mail suffer is for people to switch the the private couriers, but the that will never happen. Bring back the nationalisation of the mail industry, and I bet we'll see less of these problems!

wayne, watford says...
1:54pm Wed 22 Aug 07

I have just received a 1st class recorded delivery item, postmarked 25th July... on the 22nd August!!!!!

Craig, says...
1:55pm Wed 22 Aug 07

I am awaiting three parcels from weeks back. The thing is i am now receiving up to date mail!! does this mean i will not receive any parcels at all??
What is going on?
Will I/WE be compensated?
who is to blame ?
these questions need to be answered, after all the paying public are the only ones who are left out of pocket.

Kelee, garston says...
2:12pm Wed 22 Aug 07

I have had 3 parcels missing one of which was posted over 6 weeks ago,was an outfit for my baby to go to a christening!that date has been & gone. the other 2 were posted 13 days ago.This is not acceptable,Phoned customer services to be told wait 15 days then report them missing.Had 2 parcels delivered last week which they dumped on step didnt knock when i was in,luckily!! bold bold

k, watford says...
2:36pm Wed 22 Aug 07

I phoned Royal Mail's customer service complaint line on Monday and was told they would contact the Watford office to see what is happening and I would have a reply in 48 hrs. I phoned back today & was told they still haven't had a reply from the Watford office. In the past 1/2 hr, an unmarked van pulled up & dropped a padded envelope in my porch that was addressed to a house 6 doors down. I went out to hand it back to the driver - who pleaded ignorance. Not only do I not get my post - but they are expecting me to deliver items for them as well? I am waiting for no less than 12 packages.
What will it take for someone in authority to act on this? Do Watford residents need to get the national media involved to hi-lite the problems?

hazel, leavesden says...
2:44pm Wed 22 Aug 07

i have only just recieved packages that i ordered back on july 20th.since then ive ordered more things,2 of which seem to have gone missing.when i went to the depot to collect them, 48hrs after i missed the post,they werent there.the postman had no idea where they were.ive tried to phone on several occasions and the phone just rings and rings.the worse part about all this is everything im waiting for is for my sons 10th birthday.

Tom, Watford says...
3:00pm Wed 22 Aug 07

Post received today Wednesday 22nd August:Building Society Form - postmark 7 Aug
DVD sent on 16 August
Hospital Appointment - postmark 15 August
Building Society Statement dated 9 August
Credit card repackaged by Post Office on 8th August

Two important letters sent late July not received.

Andy, oxhey says...
3:23pm Wed 22 Aug 07

i told the observer about my problems in july published in the observer 27/7 and guess what still waiting for my parcles from the 17/7
oh and after my letter was published on the 27/7 i got offencive text messages from an irate postie..

Alison, Watford says...
3:33pm Wed 22 Aug 07

eric wrote:
Graham wrote:
Dave wrote: It\'s the incompetetn management at Watford Mail Centre who are to blame. NOT the postal workers
Don\'t think so - who was on strike?
I presume dave is a postal worker, probably waiting for the Rising sun to open
They will probably transfer to the Harvester or the Fox & Hounds now that they have been rumbled!

Lawrence, Cardiff road says...
4:04pm Wed 22 Aug 07

I have been waiting for 4 parcels since the end of July, but get nothing but poor excuse's. I can't even talk to someone at Watford, I have to deal with Customer services in PLYMOUTH !

Melanie, Watford says...
4:22pm Wed 22 Aug 07

I have been waiting for two parcels to arrive which I ordered and paid for at the end of July. Am still waiting. I've been on holiday and back and still nothing. I had ordered items for my son to take away with him. He will be back at school before they arrive! It's ridiculous.

meridanny, watford says...
4:41pm Wed 22 Aug 07

Dave wrote:
It's the incompetetn management at Watford Mail Centre who are to blame. NOT the postal workers
How do you work that one out?the managers didnt go on strike and it was a manager that delivered a parcel to me last SUNDAY.I suppose you could blame the managers for not giving in to every whim of the union,but i take my hat off to them for standing up to the union.If you want a fair days pay for what is unskilled work you have to put in a fair days graft..

William Wumpkins the third., Watford says...
4:48pm Wed 22 Aug 07

Alison wrote:
eric wrote:
Graham wrote:
Dave wrote: It\\\'s the incompetetn management at Watford Mail Centre who are to blame. NOT the postal workers
Don\\\'t think so - who was on strike?
I presume dave is a postal worker, probably waiting for the Rising sun to open
They will probably transfer to the Harvester or the Fox & Hounds now that they have been rumbled!
Stop press!... Shifty posties spotted at The Artichoke in Croxley - paying for ales with intrigueingly flat £10 and £20 notes...

Roy Stockdill, Garston says...
5:13pm Wed 22 Aug 07

Folks may like to know that I had a call today from BBC Three Counties Radio in Luton, who are going to do something on the postal chaos at Watford on their early morning breakfast show tomorrow. They've invited me to do a phone interview, probably between about 7.30 and 8.0 a.m., so I hope to get the anger of customers across to the radio audience forcibly! Wonder if they'll have a Royal Mail apologist on as well?

kel, Garston says...
5:45pm Wed 22 Aug 07

Roy Stockdill wrote:
Folks may like to know that I had a call today from BBC Three Counties Radio in Luton, who are going to do something on the postal chaos at Watford on their early morning breakfast show tomorrow. They\\\'ve invited me to do a phone interview, probably between about 7.30 and 8.0 a.m., so I hope to get the anger of customers across to the radio audience forcibly! Wonder if they\\\'ll have a Royal Mail apologist on as well?
Good on you.Hopefully something will get sorted.Kel

kim oussaada, Watford says...
5:47pm Wed 22 Aug 07

Good for you Roy - I have had enough - I went down to the sorting office to see if I could collect a parcel I know was sent to my daughter last Friday. Postie went out the back and came back saying yes there is some mail for you but its not sorted so you cant have it - I said when will he be sorted and he just shrugged his shoulders.

We haven't had most of our post since the beginning of July - its all the lost in the 200 cages of backlog which are being sent to Berkhampstead :o(
Well my daughter loses out if she doesnt get this parcel Im so peed off with the lot of them

Harry, Watford says...
5:50pm Wed 22 Aug 07

Our Mail has been inconsistent over the strike period-Is it still on ??
Our mail to our house now arrives at various times of the afternoon in a white van with about three postman in it!!
Is this a new initiative by the post office to clear the backlog?? Or is this an undercover operation by our postmen/women???
Can someone tell me will it ever get back to some kind of nomality??
I guess not !!!!

John, Watford says...
7:12pm Wed 22 Aug 07

I am also waiting for books from Amazon ordered 26/07/07. I too wonder if their lateness has something to do with Amazon ending their contract with the PO worth 8m a year!
I was interested to observe this morning the Post Office's apparent strategy to clear the backlog.
A PO van pulled up at the end of the road and 2 young (ca.14 y.o.) girls got out with a small parcel of letters each in their hands.
Is Watford PO now empoying underage strike-breakers?

D Wadsworth, Watford says...
8:10pm Wed 22 Aug 07

This week, my 4 year old son received a birthday card with a cash gift, posted 23 July. I had spoken to the friend who sent the card several times in the intervening period and never thanked her, because the card had not arrived. Very embarrassing. Nearly 1 month late -an appalling situation.

paul, Watford says...
8:15pm Wed 22 Aug 07

Its a total disgrace. They should sack the lot of them and employ people that actually want to work...!

mrs s.papworth, croxley says...
9:36pm Wed 22 Aug 07

we are having mail delivered at 4pm DAILY and also we are having letters not meant for us and no doubt others are also receiving our letters......its not good enough and illegal............i have been waiting for prescritions for my husband who suffers with M.S. and they are not here because they have obviously been mislaid or lost....therefore i will be seeking legal advice from our family solicitors with a view to suing whomsoever is responsible...believ

e me this is going ahead and i suggest others do the same as well and go to see a solicitor.......disg

raceful just as everything else in this country....what on earth has happened to us all?

Lou, Watford says...
9:48pm Wed 22 Aug 07

We don't want to see our postal services disintergrate to the level that they have in some parts of London.
It's up to Royal mail to show that they can resolve this problem and not remain at this level of incompetence any longer.
The customer is king!

Tim Moltham, Aldenham says...
9:57pm Wed 22 Aug 07

We and our neighbours around Aldenham have had no deliveries at allfor 8 days - we normally receive about 6 items per day. On visiting Watford Sorting Office we were told not to expect anything until after the Bank Holiday.

Nick, says...
10:01pm Wed 22 Aug 07

I have to say I think it is terrible the attitude of a lot of the folks who left comments here. I understand it is frustrating and I to am waiting for a parcel that is long overdue. My local posties are some of the nicest most friendly people you could meet. Just remember, the postal workers dont want to be in the position they are in any more than you want them to be. Im guessing that if it wasn't directly affecting people they would actually be more supportive of what they are fighting for. But if you dont agree with that then just remember...some of these "devil people" are actually quite nice so dont tar everyone with the same brush!

Mark, Dunstable says...
11:20pm Wed 22 Aug 07

Lou wrote:
We don't want to see our postal services disintergrate to the level that they have in some parts of London. It's up to Royal mail to show that they can resolve this problem and not remain at this level of incompetence any longer. The customer is king!
The chairman of Royal Mail does not view any of the people posting comments here as customers. Under his business model, the customers are the big companies that pay Royal Mail to carry their bulk mailings to you, the recipients of that mail. Postal workers find this concept totally alien, as we view our customers as being the people we deliver to. The strikes were about much more than pay. They are about trying to defend a postal service that will, under Allan Leighton's plans, mean posties starting later, meaning afternoon deliveries will become commonplace. NOT because posties are lazy, but because they are being forced to accept wholesale changes to their jobs. You will get a worse service because of the changes, but hey, you don't count for squat because, as I said, Leighton doesn't see you as the customer. Write to your MPs, lobby for his removal from the chairmanship !!!

Joe, North Watford says...
12:01am Thu 23 Aug 07

Thus far;
- I recieved a birthday card & present 3 weeks after posting.
- I recieved a driving fine over 14 days from the time of the offence, meaning i had to pay the full £120 rather than the £60 fine i would have paid within 14 days.
- I have had to reschedule an important hospital appointment i was waiting 6 weeks for, as the hospital presumed from my lack of response that i did not want the appointment.
- I have lost a lot of customers i had through an e-bay venture i was trying, which has cost me a large sum of money.

I know its not nice to complain but i have to vent it somewhere! I hope this all gets sorted quickly and we can all be happy again.

Joe

cecilia, Watford says...
6:33am Thu 23 Aug 07

Alison wrote:
I was left a note saying my letterbox was too small to deliver a package, the note didn\\\'t say what had happened to the package, I called the post office, got no response after 10 minutes I went down to Ascot Road, queued for 30 minutes, the package couldn\\\'t be found and the excuse was that \\\"an agency postman must have delivered it because the form was not filled out correctly\\\" when asked where the postman thought it might be he responded \\\"your guess is as good as mine, they (the agency postmen) don\\\'t know what they are doing, it could be here, it could be anywhere, come back tomorrow\\\". What sort of business are they running down there? Why are the agency postmen not trained, have they been security checked, all this missing post has to be dealt with urgently, tell the postmen that ARE employed not to skive off on the night shift for 3 or 4 hours to either drink in Dalys or the Rising Sun or join a card school and get on with some real work, they have had it too easy for too long. We should all watch out on Ebay for our missing items!
Hey, postwomen work too and NO we don't go down daly's every night, we get pushed around the sorting office by incompetant managers while untrained staff are bussed in to do our work which we aren't allowed to do. And before anyone else comments, NO; there is NO overtime on Any shifts, just plenty of untrained casuals costing around £20 and hour each. If people think working for Royal Mail is so easy perhaps they should sign up for these agencies and come along to see for themselves that working life has never been peachy at Royal Mail Watford. Put your money where your mouth if you think delivering post is so easy!

cecilia, Watford says...
6:48am Thu 23 Aug 07

Ian wrote:
I'm afraid this problem stems from something much bigger - the privatisation of the postal industry. Royal Mail is still a public body yet it is trying to compete in a private market. This means corners are cut, jobs lost and profits maximised. The only way now to make the board of Royal mail suffer is for people to switch the the private couriers, but the that will never happen. Bring back the nationalisation of the mail industry, and I bet we'll see less of these problems!
You are spot on! Corners are cut all the time and the people that suffer most are the customers. I used to be proud to be a postwoman, and I would take the time to find the correct address for a badly addressed letter but we aren't even allowed to do that anymore. Casual workers cover delieries because there are no postmen to do this because of redundancies, senior management expects delivery staff to cover these for no extra money, nothing at all. Deliveries are backbreaking work, we are out in all weathers, often carrying far more than the maximum 16KG pouch weight. We are not allowed pouch boxes either because the council will not allow not planning permission, so we have to rely on our drivers who are ladden with letters that are being sent to the many new houses and flats that go up what seems like every month. We can only do so much, and with a shortsighted management team offering no help or support, the future of Royal Mail is out of our hands.

Drew, Watford says...
9:46am Thu 23 Aug 07

i have bought 8 items from ebay last month and NONE have arived, tried to contact the sorting office and cant get an answer. this is b*oody stupid, i am going to lose £200 or more and cant even get any money back as all the recepients have all done there part.
someone should take the fall for this, if there was a choice of another postal service i would use that service instead.
an unhappy Drew

adenuff, waytford says...
10:06am Thu 23 Aug 07

cecilia wrote:
Ian wrote:
I'm afraid this problem stems from something much bigger - the privatisation of the postal industry. Royal Mail is still a public body yet it is trying to compete in a private market. This means corners are cut, jobs lost and profits maximised. The only way now to make the board of Royal mail suffer is for people to switch the the private couriers, but the that will never happen. Bring back the nationalisation of the mail industry, and I bet we'll see less of these problems!
You are spot on! Corners are cut all the time and the people that suffer most are the customers. I used to be proud to be a postwoman, and I would take the time to find the correct address for a badly addressed letter but we aren't even allowed to do that anymore. Casual workers cover delieries because there are no postmen to do this because of redundancies, senior management expects delivery staff to cover these for no extra money, nothing at all. Deliveries are backbreaking work, we are out in all weathers, often carrying far more than the maximum 16KG pouch weight. We are not allowed pouch boxes either because the council will not allow not planning permission, so we have to rely on our drivers who are ladden with letters that are being sent to the many new houses and flats that go up what seems like every month. We can only do so much, and with a shortsighted management team offering no help or support, the future of Royal Mail is out of our hands.
Try working the full shift instead of going home early every day.If you keep going down this path you will lose all sympathy from the public and will be humiliated,just like the firemen when they got greedy.At the end of the day,your doing unskilled work,so why do you expect profesional wages?Everyone and his dog knows that the posties have it nice and cushy but now you have to compete with other companies and actually graft a bit,you spit your dummies out.Too many years of sitting on your laurels have come back and bit you on the bum and your going to have to adjust or get out the game,cos when TNT comes to town you will all be down the road if your not careful............

leggattsresident, N.Watford says...
11:25am Thu 23 Aug 07

Yesterday there were four, yes four, temporary post deliverers on my road. None spoke English, they were looking at the road signs and their post, totally confused. The Royal Mail management is trusting our mail, containing as reported here, bank cards, important documents to temporary untrained staff. What security checks have been carried out on these temporary staff ?
The RM Regional Director needs to be on the front page of the WO telling us how he is going to fix this appalling situation, his mismanagement has bought about. Let's have some management accountability.

Kel, watford says...
12:14pm Thu 23 Aug 07

Im going to seek legal advice on this as why should we loose money,my daughter lost her birthday presants,This is not on & noone is telling us when or if we are ever going to recieve our parcels.I think the more people who take legal action the more that will get done!

kel, watford says...
12:25pm Thu 23 Aug 07

leggattsresident wrote:
Yesterday there were four, yes four, temporary post deliverers on my road. None spoke English, they were looking at the road signs and their post, totally confused. The Royal Mail management is trusting our mail, containing as reported here, bank cards, important documents to temporary untrained staff. What security checks have been carried out on these temporary staff ? The RM Regional Director needs to be on the front page of the WO telling us how he is going to fix this appalling situation, his mismanagement has bought about. Let\'s have some management accountability.
Exactly! good point probably none.Which prob means none of us will recieve any of our parcels.

pam hames, Carpenders Park says...
12:28pm Thu 23 Aug 07

I have just had a go at my poor postie because he has not delivered an important letter that is over fortnight late. So it happens to be sitting at Ascot road sorting office. When do they intend to deliver the backlog? the postman tells me they are not allowed to deliver the back log only the new post.
Maybe it is time the post office sorted out the Delivery Managers and made them deliver the backlog post.

steve, Watford says...
12:35pm Thu 23 Aug 07

The problems stems right from the top.

Tony McCarthy is both Royal Mails group HR director and chairman of the centre for perfomance-led HR ! Where is the performane here - as far as i can see Mr McCarthy is so involved with raising his own profile in the academic world (ranked 43 in HR magazines most influential of 2007) he's forgotton to get back to the day job.

steve, Watford says...
12:44pm Thu 23 Aug 07

There is a regulator...

PostComm.

And a watchdog

www.postwatch.co.uk

Lets make sure they hear about our problems !!!!!

PE, tudor says...
1:26pm Thu 23 Aug 07

Watford has always had the reputation of being a militant depot and this was certainly the case in 2003 when I had cause to complain. After banging my head against a brick wall for a week, I went to Postwatch, who resolved the situation. The problem is this, the real world has moved on and us average folk in the private sector are used to being made redundant and having to work hard, very hard for an honest days pay. This realisation seems to have come as a bit of a shock to most postmen. Again in the private sector, a pay rise of 2.5% is seen as a bit of a result and we don’t get our final salary pensions scheme topped up by the government when things go wrong either. Was it 5 million they got off us, the tax payer 2 years back? The problem seem to be two fold. Incompetent management and workers stuck buck in the 70s. I have sympathy for neither and will avoid the royal mail at all costs.

kelee, garston says...
2:17pm Thu 23 Aug 07

Who says normal post is being delivered! I was sent 2 items yesterday recorded delivery first class as we are still waiting on 3 missing ones,even recorded delivery havent been delivered,why are they excepting money for first class items when it isnt being delivered.total rip off!! what have they done chucked em on pile with the rest.maybe we should all turn up at ascot road block em in & they would have nothing else to do than sort our post!!

becky, says...
2:41pm Thu 23 Aug 07

well i gt 3 items of post today 1 off which wasnt even for my street
when i went out to give it to the agency postie he said well what street is is this!!! so i tried ringin watford sorting office n they answered n put phone straight back down and never answered again..ive just phoned royalmail headoffice and put a complaint in and was told told that there working to rule and wont do any overtime and that they havent even been able to get any response from then ..this is disgusting ...im intending to go up there tomorrow (and i'll have to take my kids with me) and im not moving until i get my parcels which got sent over a week ago i know are there...they may be miltant but so can i!!!!!!!!! o and at local shop earlier 2 posties were havin fags and chat

JohnBoy, Watford says...
4:24pm Thu 23 Aug 07

Mr Stockdill, how did the interview with 3CR go? Did you get the WO readerships views across?

Tim Hurley, Watford says...
4:38pm Thu 23 Aug 07

I understand the postmen/women are now on there three weeks of action?
Is this true !!

The Plinth of Darkneth, watford says...
5:16pm Thu 23 Aug 07

Roy Stockdill wrote:
Folks may like to know that I had a call today from BBC Three Counties Radio in Luton, who are going to do something on the postal chaos at Watford on their early morning breakfast show tomorrow. They've invited me to do a phone interview, probably between about 7.30 and 8.0 a.m., so I hope to get the anger of customers across to the radio audience forcibly! Wonder if they'll have a Royal Mail apologist on as well?
How did the radio interview go then Roy?

A success perhaps?

Sally Shiers, Watford says...
6:26pm Thu 23 Aug 07

Until early July we had had the same Postman (Hi Gary!) for over 2 years. I can't really fault the service. His round was then changed and we no longer have a regular postman. We are lucky if we get 3 deliveries a week! These are done all times of the day by agency staff (who drop cigarette butts in my drive).
In fact Watford was awash with young agency 'Royal Mail' staff yesterday around Watford Junction. I counted 25 people in the fluorescent tabards and bags all sitting around chatting.
The one thing I will say - in all this chaos Royal Mail have of course managed to deliver the vast quantities of junk that they get paid to deliver!
Please Senior Management take note - or why should the residents of Watford put up with this?

Gillian Christopher-Chambers, Watford says...
6:51pm Thu 23 Aug 07

I purchased tickets to the Community Shield which had not been delivered on the last post day before the match. As Wembley do not issue duplicates it meant that me and my family could not attend. While walking to the shops I spied a van load of postmen and asked whether they had delivered the post to my street for that day. They replied that because of the backlog they were not. However once I had explained the situation with the tickets one postman offered to go back to the sorting office and have a look "through the mountains" for me. Within the hour he had delivered my tickets and we all had a great day out at Wembley as a result. So a big thanks to that particular postman which shows that some Royal Mail staff do go out of their way to help.

andy, watford says...
7:24pm Thu 23 Aug 07

steve wrote:
There is a regulator... PostComm. And a watchdog www.postwatch.co.uk Lets make sure they hear about our problems !!!!!
they know of the problems but can do nothing as the militant b******ds have control of the situation

charlotte, oxhey says...
7:41pm Thu 23 Aug 07

sadly posties are becoming public enemy no 1. hope the so called'UNION REPS' are happy

Roy Stockdill, Garston says...
7:53pm Thu 23 Aug 07

JohnBoy wrote...
>>Mr Stockdill, how did the interview with 3CR go? Did you get the WO readerships views across?<<

Indeed I did! Sorry you didn't hear it but it went out just before 7.30 a.m. I repeated my view that Royal Mail have gone from once being the most revered institution in the land to the most reviled and also my observation that Royal Mail managers couldn't run a toffee stall in Watford Market. The presenters seemed to like it anyway.
The lady who is still awaiting her vital medical supplies was also interviewed and the presenters and programme researchers apparently tried their hardest to get a response from Royal Mail, but to no avail. Surprise, surprise!

It occurs to me that the only way to stir them into action would be if we could collectively get some home phone numbers for the bigwigs at RM and all start phoning them whilst they're watching Coronation Street or whatever.

alan luto, oxhey says...
7:55pm Thu 23 Aug 07

I am 4 packages adrift--one is urgent medication for my dog, he may die without it !

Mark, Dunstable says...
8:53pm Thu 23 Aug 07

Sally Shiers wrote:
Until early July we had had the same Postman (Hi Gary!) for over 2 years. I can\'t really fault the service. His round was then changed and we no longer have a regular postman. We are lucky if we get 3 deliveries a week! These are done all times of the day by agency staff (who drop cigarette butts in my drive). In fact Watford was awash with young agency \'Royal Mail\' staff yesterday around Watford Junction. I counted 25 people in the fluorescent tabards and bags all sitting around chatting. The one thing I will say - in all this chaos Royal Mail have of course managed to deliver the vast quantities of junk that they get paid to deliver! Please Senior Management take note - or why should the residents of Watford put up with this?
Sally, a moot point, I know, but Royal Mail get paid for EVERY item they deliver, not just the 'junk' mail. RM get paid for 'social' mail via the postage stamp. But, as I stated earlier, what you are witnessing is the result of senior management policy, to keep the high spending "customers" happy. The government has introduced competition into the business mail market, but one side-effect is that if the direct-mail companies don't get their products delivered on time, we could lose their business to rivals like DHL or TNT. Which explains why RM are prioritising delivery of 'junk' items, ahead of what us posties consider to be our customers mail. But don't blame the delivery workers for this chaos. We are not responsible for managers recruiting expensive agency staff !!!! I reckon if someone flew me to Warsaw, gave me a bag of local mail, no street map, and paid me less than the full-time staff doing the same, the chances of me being able to complete the deliveries 100% accurately or even at all would be fairly slim.

anon, says...
9:57pm Thu 23 Aug 07

MATE PPL WHO ARENT WAITING FOR MEDICINE AND ARE MOANING ABOUT POST NEED TO GET A LIFE. I MEAN COME DO YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO WITH YOUR DAYS THAN SIT A COMPUTER AND WINDOWS IN THE MORNING TIMING THE POSTMAN/WOMAN AND THEN MOAN IF HE IS LATE LOOK @LITTLE RHYS FROM LIVERPOOL HE GOT SHOT DOWN AND YOUS ARE MOANING ABOUT POST FIX UP PEOPLE

Roy Stockdill, Garston says...
11:31pm Thu 23 Aug 07

anon wrote:
MATE PPL WHO ARENT WAITING FOR MEDICINE AND ARE MOANING ABOUT POST NEED TO GET A LIFE. I MEAN COME DO YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO WITH YOUR DAYS THAN SIT A COMPUTER AND WINDOWS IN THE MORNING TIMING THE POSTMAN/WOMAN AND THEN MOAN IF HE IS LATE LOOK @LITTLE RHYS FROM LIVERPOOL HE GOT SHOT DOWN AND YOUS ARE MOANING ABOUT POST FIX UP PEOPLE
Leaving aside the near-illiterate language and grammatical errors of your message (including the fact that it was posted entirely in capital letters, which is the equivalent of a semi-literate moron writing on a postcard in green ink), I see very little relationship between a tragic event in Liverpool and Royal Mail customers in Watford not receiving their post.

Robster, Watford says...
12:01am Fri 24 Aug 07

anon wrote:
MATE PPL WHO ARENT WAITING FOR MEDICINE AND ARE MOANING ABOUT POST NEED TO GET A LIFE. I MEAN COME DO YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO WITH YOUR DAYS THAN SIT A COMPUTER AND WINDOWS IN THE MORNING TIMING THE POSTMAN/WOMAN AND THEN MOAN IF HE IS LATE LOOK @LITTLE RHYS FROM LIVERPOOL HE GOT SHOT DOWN AND YOUS ARE MOANING ABOUT POST FIX UP PEOPLE
It is tragic about what happened to the poor lad in Liverpool. I'm sure that everyone posting comments regarding this article sympathise with his family and friends.

Sadly there are plenty of larger issues such as Iraq, Afghanistan, global warming, AIDS etc which, overall, are more important than the topic of this article but there are also many other forums and mediums to debate such important and sensitive matters. For better or worse life goes on for the rest of us.

As it is this is purely a discussion about an issue with the post that affects many people in their particular local area.

I think it is a shame what is happening at the Royal Mail. Email, private competition, poor management decisions, union intransigence and so on are all combining to create a long drawn out demise for an organisation that used to command the trust and respect of the British public.

Roy Stockdill, Garston says...
12:17am Fri 24 Aug 07

>>I think it is a shame what is happening at the Royal Mail. Email, private competition, poor management decisions, union intransigence and so on are all combining to create a long drawn out demise for an organisation that used to command the trust and respect of the British public.<<

An excellent point. If you go back into Victorian times, and even earlier and also later in the 20th century, the Royal Mail was probably the most respected institution in the land. "Her Majesty's Mail" or "His Majesty's Mail" was respected everywhere and was one of those institutions that commanded respect and offered the voice of authority, plus a trust and guarantee that your mail would be delivered on time. It is now probably the most reviled institution in Britain! Today they are just a joke. Pathetic, useless toe-rags (on both sides, management and workers) and the sooner they accept that their day is over, and other services and operatives can take over their roles, the better.

A Stroud, Watford says...
5:11am Fri 24 Aug 07

barbelybob wrote:
All this aggro because the postal workers are resisting modern working practices......it would be poetic if the royal mail went tits up and then they could whistle for their pensions.I sincerley hope royal mail lose contracts because of the industrial action and start to lay off the slackers and shirkers that are all the rage down at the post,cos its not the management who suffer just joe public...
It's a shame that you don't try and learn a little about a situation before you write rubbish like this. I expect to see clap trap like this in daily tabloids not the Watford Observer

Stephen, Watford says...
7:35am Fri 24 Aug 07

Trevor Flowers the branch officer for the local slackers association (oops sorry - CWU)seems to toatlly miss the point that if you take a job as a postman you deal with the post, it aint rockat science. If you want to lose your job when individuals use more email and businesses use more couriers then slack (oops sorry again) withdraw your labour!
In that way the public will detest you and not support you. Never mind more jobs for our european friends who are happy to do a full days work for their pay!

k, watford says...
7:40am Fri 24 Aug 07

Bigger tragedies will always occur, but this postal fiasco has people at the end of their tether. How some people can't understand that is beyond me. (Are they heading up the Royal Mail sorting office?)

If you were in acute pain, would YOU want to wait weeks/months for your medicines/pain relief to come through? If you have a medical condition where you have to wait 6-18 months to be seen by a specialist or get an operation and you don't receive the card from the hospital granting you the appt - wouldn't YOU be a bit peeved?

If you were self employed (as I am) would YOU be able to sit by patiently while cheques & vital business supplies were held up for weeks/months on end? It makes all the difference in the world for some - it's survival or bankruptcy.

This doesn't even take into account any legal documents or vital documents from banks etc...

So, yes - we are angry & peeved and are doing everything we can to get action.

barbelybob, watford says...
8:06am Fri 24 Aug 07

Mark wrote:
Sally Shiers wrote:
Until early July we had had the same Postman (Hi Gary!) for over 2 years. I can\'t really fault the service. His round was then changed and we no longer have a regular postman. We are lucky if we get 3 deliveries a week! These are done all times of the day by agency staff (who drop cigarette butts in my drive). In fact Watford was awash with young agency \'Royal Mail\' staff yesterday around Watford Junction. I counted 25 people in the fluorescent tabards and bags all sitting around chatting. The one thing I will say - in all this chaos Royal Mail have of course managed to deliver the vast quantities of junk that they get paid to deliver! Please Senior Management take note - or why should the residents of Watford put up with this?
Sally, a moot point, I know, but Royal Mail get paid for EVERY item they deliver, not just the 'junk' mail. RM get paid for 'social' mail via the postage stamp. But, as I stated earlier, what you are witnessing is the result of senior management policy, to keep the high spending "customers" happy. The government has introduced competition into the business mail market, but one side-effect is that if the direct-mail companies don't get their products delivered on time, we could lose their business to rivals like DHL or TNT. Which explains why RM are prioritising delivery of 'junk' items, ahead of what us posties consider to be our customers mail. But don't blame the delivery workers for this chaos. We are not responsible for managers recruiting expensive agency staff !!!! I reckon if someone flew me to Warsaw, gave me a bag of local mail, no street map, and paid me less than the full-time staff doing the same, the chances of me being able to complete the deliveries 100% accurately or even at all would be fairly slim.
Of course your responsible for this.If you didnt go on strike there wouldnt be a backlog and the amount of agency staff would be far less.I understand from a pal that your all working to rule because they are making you all clock off at 2 oclock.Whats the problem with that?your paid until then.Ive got a postie who lives in my street,hes home before twelve and everyday at 1.30 a post van full of posties picks him up to go and clock out.This is why the post is so late,because you cant go home early.It about time the post office sacked all of the militant element down ascot road and replaced them with the polish agency workers,that would sort out the problem.If you dont like the working conditions get a different job.....simple

john, watford says...
8:31am Fri 24 Aug 07

don't blame the postal workers,blame the hundreds of polish workers that royamail are employing,they can't even speak english let alone read english!!!!i received my post last wednesday evening at 7.00pm by a polish postman not even in uniform.

karen wiltshire, watford says...
8:48am Fri 24 Aug 07

It was my soons 8th birthday on the 15th august i ordered ps2 games and dvds for him beginning of july i knew nothing of these strikes before hand or i would never of ordered them to be posted today i still haven't recieved them i would love to ask the bosses at watford royal mail centre how do you explain to an 8 year old boy that due to postmen /women he didn't get what he wanted because i am still waiting for them to be delivered the fact is that the backlog should off been cleared by now i see enough post vans sitting having a break by the side off the road maybe they should think about all the kids that have missed out on good birthday memories and start thinking about customers for a change.

Pam Handley, Watford says...
8:59am Fri 24 Aug 07

I have been wating for 4 parcels since the beginning of August. I talked to the Customer Services at the Post Office on Wednesday and they informed me that Watford Sorting Office were working to rule and not dealing with the backlog of mail

The Plinth of Darkneth, Watford says...
9:02am Fri 24 Aug 07

Roy Stockdill wrote:
JohnBoy wrote... >>Mr Stockdill, how did the interview with 3CR go? Did you get the WO readerships views across?<< Indeed I did! Sorry you didn't hear it but it went out just before 7.30 a.m. I repeated my view that Royal Mail have gone from once being the most revered institution in the land to the most reviled and also my observation that Royal Mail managers couldn't run a toffee stall in Watford Market. The presenters seemed to like it anyway. The lady who is still awaiting her vital medical supplies was also interviewed and the presenters and programme researchers apparently tried their hardest to get a response from Royal Mail, but to no avail. Surprise, surprise! It occurs to me that the only way to stir them into action would be if we could collectively get some home phone numbers for the bigwigs at RM and all start phoning them whilst they're watching Coronation Street or whatever.
Easy Roy - you appear to be encouraging anti-social behaviour.

But nevertheless I applaud your achievement on the Radio. Well done.

The Plinth offers his respect.

M. Lynch, Devon says...
11:22am Fri 24 Aug 07

I run a small business which is being crippled by the post 'service'

Since late march I have had over 50 packages go missing - ALL of which I have had to replace out my own pocket and all of which I have had to spend time filing claim forms, copying receipts, finding proof of value etc. As well as this I am losing customers.

It is a disgusting state of affairs.

Olive Canavan, Garston, Watford says...
11:24am Fri 24 Aug 07

My partner and I have been waiting on several packages from Amazon, Ebay and Kodak online, several of which are presents. They have not arrived despite being despatched weeks' ago and the birthdays have now passed! We have had no mail AT ALL for the last 3 days and I have been unable to get through to the Customer Services phoneline. My partner has been awaiting a logbook from DVLA which has not turned up and is causing us no end of grief. We popped into the Sorting Office yesterday evening and a very helpful chap told us there are thousands of parcels etc which have not been delivered. He did try to locate some of our post but came back emptyhanded. It is an absolute disgrace. I felt strongly enough to ring the Watford Observer this morning and the lady I spoke to asked if I had seen the headline on-line re Sorting Office which I had not! Will our mail ever turn up?????

Emma Parry, Watford says...
12:22pm Fri 24 Aug 07

I am waiting for 2 parcels that are medical equipment for my 2 year old. They attempted to deliver before the strike action on the 27th July 2007, i have attempted to collected this item everyday using the card they left only to be told they have no idea where the item is. The first day i went they said it could be in anyone of 5 cages it has subsequently gone up to 500 cages. It is looking like i am going to have to fly to Northern Ireland to collect the crucial equipment for for my daughter

Helen Harverson, Watford says...
12:42pm Fri 24 Aug 07

I know that I am waiting for at least
quote
2 parcels, plus at least 3 other items of post. It's very worrying as I don't know what else I should have had. Surely the backlog should get priority - does anyone have any common sense at the sorting office??

John, Hemel Hempstead says...
1:48pm Fri 24 Aug 07

====================

======
barbelybob wrote:-


Of course your responsible for this.If you didnt go on strike there wouldnt be a backlog and the amount of agency staff would be far less.I understand from a pal that your all working to rule because they are making you all clock off at 2 oclock.Whats the problem with that?your paid until then.Ive got a postie who lives in my street,hes home before twelve and everyday at 1.30 a post van full of posties picks him up to go and clock out.This is why the post is so late,because you cant go home early.It about time the post office sacked all of the militant element down ascot road and replaced them with the polish agency workers,that would sort out the problem.If you dont like the working conditions get a different job.....simple
====================

=====
barbelybob no other Royal Mail delivery office in Herts or elsewhere has the kind of backlog that has been talked about here. Remember the last strike date was held well over 2 weeks ago. Every other office cleared their backlog ages ago and without getting in this mess.

Your point about "work to rule" is also incorrect. All the postmen have done is withdraw their goodwill.
This means that they will no longer be using THEIR own cars to perform their rounds (RM don't recompense their staff for using their cars) or coming in early before their start time (which they dont get paid for either) I don't call that "work to rule".

Sack the managers! They are there to MANAGE something which they have failed to do here.

Paul, Watford says...
2:42pm Fri 24 Aug 07

What seems to be the most likely thing to happen is that people will stop using Royal Mail (RM) and Parcel Force (PF) at the earliest opportunity.

I think the time is ripe for people to start writing to their MP's to insist that other carriers such as TNT, UPS, private couriers and the like are all allowed to take letters as well as parcels.

Complaining to the Royal Mail, it's managers and workers is basically a waste of time since they are far too used to blaming each other for this and any other mess, the only way to make things change is to ignore them and do things on our own.

That will mean that people will have to pay more to get things delivered without using RM and PF, but in the end it's the only way to beat some sense into the workers and management and get them to actually provide the service that the country needs and expects.

Terry, north watford says...
3:01pm Fri 24 Aug 07

I'm waiting on two parcels, one from an ebay seller and the other from a large web company. ive been waiting since the end of july

k, watford says...
3:12pm Fri 24 Aug 07

Funnily enough, I just got an email from Royal Mail customer services saying that the reason I haven't received my post was because of an "unofficial industrial action" in Watford and that this has ended and it should be cleared. Is that just their standard reply to everyone? The backlog occurred BEFORE the strike action look place - proof of that was my item postmarked July 18th delivered last week.

Does anyone at Royal Mail have a clue as to what is happening in Watford?

anon, says...
3:26pm Fri 24 Aug 07

Emma Parry wrote:
I am waiting for 2 parcels that are medical equipment for my 2 year old. They attempted to deliver before the strike action on the 27th July 2007, i have attempted to collected this item everyday using the card they left only to be told they have no idea where the item is. The first day i went they said it could be in anyone of 5 cages it has subsequently gone up to 500 cages. It is looking like i am going to have to fly to Northern Ireland to collect the crucial equipment for for my daughter
these are the ppl who have a right to moan no else really its not like there not trying to sort it out but if u keep going on about it they may think **** them they can wait even longer now for there mail i would make u wait they only priority would be to try and get all the medicine for old ppl and kids the rest could go to hell and do u think moaning @ ur postie will help no he will be thinking am not going there again hahahaha good look in your quest for ur dear post SAD PPL

ANON, says...
3:30pm Fri 24 Aug 07

Start Date: 25th May 07
End Date: 25th May 07

There was a one day national strike of postal workers in Belgium on Friday 25th May. No collection, sorting or delivery of mail for one day only.

Denmark
Start Date: 26th Apr 07
End Date: 5th May 07

A delivery strike amongst mail staff has been going on in the City of Copenhagen since 26th April 2007. The industrial action is expected to last until Saturday, 5th May.City Districts impacted by the lack of delivery are zip codes 1000 to 1499.

UK
Start Date: 10th Aug 06
End Date: Ongoing

Due to airline security issues, severe delays were experienced from 10th August onwards. Reduced capacity available on some flights may continue to affect some routes.


DONT JUST BLAME ENGLAND LETS MAKE IT ITERNATIONAL YER LETS GO TO WAR

Bob, watford says...
3:42pm Fri 24 Aug 07

in reply to Barbelybobs post. i suggest you don't bother making any comments if all you have to say is hearsay and totally incorrect. There is no clock on clock off system in royal mail for a start so that point is just total rubbish. As for polish casual staff remember these are part time workers who don't care if they are working for royal mail or anyone else they take no pride in what they do why should they ? they will be sent somewhere else next week. hence the fact if it starts to rain they won't deliver the mail or will dump it in a bin somewhere. postmen will not do this. the problem is cause by royal mail managers not allowing the staff to use their cars after the recent industrial action ( which is their democratic right ) no postman refuses to sort anything they just run out of time, as now they take their breaks instead of working through them to get out and finish earlier, nobody wants their letters at mid day ! however as a result of royal mail not allowing the postmen to use their cars and coupled with cut backs they have now run put of vans to do the job. meaning postmen are taken off other dutys to help deliveries at mid day and casual staff mainly non english speaking poles are sent out to get lost but do their best. this is a problem that stems purely from terrible management, and has nothing to do with the postmen who belive me just want to provide the service they are paid for. the managers don't seem to care when the mail goes out its all about profit and figures. the delivery managment won't even take calls from the public to explain, they have turned off their phones ! hows that for customer service ??? so BARBELYBOB get ya facts straight before posting such incorrect rubbish you idiot !

andy, oxhey says...
5:14pm Fri 24 Aug 07

bob just understand people are loosing any sympathy they might have had for you,sorry royal mail

annoyed, Bushey says...
5:21pm Fri 24 Aug 07

Same story for me in Bushey - packages from ebay have gone missing, post is irregular at best. It used to be delivered before 8am, and now it comes anytime, at the moment, I'm lucky to have post twice a week. Different postmen as well...very confused, annoyed, angry really. I feel for those who have medication/credit cards etc - get rid of Royal Mail!!

Sally Shiers, Watford says...
5:25pm Fri 24 Aug 07

Hi everyone

Just to let you know the BBC has picked up on the story.
They are coming to do an interview on Tuesday, so I hope people don't mind if I mention some of the issues brought up in these comments.
Obiviously there are major problems at the depot, I think throwing insults won't solve it but the chiefs at Royal Mail need to understand how serious the problem has got.
Thanks for your help.

andy, says...
5:43pm Fri 24 Aug 07

well done sally.i informed the bbc but couldnt give an interview because of certain reasons thanks for doing it i will be thinking of u on tuesday

Guy Hodge, Watford, Herts says...
6:29pm Fri 24 Aug 07

Absolutely ridiculous. Packages sent on the 7th of this month are only just turning up.

Royal FAIL more like.

Stephen, Watford says...
7:21pm Fri 24 Aug 07

Visited Ascot Road to chase up 4 packets, 2 from 10Aug, 1 from 16 Aug and 1 from 22Aug. Friendly chap spent about 10mins looking but couldn't find. He reckoned that letters are now OK, but packets & parcels are all mixed up , i.e. backlog plus latest will take another two weeks to resolve. I overheard his colleague tell other customers that parcels have been sent to other depots. I am not clear whether these other depots will try to deliver them in Watford. All the customers (whilst I was there at about 4:30pm) and all the staff were very courteous to each other. Two days ago we had about 20 letters delivered going back to 8th August.

BOB, says...
8:10pm Fri 24 Aug 07

as a postman of nearly twenty years service i can honestly say i have never know it to be this bad. i myself am waiting for important letters which i can do nothing about.
i totally understand the publics frustration but please belive me its not the postman you see out and abouts fault they can only do as they are told and deliver what their given. the parcels are back logged and stored in a warehouse in berkhampsted unsorted. the managers won't pay the postmen over time to get them out. but look out over the next few days, mangers from all over london and the southeast will be delivering them to try and clear the back log. funny how they can get over time eh !
this dispute is caused by bad management being petty over not letting the postmen do their job as they've allways done it. prefering instead to employ casual staff who don't know the area and end up returning most of their mail back to the office and back to square one.
so please please KEEP COMPLAINING but not to watfords managers they don't care and some have turned their phones off. go higher complain to your MP or write to the head of royal mail at Old street london.
this is totally ridiculous all the postman wants to do is get on with the job.. BUT IS NOT BEING ALLOWED TO !!!

Bob, says...
8:31pm Fri 24 Aug 07

To Sally Shiers
Well done for getting this issue on the BBC. but please make sure that they get the facts not the royal mail spin.
As for the comment in last weeks WO that no non english speaking casuals are employed at ascot road. if you go down to the office you may catch a few outside for a smoke try interviewing them and you'll see just how much english thet speak.... and these are the people they want sorting and delivering your mail !!!

barbelybob, watford says...
8:52pm Fri 24 Aug 07

John wrote:
====================

======
barbelybob wrote:-


Of course your responsible for this.If you didnt go on strike there wouldnt be a backlog and the amount of agency staff would be far less.I understand from a pal that your all working to rule because they are making you all clock off at 2 oclock.Whats the problem with that?your paid until then.Ive got a postie who lives in my street,hes home before twelve and everyday at 1.30 a post van full of posties picks him up to go and clock out.This is why the post is so late,because you cant go home early.It about time the post office sacked all of the militant element down ascot road and replaced them with the polish agency workers,that would sort out the problem.If you dont like the working conditions get a different job.....simple
====================

=====
barbelybob no other Royal Mail delivery office in Herts or elsewhere has the kind of backlog that has been talked about here. Remember the last strike date was held well over 2 weeks ago. Every other office cleared their backlog ages ago and without getting in this mess.

Your point about "work to rule" is also incorrect. All the postmen have done is withdraw their goodwill.
This means that they will no longer be using THEIR own cars to perform their rounds (RM don't recompense their staff for using their cars) or coming in early before their start time (which they dont get paid for either) I don't call that "work to rule".

Sack the managers! They are there to MANAGE something which they have failed to do here.
They only use their cars so they dont have to wait for a pick up,back to the depot,therefore finishing earlier.Same thing goes for starting early,so dont try and dress it up as if they are doing it for any other reason.The longer this dispute goes on,the less support you will get.As for the sacking of the managers,i dont know the answer to that but i do know that managers dont deliver the mail and thats the long and the short of it..

Bob, says...
10:14pm Fri 24 Aug 07

Barbelybob you don't have a clue what your talking about, and also very ignorant or just making things up.. ie the clocking on/off there is no clocking on system within royal mail. yes they do use their cars for their own conveneance why shouldn't they ? they also work through their breaks to get the mail out earlier and yes, so they to can finish early again why shouldn't they ??? royal mail have taken advantage of this and cut the number of vans and drivers. so when the postmen don't use their cars or as the case now are not allowed to use their cars there are not enough vans or drivers to get them out.. and also now they take their breaks theres not enough time to sort the amount of mail even under normal conditions hence the back log you see now.
as i said before they are also being denied over time to clear the back log, but no the managers have decided to award them selves over time and you will see plenty of them delivering parcels over the next few days, most are from out of the area and my guess is they will make no impression on the back log what so ever.
so please stop posting rubish its very ignorant to have such an opinion on something you clearly no nothing about. every one is frustrated least of all the postmen themselfs. the postmen don't want to go on strike you know. they to have kids and mortgages to pay for.. you don't get paid when your on strike you know..
so get your facts right or crawl back into your sad little hole...

Darius Henderson, Watford says...
12:01am Sat 25 Aug 07

I've been waiting for 3 weeks now for my letter from Steve Mclaren calling me in to the full England squad. It has obviously gone astray somewhere and Michael Owen has got my place in the team. I really hope Royal Mail management can sort this out soon. Darius Henderson.

Jim, south Oxhey says...
4:24am Sat 25 Aug 07

What concerns me is these hundreds of packages that have just been left locked away and ignored, when are they going to be dealt with? I have 2 parcels outstanding, one was posted on 26th of June with 1st class post. Is there anybody else with things missing for this long or longer maybe? please post on here so I know I am not alone. thanks

BOB, says...
3:08pm Sat 25 Aug 07

Jim wrote:
What concerns me is these hundreds of packages that have just been left locked away and ignored, when are they going to be dealt with? I have 2 parcels outstanding, one was posted on 26th of June with 1st class post. Is there anybody else with things missing for this long or longer maybe? please post on here so I know I am not alone. thanks
Jim there are thousands of people in your position including myself and i'm a postman, unable to do anything about it.. just as frustrated as everyone else.. probably even more so as we know we can clear it yet are not being allowed to... the management are going to be trying to clear it over the next few days as they won't pay the postmen t do it.. however these managers are from outside the area and do not know watford so don't hold your breath.. 500,000+ packets and parcels undelivered !!
PLUS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE ROYAL MAIL LEADERSHIP DID YOU HEAR THE INTERVIEW ON THE RADIO WHERE A ROYAL MAIL MANAGER SAID HE HED HE NO CONTACT WITH THE UNION. WHEN THE HOST REVEALED A LETTER TO THE UNION SIGNED BY HIMSELF.... HE HUNG UP THE PHONE LIVE ON AIR ! I REST MY CASE !!!

Tony, Watford says...
3:23pm Sat 25 Aug 07

In a country like the United kingdom, as seen as one of the best in the world, and we cannot sort out our own mail,it looks like we have a shortage of workforce in this country. Come on guys I am waiting for my packages that have been posted in the first week of August. Do something Please.

barbelybob, watford says...
6:52pm Sat 25 Aug 07

Bob wrote:
Barbelybob you don't have a clue what your talking about, and also very ignorant or just making things up.. ie the clocking on/off there is no clocking on system within royal mail. yes they do use their cars for their own conveneance why shouldn't they ? they also work through their breaks to get the mail out earlier and yes, so they to can finish early again why shouldn't they ??? royal mail have taken advantage of this and cut the number of vans and drivers. so when the postmen don't use their cars or as the case now are not allowed to use their cars there are not enough vans or drivers to get them out.. and also now they take their breaks theres not enough time to sort the amount of mail even under normal conditions hence the back log you see now.
as i said before they are also being denied over time to clear the back log, but no the managers have decided to award them selves over time and you will see plenty of them delivering parcels over the next few days, most are from out of the area and my guess is they will make no impression on the back log what so ever.
so please stop posting rubish its very ignorant to have such an opinion on something you clearly no nothing about. every one is frustrated least of all the postmen themselfs. the postmen don't want to go on strike you know. they to have kids and mortgages to pay for.. you don't get paid when your on strike you know..
so get your facts right or crawl back into your sad little hole...
I am telling you for a fact that the posties finish their round and go home,then they have to go back at the end of their shift.Ok so they dont clock on,it was a figure of speech,simple mistake.I have 4 good friends who work for the post,although they are drivers and this is from them,who i might ad dont exactly support your dispute but go along with it for an easy life.They are not happy because they find it harder to do the overtime to cover the loss of wages because of taco laws.Now the overtime has stopped completely.The reason they are being denied the overtime einstien is because in the past they strike and then make up the lost wages by doing overtime to clear the backlog they caused.So dont get all up your own arse mate and call me sad because if being upset with the post makes me sad,there are a whole army of them in Watford and they will include your friends and family.The simple solution is if your not happy with the job,get another,or is the reason you dont do that,the fact you get payed far too much for unskilled work.The gravey train has stopped bob me old son

bob, says...
7:49pm Sat 25 Aug 07

barbelybob wrote:
Bob wrote: Barbelybob you don't have a clue what your talking about, and also very ignorant or just making things up.. ie the clocking on/off there is no clocking on system within royal mail. yes they do use their cars for their own conveneance why shouldn't they ? they also work through their breaks to get the mail out earlier and yes, so they to can finish early again why shouldn't they ??? royal mail have taken advantage of this and cut the number of vans and drivers. so when the postmen don't use their cars or as the case now are not allowed to use their cars there are not enough vans or drivers to get them out.. and also now they take their breaks theres not enough time to sort the amount of mail even under normal conditions hence the back log you see now. as i said before they are also being denied over time to clear the back log, but no the managers have decided to award them selves over time and you will see plenty of them delivering parcels over the next few days, most are from out of the area and my guess is they will make no impression on the back log what so ever. so please stop posting rubish its very ignorant to have such an opinion on something you clearly no nothing about. every one is frustrated least of all the postmen themselfs. the postmen don't want to go on strike you know. they to have kids and mortgages to pay for.. you don't get paid when your on strike you know.. so get your facts right or crawl back into your sad little hole...
I am telling you for a fact that the posties finish their round and go home,then they have to go back at the end of their shift.Ok so they dont clock on,it was a figure of speech,simple mistake.I have 4 good friends who work for the post,although they are drivers and this is from them,who i might ad dont exactly support your dispute but go along with it for an easy life.They are not happy because they find it harder to do the overtime to cover the loss of wages because of taco laws.Now the overtime has stopped completely.The reason they are being denied the overtime einstien is because in the past they strike and then make up the lost wages by doing overtime to clear the backlog they caused.So dont get all up your own arse mate and call me sad because if being upset with the post makes me sad,there are a whole army of them in Watford and they will include your friends and family.The simple solution is if your not happy with the job,get another,or is the reason you dont do that,the fact you get payed far too much for unskilled work.The gravey train has stopped bob me old son
lol Barbelybob you really are a **** "me old son"
you don't know what your on about mate nor clearly do your mates if they exist which i doubt after your "they get picked up to go back to the office and clock off" comment, funny sort of figure of speach that ? i never said i wasn't happy with the job. what i'm not happy with is the way its being run and the fact i'm in the same boat as every one else as far as the frustration at not getting my mail..
most people who take the time to understand the facts and know whats really going on, instead of blaming the postmen or making up bullsh1t like you you fool support the postmen.. this backlog was not caused by the one day strikes einstine, it was caused by the managers changing working practise after the strike ok numb nut !! is that any clearer for you... no other office in the country has this problem yet they all had a one day strike, watord is the only one where management stopped the postmen using their cars YOU DO THE MATH ! and as for your make belive friends if they are restricted by the tacho laws (taco as you said is a mexicam dish by the way, ok einstien) that means they are lorry drivers and are unaffected by this are only allowed to do a set number of OT hours per week and would not be affected by this action..
as for the gravey train comment your years behind on that one. a long time ago, about ten years to be exact itwas like that but thats long since changed ME OLD SON.. i suggest you go talk to some real people not ya make belive mates...
do you really think the postmen are enjoying this....
if this answer is yoe you really are without doubt a totl **** !!

barbelybob, watford says...
10:19pm Sat 25 Aug 07

bob wrote:
barbelybob wrote:
Bob wrote: Barbelybob you don't have a clue what your talking about, and also very ignorant or just making things up.. ie the clocking on/off there is no clocking on system within royal mail. yes they do use their cars for their own conveneance why shouldn't they ? they also work through their breaks to get the mail out earlier and yes, so they to can finish early again why shouldn't they ??? royal mail have taken advantage of this and cut the number of vans and drivers. so when the postmen don't use their cars or as the case now are not allowed to use their cars there are not enough vans or drivers to get them out.. and also now they take their breaks theres not enough time to sort the amount of mail even under normal conditions hence the back log you see now. as i said before they are also being denied over time to clear the back log, but no the managers have decided to award them selves over time and you will see plenty of them delivering parcels over the next few days, most are from out of the area and my guess is they will make no impression on the back log what so ever. so please stop posting rubish its very ignorant to have such an opinion on something you clearly no nothing about. every one is frustrated least of all the postmen themselfs. the postmen don't want to go on strike you know. they to have kids and mortgages to pay for.. you don't get paid when your on strike you know.. so get your facts right or crawl back into your sad little hole...
I am telling you for a fact that the posties finish their round and go home,then they have to go back at the end of their shift.Ok so they dont clock on,it was a figure of speech,simple mistake.I have 4 good friends who work for the post,although they are drivers and this is from them,who i might ad dont exactly support your dispute but go along with it for an easy life.They are not happy because they find it harder to do the overtime to cover the loss of wages because of taco laws.Now the overtime has stopped completely.The reason they are being denied the overtime einstien is because in the past they strike and then make up the lost wages by doing overtime to clear the backlog they caused.So dont get all up your own arse mate and call me sad because if being upset with the post makes me sad,there are a whole army of them in Watford and they will include your friends and family.The simple solution is if your not happy with the job,get another,or is the reason you dont do that,the fact you get payed far too much for unskilled work.The gravey train has stopped bob me old son
lol Barbelybob you really are a **** "me old son"
you don't know what your on about mate nor clearly do your mates if they exist which i doubt after your "they get picked up to go back to the office and clock off" comment, funny sort of figure of speach that ? i never said i wasn't happy with the job. what i'm not happy with is the way its being run and the fact i'm in the same boat as every one else as far as the frustration at not getting my mail..
most people who take the time to understand the facts and know whats really going on, instead of blaming the postmen or making up bullsh1t like you you fool support the postmen.. this backlog was not caused by the one day strikes einstine, it was caused by the managers changing working practise after the strike ok numb nut !! is that any clearer for you... no other office in the country has this problem yet they all had a one day strike, watord is the only one where management stopped the postmen using their cars YOU DO THE MATH ! and as for your make belive friends if they are restricted by the tacho laws (taco as you said is a mexicam dish by the way, ok einstien) that means they are lorry drivers and are unaffected by this are only allowed to do a set number of OT hours per week and would not be affected by this action..
as for the gravey train comment your years behind on that one. a long time ago, about ten years to be exact itwas like that but thats long since changed ME OLD SON.. i suggest you go talk to some real people not ya make belive mates...
do you really think the postmen are enjoying this....
if this answer is yoe you really are without doubt a totl **** !!
Very strange that there was no problem until the strikes started yet you say its not the strikes fault.Your a f****** comedian and if you keep saying it you will keep believing it.So taco is a "mexicam" dish lol people who throw stones doughnut and as for "make belive mates"(try spelling it right s*** for brains)They are as real as this poxy strike and im sure they are not alone in the way they feel.Am i really a "totl **** or a total one.As for them being p***** off its because they cant make the money up with overtime...****

ellen, watford says...
1:04pm Sun 26 Aug 07

why is it that we seem to be getting post deliverd in the last week or so but are waiting for post dispatched back in july ! why havn't we heard anything from the managment at watford sorting office whats thier explanation!

barbelybob, watford says...
8:41pm Sun 26 Aug 07

bob wrote:
yes well done retard it did start just after the strikes finished. it was the managments way of punishing the postmen for daring to exercise their democratic right. they offered to work normally about three weeks ago but were denied. and as for not being able to make their money from over time another error sorry matr their over time is goverened by european law and as TAHCO drivers have nothing to do with this dispute and can do as much as thay are allowed.. me thinks you should get ya facts straight me old son.. are you the same sort of retard that would blame a soldier for going to war being to stupid to blame the government that sent them ? guess so..
and excuse me for the odd typo error or spelling mistake. at least i know what i'm talking about though eh..
Now that takes the prize,compairing yourselves to soldiers at war.Something tells me theres plenty of union mantra going on here.You sound very political,which dosent surprise me with all.I bet you walk round work calling everyone brother or comrade.As for your spelling its shocking(not typing mistakes)yet youve got the balls to moan on about poles not being able to speak english,YOU LIVE HERE, whats your excuse.Like i said before,you could train a monkey to put letters in a box(thats right mate,your as skilled as that)yet you seem to think you are indispensible.What are you talking about when you say "postmen excercising their democratic right"does that mean postmen not wanting to post?I think the unions got a lot to answer for here,stirring up the hornets nest and you gullible lemmings have bought it lol.Im bored of you now bob but not before i wish you all the best,youre gonna need it lol...

Andrew, Watford says...
3:27am Mon 27 Aug 07

I have also been waiting for post for ages did receive some on Saturday.

What they should do is sack all the staff and then re-sign up the people who actually want to do the job and move into the 21st century with automatic sorting of letters and parcels. So what if 40,000 postal staff loose their jobs sorting the mail thats what happens in any industry that updates itself.

Sally, Watford says...
10:56am Mon 27 Aug 07

I have been waiting nearly a month for four packages, one of which finally turned up yesterday morning - yes a Sunday!!. Called customer services and got some clearly fed up man who is taking all the calls personally, who basically said tough.
Luckily fopr me none of my overdue parcels are desperately needed, but i guess the plants I ordered are now a shrivelled brown crispy mess, or will be by the time they finally get here.

barbelybob, watford says...
3:49pm Mon 27 Aug 07

Andrew wrote:
I have also been waiting for post for ages did receive some on Saturday.

What they should do is sack all the staff and then re-sign up the people who actually want to do the job and move into the 21st century with automatic sorting of letters and parcels. So what if 40,000 postal staff loose their jobs sorting the mail thats what happens in any industry that updates itself.
here,here......

andy, watford says...
6:22pm Mon 27 Aug 07

ok everyone all calm down
barbelybob and BOB i dont think your slanging match is going to sort anythng out..But prehaps BOB has a valid point that need to be made. yes we are all p****d off with the parcel problem i have lost work and money through this dispute but shouting at each other isnt going to sort it out.The bbc are on the case so will that change anything? good luck sally,lets hope we dont repeat ourselves lol
ok

john, watford says...
8:36am Tue 28 Aug 07

Myself & my partner have been waiting for packages we individually ordered for close on a month now, delivery dates stated when we orderd were for 1-2 weeks shipment... still waiting !

Cherry, Watford says...
12:39pm Tue 28 Aug 07

I am now waiting for FIVE pacakages - 1 was posted in June, 2 on July 30th, 1 on 8th August and 1 of those re-posted on the 17th August. I, foolishly, placed an order with a company on the 24th August so will now not expect to receive that package also!

I was informed when I contacted Royal Mail head office (incidentally my call was handled poorly by a stroppy member of staff, whom, I had to inform that it was not my fault if she was receiving 100s of complaints) that all mail and packages received at the Watford Sorting Office after 4pm on the 9th August were being dealt with - obviously this is not the case!

I have been told by reliable sources at the sorting office that there is a van in their car park packed with parcels. All the postmen I have spoken to have said that we are being lied to by the Royal Mail - there are packages everywhere piles of them - they are being stashed and stored all over the place, including Berkhamsted. The posties told me there is
no way that the post will be cleared in a couple of weeks, let alone days
.

There is no point calling the sorting office as I have been informed that the number, we have all called that rings continuously, only rings once in the office then transfers and continues to ring in an unmanned office. As I understand it the Managers hide away in their offices and then reprimand the staff when they pass on the managers' telephone numbers. However, the managers, with their trips to Whipsnade for meetings in expensive conference rooms, when they have perfectly good meeting rooms at the sorting office, would prefer to reprimand the posties for passing on phone numbers to try and assist the public than try and resolve the problems.

Surely the Managers should be accountable for the actions of their staff – this is how it works everywhere else!

STOP LYING TO US - PAY THE OVERTIME AND GET THIS MESS SORTED OUT!

karen, watford says...
1:36pm Tue 28 Aug 07

Wasn't the BBC going to report on this?

I think we should all be alerting the media - newspapers/tv/radio news so they can help to get to the bottom of this - possibly by using their insider"Watchdog-typ
e" contacts, they can get hold of someone - namely the big chief of Royal Mail and get it seen to. Nothing prompts action like nationwide embarrassment/hi-lit
ing bad (or should I say, non-existent) service!

I'm still waiting for over a dozen parcels (that I know of) they may be more - as they are all for my business!

Charlo, Watford says...
2:42pm Tue 28 Aug 07

We are a local business who operate a web service which relies on a freepost service for customers to sell goods to us. Pre postal strikes we were receiving about 100 freepost bags per day. Since the strikes we have received a total of about 500 bags! We estimate over 1500 missing parcels!! We have complained to every possible Royal Mail department with no joy. We wrote 2 emails to Robert Marshall who we believe is Watford's head of deliveries but he hasn't even had the decency to reply. We keep getting told that there is a backlog. We were assured last week that it would be cleared by now yet we not only haven't received our missing parcels - we are still experiencing days of no post!! This is obviously crippling our business. Not only are we losing money but we are spending so much time and resource comforting angry customers who are in disbelief that the Royal Mail still haven't cleared the backlog by now. Regardless of the differences between Royal management and staff I think it is unfair that we the public should suffer!!

andy, oxhey says...
3:23pm Tue 28 Aug 07

well done sally and neighbours
sadley the bbc have not picked up on the under laying issue of what is causing the delay in the first place
they are awere of the problem but could not report on it with out a postie coming forward to tell them because the beeb would be sued with out cofirmed info.so after all out shouting and attempts we sadly are no further forward

Sally, Watford says...
3:44pm Tue 28 Aug 07

Hi

Karen - if you had been watching tv at the time you posted your comment you would have seen the story covered on BBC1!
They will be repeating the story again during the 18:30 London News programme. Also on BBC London Radio just after 5!
Not sure it will make any difference (we have not recieved any post at all since last Wednesday!)
So I certainly hope it does!

Stuart, Watford says...
5:07pm Tue 28 Aug 07

Am also 11 packages outstanding, have made 5 complaints to Royal Mail, one of them even informed that all outstanding packages had been delivered in the Watford area, I of course corrected them, telling them that was rubbish. Have just phone the DAILY MIRROR national paper who are calling me back, they are also looking at this web page with great interest. I went down to the sorting office last week and got fed a load of rubbish, I asked to speak to the manager, the post office employee replied I'll ask him but he'll say he's busy as he doesn't like talking to the public!

Sally, Watford says...
5:33pm Tue 28 Aug 07

Hi
BBC Radio London currently doing a phone in if anyone once to voice their concerns over the airways! 94.4!
Also I have now complained to Postwatch the watchdog body for all post services, so perhaps this could be the next course of action for people missing post.

Iffy, Watford says...
5:48pm Tue 28 Aug 07

I been waiting for many parcels which i have mostly brought of ebay. None of them have arrived and i have been waiting for over 4 weeks. Some of the people have refunded me as they have given up on the post office but others have not. I doubt i will ever see these bloody parcels. The post office is about as useful as a one legged donkey, and keep giving me a bulshit story about hiring emergency staff that are delivering 7days a week.

Nikki, watford says...
6:13pm Tue 28 Aug 07

Also b
quote
een waiting for nearly a month for 4 parcels and they are certainly not delivery 7 days a week in my road , in fact they're not even delivering 5 days a week !!!!!

dave degen, West Watford says...
6:40pm today Tue 28 Aug 07

Lost mail is least of problems at the Ascot road Royal Mail depot and the chaos is the tip of the iceberg.
A source who works there tells me that many laid off have been replaced by hoards of immigrants so much so that Poles are now the majority.
Of course the issues at the Watford depot are part of a wider problem for RM as it struggles to survive in an impossibly competitive situation with private firms not burdened by RM's overheads or services but use them to their advantage nonetheless
The abandonment of RM seems a deliberate attempt by the government to hasten its demise or foist upon the British workforce foreigners not weighed down by taxes nor our cost of living.



andy, oxhey says...
8:17pm Tue 28 Aug 07

dave degen wrote:
Lost mail is least of problems at the Ascot road Royal Mail depot and the chaos is the tip of the iceberg. A source who works there tells me that many laid off have been replaced by hoards of immigrants so much so that Poles are now the majority. Of course the issues at the Watford depot are part of a wider problem for RM as it struggles to survive in an impossibly competitive situation with private firms not burdened by RM\'s overheads or services but use them to their advantage nonetheless The abandonment of RM seems a deliberate attempt by the government to hasten its demise or foist upon the British workforce foreigners not weighed down by taxes nor our cost of living.
well get your source to speak to the bbc thats all they are waiting for but i think there is more to it than just the workers

Sue Elson, Oxhey says...
8:46pm Tue 28 Aug 07

My holiday tickets are due to be deliverd by Royal Mail on Thursday, two days after I return from holiday. Have had to complain to Royal Mail as my post has been left on my garden wall. When I remonstrated with the post lady, she didn't understand what the problem was as she didn't speak English.

charles, north watford says...
9:31pm Tue 28 Aug 07

I had to wait over a week to receive important mail from watford council and when it did arrive it was posted to the wrong address even though it had my address clearly printed and this is not the first time it has happened !

Anon, Watford says...
9:33pm Tue 28 Aug 07

As I'm getting daily post,I knew nothing about this but I have been waiting for my holiday tickets and visas posted three weeks ago, wondering where they could be. I fly out on Sunday and had to call the tour operator today find out what was going on and to make other arrangements for replacemnet documents to collect at the airport. Plus I am waiting for important documents needed for my house move, posted a week ago. Then I heard about this today and all became clear. I might have known! It's a joke. Watford Sorting Office need to sort their act out as well as their mail.

mrs foster, watford says...
10:01pm Tue 28 Aug 07

I have been e mailing Mr Peter Clay from the Royal Mail Chief Executives Office about this fiasco. He said he has been in touch with Ascot Road managers. He also told me last week that our parcels would be delivered by last Wednesday 22nd, latest Friday 24th. Of course not true! Send all your complaints to him at:
peter.clay@royalmail

.com
Thanks.
P.S. Just a tip for everyone, if you are having a parcel sent to you in the future, tell the sender to send it to a friend/relative who lives OUTSIDE Watford on your behalf. I am getting my parcels sent to my mother in law's in Harrow.

Robster, Watford says...
12:02am Wed 29 Aug 07

The article on the BBC website can be found using the following link (and possibly a careful bit of copying and pasting):

http://news.bbc.co.u
k/1/hi/england/beds/
bucks/herts/6967017.
stm

In my opinion an official Royal Mail spokesman needs to make a clear statement with regards to the scale of the problem and the plan to tackle it.

Communication between staff, customers and management is key in a situation like this rather than just leaving it to the rumour mill.

The public understand that the Royal Mail has to work with the resources it has available but transparency and leadership won't break the budget.

James Scott, says...
1:49am Wed 29 Aug 07

For the past 2 weeks i have not received any post - at all. I have been sent around 30 letters and parcels and have not received one.

Cruyff14, Watford says...
9:25am Wed 29 Aug 07

The managers at Royal mail don't want to pay overtime to strikers otherwise it is seen to reward them for striking in the first place - go on strike and lose a days pay, work overtime and earn two days worth. I can see thier point and we shouldn't allow neanderthal unions to prosper at our expense.

Perhaps then - with students from colleges and university on leave, the royal mail could employ temporary staff for a few weeks to clear the backlog. Customers get thier post, Roayl Mail retains face and the unions don't prosper.

I see that as a winning answer all round.

anon, Watford says...
10:04am Wed 29 Aug 07

i'm staying anonymous with this post.
Royal mail ascot road is the most disorganised sorting office. Managers dont have no control of the workers. its the postal workers who rule over the manager. they have all the luxuries in the world. they earn more than a educated office worker, they have a gym, pool table. table tennis, fruitmachines, they have a fully subsidised canteen. i have no sympathy for these people. they have more luxuries then any other profession. and yet they have the audacity to strike. more recently a royal mail manager gets sacked for discipling there staff. whole orgransiation is corrupted.

AVG royal mail staff earn 25k a year. with overtime they earn 35-37 grand a year.

I say sack the staff. get staff who would work hard and not demand ridiculus wages.

Most of all Get rid of the CWU the communication workers union. powers gone to there head. there as bad as the RMT.

iCool, WD3 says...
10:25am Wed 29 Aug 07

Anon,

Why shouldn't the workers have the right to withdraw their labour? Removing this right would be a step back towards slavery.


Sarah, Watford says...
10:28am Wed 29 Aug 07

I've been waiting 5 weeks for 3 parcels. I think its disgusting they haven't sorted the post out yet. Why can't they employ agency staff to sort out the backlog of post or offer overtime to get it sorted.

iCool, WD3 says...
10:30am Wed 29 Aug 07

Sarah,

Have you filled out the online complaint form? Written/emailed Postwatch? Has the sender sought compensation?

bob, says...
10:55am Wed 29 Aug 07

lol 35-37 grand a year with over time oh my god what planet are you on.. i wish !
are you related to that fool barbelybob.
its avg 19 and with overtime up to around 25 ok..
and if this problem was caused by the postmen i would not be urging the public to complain to the highest level would i ? and no barbelybob i'm not the slightest bit left wing tbh.. there seems to be some confusion as to why there is a back log of mail at watford.. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ONE DAY NATIONAL STRIKES OK, that was cleared in one day.
its because royal mail management at watford are stopping the postmen using their own cars. as a result they are saying ok we will work by the book and are taking their breaks instead of sorting through them going out in the royal mail transport of which there is not enough. as a result the mail is piling up. casual staff are no use whatso ever read previous posts.. mail dumped/ left on walls ect..
why do you think the management transfer their calls to unanswered phones ??
keep complaning. but not to watford the managers there do not care......

nicki misner, watford, wd24 says...
11:28am Wed 29 Aug 07

I am a small business that rely on the postal service for sending out orders and obtaining stock. Over the last 6 weeks I have only received a smattering of post. This industrial action and lack of action to clear the backlog is crippling my business.

Sonia Dickinson, North Watford says...
12:00pm Wed 29 Aug 07

Hi
I am still waiting for solicitors letters sent to me at the beginning of July and re-sent again at the beginning of August. None of them have appeared yet.

Aimzie, Watford says...
1:14pm Wed 29 Aug 07

I think the public should boycott the Royal Mail and use couriers instead. At least then you know that your mail is going to arrive on time like you paid for.

Why should we pay for the stamps when the Royal Mail take no care in actually delivering our letters and parcels?

If we use couriers, they wont have jobs to complain about so then they'll have to slave away like the rest of us.

AND how come its only Watford suffering and the other Royal Mail postal centres can sort their backlog much faster and more efficiently.

Do the people of Watford send too many letters or something? Or are we more popular and needy with our packages?

WHAT IS GOING ON!?

Angry Watford Man, Watford says...
2:23pm Wed 29 Aug 07

We have been waiting weeks for parcels that were posted in July.

It's disgusting to read how many people have been affected both personally and through their businesses.

My girlfriend is a music teacher. She receives cheques from all the parents of the children she is teaching. Her quarterly wage consists on the 30 or so cheques she receives at the beginning of a term. She has received two cheques in the last 6 weeks, the other 28 or so haven’t turned up. So effectively she is working for nothing at the moment because her wages have been lost or stolen.

To add to the insult… It was 10 years on Sunday since her mother passed away. We ordered some grave stone cleaner so we could tidy up the appearance of where her mother is buried. This was ordered 8 weeks ago and again has since been lost or stolen. This was quite upsetting for my girlfriend as she was trying to make the best out of what isn’t a particularly nice occasion.

My father has successfully got a postal worker arrested for stealing mail in Wembley. This was after constant denial from the Post Office right up to Regional Manager level that mail wasn’t being stolen. The man was arrested after police entered his house and found parcels, credit card statements stacked up in his house. I wonder how much of this may be going on in Watford. It would be very easy for postal workers to steal packages now and simply blame it on all the back log…..

Nick, Oxhey says...
3:08pm Wed 29 Aug 07

This is disgraceful. I have two books and two boxes of records outstanding, which almost resulted in me leaving negative feedback for the ebay sellers - now I know it is not their fault. The postal services in this country - and in Watford in particular - are a joke: the postal workers are living in the 1970s. They are a bunch of Luddites. Ask any business and they'll tell you why they won't use the Royal Mail if they can possibly help it.

Kate, Watford says...
3:42pm Wed 29 Aug 07

I went to collect my parcel from Ascot Road on Tuesday after waiting 3 weeks for it, the queue was massive. This poor guy in the queue had been waiting ages for his parcel and questioned how long it was going to be until his delivery only to be told "Its grim, its very grim its going to take months to sort out the back log, we have thousnads of post too sort,its very grim here at the moment you will be lucky to get it next month." It was shocking to hear there standard of good customer
customer service. They should stop whining!

ANDY, LEAVESDEN says...
3:55pm Wed 29 Aug 07

If the post office management cannot resolve their problems, then both the workforce and management should be replaced-How dare they hold the customer, who pays their wages,to ransom!

Sarah, Watford says...
4:00pm Wed 29 Aug 07

I wouldn't hold your breath till you get your post!

At least half of what is pushed through my door isn't for this address. The letters are are correctly addressed but the postman is incompetent and can't be bothered - I think they are just dumping mail anywhere. I dread to think where the mail I should be getting is going.

Dawn, Watford says...
4:21pm Wed 29 Aug 07

I have 3 parcels missing - since 6 August totalling £400 in value and containing a vital life saving Medic Alert bracelet. I thought it was a criminal offence to hold up the Mail? I hope when this sorting office lot need medical care or police help they are told to get stuffed! They deserve nothing but contempt and are putting lives at risk!

stuart, watford says...
5:18pm Wed 29 Aug 07

Have just stated my fifth complaint with Royal Mail and got the same old story! However, I asked to speak to the Chairmen and Chief Excutive, again I got no join but I did get their addresses:

Chairmen:Alan Leighton
Chief Exec: Adam Crozier

Both supposedly working at:

148 Old St
London
EC1V 9HQ

Feel free to drop them a line, not sure when they'll receive it though!

GS, Watford says...
5:44pm Wed 29 Aug 07

Just spoken to someone at the Royal Mail Complaints Line, who said that they are now focusing on the backlog. Maybe the story reaching the BBC and others has worked? Personally, I'll believe it when my outstanding packages arrive safe and sound!

Julia, Watford says...
6:13pm Wed 29 Aug 07

I think there's a light at the end of the tunnel! I live in Oxhey and was waiting for parcels sent in July. Yesterday there were at least seven Royal Mail vans that went past my house within a couple of hours and my missing parcels were at last delivered. Other post was delivered separately.

I have seen more Royal Mail vans in the past two days than have been seen in months.

I got so desperate and angry last week that I contacted the Mayor, and even she couldn't get through to the Sorting Office. I don't know if that had any effect, but I feel that somebody has been given a kick up the backside!

Lidia, West Watford says...
6:17pm Wed 29 Aug 07

I have been waiting for a disk to replace a faulty one so I could continue my online course, nothing arrived, they sent another one and I am still waiting this was end of July.
quote
quote

Sally, Watford says...
6:19pm Wed 29 Aug 07

If anyone out there is a Solicitor and fancies a challenge I found this information on Postcomm’s website
‘Royal Mail is also obliged to perform to set standards in relation to collections from post boxes and deliveries to residential and commercial premises. Where deliveries are concerned, Royal Mail is also required to meet a target in respect of the percentage of mail that is correctly delivered’
In Watford Royal Mail are clearly in breach of these standards so we really need to take legal action – the whole town residents and commercial organizations lets us take a stand - any volunteers?!?!

stuart calver, watford says...
6:21pm Wed 29 Aug 07

1. Have just had two posties from Milton Keynes delivering to our address, alas I only got one of my outstanding 12 packages! 11 to go.

stuart, watford says...
6:24pm Wed 29 Aug 07

Sally wrote:
If anyone out there is a Solicitor and fancies a challenge I found this information on Postcomm’s website ‘Royal Mail is also obliged to perform to set standards in relation to collections from post boxes and deliveries to residential and commercial premises. Where deliveries are concerned, Royal Mail is also required to meet a target in respect of the percentage of mail that is correctly delivered’ In Watford Royal Mail are clearly in breach of these standards so we really need to take legal action – the whole town residents and commercial organizations lets us take a stand - any volunteers?!?!
Am not in the legal side of life but am more than willing to assist in anyway I can. I can scribe a good letter though!

andy, oxhey says...
7:38pm Wed 29 Aug 07

i spoke to the bbc reporter yesturday and she understands the outstanding problems at RM but cant report on it with out a postie coming forward and telling them the facts.
would you if you were a postie??? so ha ho it looks like we are no further forward.
still its not raining

pete, Watford says...
8:50pm Wed 29 Aug 07

Almost as bad as Virgin Media!! Welcome to England 2007.

Adam, Watford says...
10:13pm Wed 29 Aug 07

I am going on holiday on tuesday and have been waiting three weeks for items I have purchased online to come, yet they have not and I cant see myself receiving my parcels in time! Surely there must be a quick resolution to the problem?!

John, Watford says...
1:06am Thu 30 Aug 07

Putting the radical Adam Crozier in charge of Royal Mail, with his agressive track record was a daft idea in the first place!!...

Royal Mail workers (The last bastion of nationalisation) have been rooted in their archaic ways for many many years.

Change takes time!!!

But the Royal Mail workers must realise that the days of Union Domination went out in the 60/70's.

Carry on the way they are in this harsh, highly competitive market and there won't be a Royal Mail!!!

Ever heard of Privatisation?? CWU will find it hard to get there disruptive foot in the door then!!

Wish I could get 2.5% on my state pension.

Yes, like others I have outstanding parcels, credit cards and letters.....

John, Watford.

anonnnnnn, watford says...
5:26am Thu 30 Aug 07

iCool wrote:
Anon,

Why shouldn't the workers have the right to withdraw their labour? Removing this right would be a step back towards slavery.

well in that case,it should be the employers right to sack the lot of them and cherry pick the ones to re-employ just like the heathrow sandwich makers.Unions are a thing of the past and just like a divorce lawyer,will encourage fighting all the way in court(meaning bigger pay days)so the unions encourage strikes.The thing is the union officials are not paid by the employer and dont suffer.Look at the prison officers,striking over basically half a % over a year,its bloody madness and if they dont like the conditions get another job.The unions are a thing of the past,there are bodies in place that do the job of the unions for nothing,thats why union membership is dropping off the scale.

Andrea, Watford says...
8:09am Thu 30 Aug 07

The postal "service" is now very like our experiences with what was NTL cable TV... Some items ordered from eBay took 2 weeks to arrive after despatch by "first class" post (and it took the chap at Ascot Road about 10 minutes to find them -he was friendly and helpful though); two tickets for a Watford pre-season friendly match never arrived so my husband and I had to get reprints (the originals have never appeared); we ordered two tickets for the England-India Test match at The Oval, my ticket arrived one week after despatch just in time for the day we were due to go, but my husband's ticket (ordered and posted at the same time as mine) did not arrive and he had to get a reprint at the ground on the day, his original ticket then turned up the next day - the day after we went to the match!!! Credit card statements have not arrived, an important birthday card we posted in July has never arrived. The Ascot Road phone is never answered; Royal Mail "customer service" say they are not allowed to give out direct phone numbers for the sorting offices. Like many others, we never know when our post will arrive - it can be at any time of day. And we've received post for addresses which aren't even in Watford. I dread to think where the items we haven't received or those we've posted (but which have not arrived) are...

GARY, WATFORD says...
9:48am Thu 30 Aug 07

Gary wrote:
I have been waiting for a recorded delivery package posted out to me on the 7th Aug,what a JOKE WHATS BEING DONE TO RESOLVE THE BACK LOG MAIL ? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DISGRACEFUL SITUATION ? WHEN WILL I GET MY PACKAGE.? WHO CAN WE LOG HOW COMPLAINTS WITH ?
AND I AM STILL WAITING

Nick, Oxhey says...
9:55am Thu 30 Aug 07

As customers we are being used as pawns in the sort of stupid battle that was all the rage in the 1970s. When I was at the sorting office the other day trying to get some information about my missing parcels all the man behind the counter could do was blame the management! It's like that situation in Fawlty Towers where the people complain about the poor standard of service and Basil starts complaining back to them! With a little bit of compromise on both sides, this situation could have been resolved weeks ago. As it is now, one wonders if the backlog will ever be cleared.

David, Watford says...
10:06am Thu 30 Aug 07

I don't think the Post Office workers have a leg to stand on, even though I sympathise with their plight. Ultimately, there are people doing work of the same skill level for even less than the postal workers earn.
The trouble is monetary inflation has been rampant over the last few years while CPI inflation has been fiddled with cheap imports to be around 2.0%! What's a working-class two-up, two down next to light industry Watford now? 230k? 850 quid a month to rent?
This is why so many people - even those on good incomes - feel dirt poor while the government boasts of booms and economic growth.
Unless you earn a packet there's no point working in Brown's Britian - you may as well 'work' the benefits system. Unless living costs come down to match real-world wages strikes will be more frequent, futile as they may be.

leggattsresident, N.Watford says...
11:26am Thu 30 Aug 07

The situation in N.Watord is still dire. I have been waiting for packages now for 5 weeks, this is totally unacceptable. I hope the WO will be calling senior RM Directors to account in this weeks edition, not letting them get away with the pathetic "spokesperson" platitudes the BBC broadcast earlier this week. Residents and business people are really suffering due to this incompetence and we need our local paper to be making it's customers views known.

Jason, Carpenders Park says...
11:42am Thu 30 Aug 07

I don't blame the posties, it's up to Royal Mail management to sort thid out. Really unfair situation for us punters though. Waiting for 5 packages ordered from e-bay for over a month.

Sally (again)!!, Watford says...
12:04pm Thu 30 Aug 07

Haha

To escalate the complaint call this number 0207 250 2888
this Royal Mail Head Office and you do get a real person on the end of the phone.
Also keep any envelopes/packaging with the franked date on if the item has been delayed then you can claim (get a form from the post office)

JMAN, Kingswood says...
1:14pm Thu 30 Aug 07

I am so very annoyed with the Posties, i have been waiting at least 2 mins for my USB joypad to arrive from Uhkesbekistan, i rang the royal mail who told me one of the Polaks had eaten it!! Can you believe it he actually ate my control pad!! Now i am starting to cry with anger, i want my joypad POLAK!!

iCool, WD3 says...
1:59pm Thu 30 Aug 07

anonnnnnn wrote:
iCool wrote: Anon, Why shouldn\'t the workers have the right to withdraw their labour? Removing this right would be a step back towards slavery.
well in that case,it should be the employers right to sack the lot of them and cherry pick the ones to re-employ just like the heathrow sandwich makers.Unions are a thing of the past and just like a divorce lawyer,will encourage fighting all the way in court(meaning bigger pay days)so the unions encourage strikes.The thing is the union officials are not paid by the employer and dont suffer.Look at the prison officers,striking over basically half a % over a year,its bloody madness and if they dont like the conditions get another job.The unions are a thing of the past,there are bodies in place that do the job of the unions for nothing,thats why union membership is dropping off the scale.
What other organisations do the job of the unions?

You could argue the situation with the screws is an entirely different situation. Their strike was illegal and the job they do very different.

The CWU strikes were legal, well publicised and any one with truly urgent or vital items had time to make alternative arrangements. The workers cannot be blamed if they or their suppliers chose not to.

anon, says...
2:16pm Thu 30 Aug 07

GARY wrote:
Gary wrote: I have been waiting for a recorded delivery package posted out to me on the 7th Aug,what a JOKE WHATS BEING DONE TO RESOLVE THE BACK LOG MAIL ? WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DISGRACEFUL SITUATION ? WHEN WILL I GET MY PACKAGE.? WHO CAN WE LOG HOW COMPLAINTS WITH ?
AND I AM STILL WAITING
you have well and truly lost that package specails should always be deliverd there priority in royal mail so u best get on to you supplier before you lose the right to claim

dawn, watford says...
2:40pm Thu 30 Aug 07

Royal Mail HQ informed me today that unofficial action is still continuing at Watford Sorting office. They can only allieviate this by using agency staff or trying to get parcels out of Watford to Berkhempstead etc. No sign of end of troubles. I hope the staff there - probably some Arthur Scargill lookalike - are ashamed of themselves!

anonnnn, watford says...
2:59pm Thu 30 Aug 07

iCool wrote:
anonnnnnn wrote:
iCool wrote: Anon, Why shouldn\'t the workers have the right to withdraw their labour? Removing this right would be a step back towards slavery.
well in that case,it should be the employers right to sack the lot of them and cherry pick the ones to re-employ just like the heathrow sandwich makers.Unions are a thing of the past and just like a divorce lawyer,will encourage fighting all the way in court(meaning bigger pay days)so the unions encourage strikes.The thing is the union officials are not paid by the employer and dont suffer.Look at the prison officers,striking over basically half a % over a year,its bloody madness and if they dont like the conditions get another job.The unions are a thing of the past,there are bodies in place that do the job of the unions for nothing,thats why union membership is dropping off the scale.
What other organisations do the job of the unions?

You could argue the situation with the screws is an entirely different situation. Their strike was illegal and the job they do very different.

The CWU strikes were legal, well publicised and any one with truly urgent or vital items had time to make alternative arrangements. The workers cannot be blamed if they or their suppliers chose not to.
Thats not realy the case is it,if you purchase something online how do you have any options on how its delivered.What about letter post,no alternative there apart from expensive courier.We have bodies in place like employment tribuals for wrongful dismissal, sex discrimination etc.It seems the only use the unions have now is to try and force pay awards at the public expence.Look at the strikes lately,trains,airpor
t cleaners,posties,pri
son officers etc all unskilled work.It seems the best way forward is to get some qualifications and get a decent well payed job rather than get the unions to get you well payed for unskilled work.Just one more thing,all the posties on here keep saying it has nothing to do with the strike,so how come you say we were given warnings as to avoid the delays if they are caused by something else Mmmmm food for thought.

Stuart - again!, watford says...
3:36pm Thu 30 Aug 07

Have just done the following:
1. Made another official complaint to Royal Mail. Same old story.
2. Rang post office headquarters and asked to speak to both the Chairman and Chief Executive. Not alot of joy there funnily enough.
3. Have also rang POSTWATCH and spoke to them. They were unaware of the problem in Watford (I navigated the guy on the phone to this site), he also asked me to forward him an email that I've personally received from Royal Mail stating "They have
now resumed normal duties and all your packages should have been delivered." Don't know what else I can do now apart from turning up at the Post Office HQ in London and requesting an interview!!

Karen (again), Watford says...
5:08pm Thu 30 Aug 07

Oh Postwatch does know what is happening. I filed a complaint last week and yesterday was sent a copy of the letter they drafted up. I then informed them about the Watford Observer feature and the comments posted here by sending them the link and drew their attention to the BBC report on Tues. The woman I dealt with was extremely interested to hear the scale of it all. If anyone else wants to get in touch with Postwatch - they can refer to their ref # connected with my complaint (433862)- and maybe a collection of them can be sent to the authorities - as hearing the same details from several people has got to carry some weight. You just can't make this stuff up!

As for contacting Ebay sellers to make claims for lost items --- some of them just don't want to know, so I am asuming I'll have to file claims for each and every item I bought on Ebay that hasn't shown up. I'm guessing I'll have to submit receipts and credit card invoices to show all the other items purchased for my business that haven't arrived either. Has anyone filed claims yet and been granted the compensation OR are they stalling and saying the items aren't officially "lost"?



stuart, watford says...
5:23pm Thu 30 Aug 07

POSTCOM have just rang me and apparently we SHOULD be able to claim compensation through POSTWATCH... time will tell.

David, Watford says...
5:23pm Thu 30 Aug 07

I only learned about the Watford postal scandal in a past few days and I'd actually be at ebay sellers saying I hadn't recieved the goods. Now I know why. My wife hasn't recieved books she needs for her work. It's all a big disgrace really.
I know that it's impossible to live on normal wages thanks to Gordenron Brownshirt's inflation lies and allowing banks to pump up the credit supply and inflate the housing market but the odd public sector body going on strike won't change that. It just makes everyone else suffer.
Someone said the post office average wage is 19k or 25k with overtime. For barely-skilled work that's more than most skilled clerical workers, trilingual secretaries with special skills, and even some graudate-level workers.

Anon, says...
10:35am Fri 31 Aug 07

Stop whinging you lot - you need us posties. No we're not gonna clear your backlog in any hurry, its one of the things thats helping our cause. Complain as much as you like, its the managers who have to deal with them, which stops them from getting rid of the backlog. Thats cool, cos eventually they'll get us to sort it on double overtime, when they stop being so tight. And the extra will come in handy for christmas, especially as you lot are such misers with christmas tips these days. Its brilliant to see backlogged mailbag chucked on top of backlogged mailbag. You lot would think we've got it cushy, but its not like the good old days - I have to do a full week every week now, not like I used to.

leggattsresident, N.Watford says...
11:04am Fri 31 Aug 07

Wonder what our MP is doing about this disgraceful situation, nothing I suspect, with her wafer thin majority she needs the votes of the militant posties. Anything to say Ms. Ward ? Thought not.

David Blair, Watford says...
11:34am Fri 31 Aug 07

On August 7th our travel documents for a holiday in Europe were sent to us by the agent in Putney, but so far (31st August)have failed to arrive. Thus I took the only course of action and went to Putney to collect them yesterday. is there any hope that Royal Mail will comensate me for the cost of travelling to Putney?

stuart, watford says...
12:35pm Fri 31 Aug 07

Anon wrote:
Stop whinging you lot - you need us posties. No we\'re not gonna clear your backlog in any hurry, its one of the things thats helping our cause. Complain as much as you like, its the managers who have to deal with them, which stops them from getting rid of the backlog. Thats cool, cos eventually they\'ll get us to sort it on double overtime, when they stop being so tight. And the extra will come in handy for christmas, especially as you lot are such misers with christmas tips these days. Its brilliant to see backlogged mailbag chucked on top of backlogged mailbag. You lot would think we\'ve got it cushy, but its not like the good old days - I have to do a full week every week now, not like I used to.
Yes we do need 'posties' - RELIABLE ONES! Clearly Watford have not, as yet managed to employ one!

stuart, watford says...
1:37pm Fri 31 Aug 07

Have just spoken to the postman (yes we've had one - only letter though and very few at that). He said that yesterday there were "thousands" of packages at Watford that the postmen "couldn't get their hand on" however, this morning they were all gone. He has no idea where!

Lou, Watford says...
2:52pm Fri 31 Aug 07

Yesterday, I visited the Royal Mail centre to collect a package which could not be delivered to my address. I was told that the item was lost from the system (?!) which basically means they don't know what they've done with it! I was told to call customer services which is a delaying tactic and requires a timely and expensive telephone call so I'll go straight to postwatch.
Royal Mail, trade unions and employees can give as many excuses as they like - they simply cannot deliver. Sounds like a good chance for someone to set up a separate delivery point for parcels etc in Watford and other major centres to avoid them getting lost by Royal Mail.
It's no wonder email and online banking etc is growing in such popularity - Royal Mail are no alternative for speed and efficiency.

martin, south oxhey says...
3:10pm Fri 31 Aug 07

i have been waiting for many items of mail for over 7 weeks now, and for days on end there has been no post delivered at all! what i want to know is where are all the posties and what are they doing all day when they would normally be delivering mail? i do not blame them for this complete mess of a postal sevice thats going on, but at the same time am completely losing patience with this pathetic excuse of an organisation at watford, especially as all the surrounding areas seem to be having their post delivered back to normal. will i ever recieve any of my mail?????????????

karen (again), Watford says...
3:27pm Fri 31 Aug 07

I am so glad to hear the Mayor has managed to contact & get a response from Mr Crozier in this matter. It's funny how my email sent to Mr Peter Clay was bounced back and our MP didn't even give a response when I tried contacting her.

STEPHEN, Watford says...
4:08pm Fri 31 Aug 07

Visited Ascot Road again. My missing 4 parcels, one going back to 31st July couldn't be found. However the staff were telling customers the following: "Postmen are delivering as normal (whatever that means), plus agency staff are delivering later in the day. Approx. 100 managers have been drafted in as well to deliver post up to 7pm tonight. RM staff will be working all weekend, 12 hour day to clear backlog. Lots of post was moved from Ascot Road to other locations including Berkhampstead. The staff from these remote locations are (supposedly) then taking the Watford post and delivering it around Watford." None of its being done in date order so you can end up geting items delivered out of sequence." From experience I think that the normal size envelopes are getting through in roughly date order. Packages and parcels most definetly are not. Last Friday I was told it will take another two weeks to resolve. Today I was told they have no idea how long before a return to ormal.

Sam, Watford says...
4:29pm Fri 31 Aug 07

After my email to her,I received a letter from Claire Ward,she has been in contact with Adam Crozier.

Ken, Garston says...
4:37pm Fri 31 Aug 07

The situation that has arisen is beyond belief. I hope that the managers responsible for this debacle are made fully accountable. I wonder how the Post Office will cope if we collectively started to pass on to them late payment charges for bills / bank / credit cards / mail order accounts etc.? Also, have they taken any time to inform and explain their customers what is exactly occurring, what do we know of what is happening and why? - surely as a public service they have some sense of duty? Claire Ward needs to intervene.
By the way, my family and I am awaiting delivery of many packages and parcels, many birthday cards including money, bills etc.

I am a strong supporter of the Post Office and steadfastly against privatisation, but this situation presents a challenge!Disgraceful.

Peter Riley, Watford says...
5:24pm Fri 31 Aug 07

Dorothy Thornhill's craven behaviour knows no bounds. Why on earth she ends up as the focal point on the front page of your newspaper is beyond me. Especially as - typically of a Liberal - she offers nothing in terms of a solution, just a bellicose whinge.

I would have hoped Mr. Crozier would be too busy himself to respond to publicity stunts like this. Obviously not!

andy, oxhey says...
7:16pm Fri 31 Aug 07

hi peeps still waiting for your post? so am i. hey why not phone the direct lines to watford but i suspose if we did that they whould'nt have time to sort our mail,ha

Nadine, Leavesden says...
7:42pm Fri 31 Aug 07

I'm waiting for 4 packages that were posted between 28-30th July, one of which was sent 2nd class recorded. Went to the sorting office 2 weeks ago, I was told they had no idea when we would get the post and at the time they had a back log of 4 weeks. They said to get the people that sent the goods to fill in claim forms which should speed things up, but 2 weeks on nothing. IT'S NOW 5 WEEKS AAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR
RRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH
HH

charlotte, watford says...
8:07pm Fri 31 Aug 07

andy wrote:
hi peeps still waiting for your post? so am i. hey why not phone the direct lines to watford but i suspose if we did that they whould\'nt have time to sort our mail,ha
so numbers are???
will it do any good???????

Charlie, Garston, Watford says...
9:14pm Fri 31 Aug 07

My brother in the States had posted me a package on early August, which normally would only take 3 days to arrive. Until to-day (31st August) there's still no sight of it. Queries to friends working in the Watford Royal Mail Depot revealed that there's a huge backlog of packages stuck in a unguarded room, even after the strike was called off.
The postal deliveries in our area are becoming so erratic that they would arrive at 10:30am one day, 5:00 pm on another day, & they never come on other days. The manager at the Depot is so incompetent that he still hasn't got a clue as how to revolve the problem. He thinks employing some untrained temporary foreign workers would solve the problems for him.

Daniel, Garston says...
9:39pm Fri 31 Aug 07

I suggest the police or the army should be called in to safeguard our un-delivered mail packages, as so many of them are lost (or stolen)in our chaotic Royal Mail depot.

sackthelotofem, watford says...
7:36am Sat 1 Sep 07

Daniel wrote:
I suggest the police or the army should be called in to safeguard our un-delivered mail packages, as so many of them are lost (or stolen)in our chaotic Royal Mail depot.
Make that stolen,the amount of mail ive received that has clearly been opened is crazy and the ones i receive are of no value whereas the ones that dont arrive are of value,strange but i know what i think.Also has anybody else experienced signed for mail,signed by the postman for you and left on the doorstep,seems to be the norm at the post office and when i rang and complained i was told it was normal procedure and not to worry.Defeats the whole point of the signed for service.I suggest everything you send by post should be sent second class as this seems to be the level of service they provide no matter what.I dont think we need to call in the armed forces as of yet lol but i would go with the police...to arrest all the thieving gits at the post.I bet this strike action has been a thieves charter down ascot road and would like the post office to tell us exactly the levels of compensation they have had to pay out over this so we can actually see how much mail has gone permenantly missing or in plain english...THIEVED

Adam Crozier, Royal Mail HQ says...
9:17am Sat 1 Sep 07

An open letter to Watford's posties from Adam Crozier.

Listen, you lot, wake up and smell the coffee.

We've got bureaucrats at the EU, the regulator Postwatch, and private mail firms, all chomping at the bit to open up postal delivery market for items up to 2kg, and you're letting sackfuls of mail pile up at Ascot Road. What a great way to win over Joe Public and everyone else. Talk about turkeys voting for Xmas.

And worst of all, I've had that mayor of yours, Dotty, and and that MP - I've forgotten her name - bending my ear about it. There's so much moaning, it's like being back at the FA again.

Rest assured, if you don't pull your fingers out, you'll soon be ebnjoying the delights of private sector working practices i.e. you don't do your job, you won't have one.

Any way, don't say I didn't warn you.

Adam Crozier

fred, watford says...
9:44am Sat 1 Sep 07

i have been told by a reliable soucre at watford mail centre,that the backloged mail has been dumped in a store room until the delivery office manager has come to an agreement with the union.the mail that people are receiving or not receiving as the case may be is up to date mail not backloged mail.there could be as much as 200'000 items in the backlog.if there are any watford managers reading this i have one more thing to say"sort it out"

Sally, Watford says...
9:47am Sat 1 Sep 07

Anon wrote:
Stop whinging you lot - you need us posties. No we\'re not gonna clear your backlog in any hurry, its one of the things thats helping our cause. Complain as much as you like, its the managers who have to deal with them, which stops them from getting rid of the backlog. Thats cool, cos eventually they\'ll get us to sort it on double overtime, when they stop being so tight. And the extra will come in handy for christmas, especially as you lot are such misers with christmas tips these days. Its brilliant to see backlogged mailbag chucked on top of backlogged mailbag. You lot would think we\'ve got it cushy, but its not like the good old days - I have to do a full week every week now, not like I used to.
The very fact you have remained 'anon' speaks volumes.
From what I have seen many Postmen do not share your selfish opinion. Infact many are also suffering from missing post too.
It is people like you that cause the problems in the country.
People are waiting for cheques - which without causes bills to go unpaid and this obviously causes more problems.
I hope someone finds out who you are so that you can be made an example of.
NO MATE WE DON'T NEED POSTIES LIKE YOU!

m.t, says...
11:24am Sat 1 Sep 07

both me and my neighbors have items, cheques and other important mail that weve been waiting for for weeks now. Its time for the goverment to start looking into other companies to do the job. Why should the post office have the monopoly and therefore be able to hold the rest of us at ransom whilst some posties play stupid games (like the one quoted in the comment above). If they dont like their job, get a new one. if you cant, then stop moaning and get on with your job.
Adam Crozier "GET IT SORTED...NOW".

andy, oxhey says...
1:46pm Sat 1 Sep 07

iv given up with the RM i now using city link o8700 007 007 guaranted next day. ok its a bit more expensive but you will surprised its not that much more at least im getting my parcles

nick, Oxhey says...
2:25pm Sat 1 Sep 07

At least Dorothy Thornhill is trying to do something to alleviate this dire situation, which is more than can be said of the seemingly reticent Ms Claire Ward MP. Has anyone heard her speak about the dispute at Ascot Road?


Valerie, north of Watford says...
3:01pm Sat 1 Sep 07

I have had at least 9 packages/cards that have gone "missing" through the Watford Sorting office since April 2006. The RM are aware but think I'm just after compensation. Post watch are investigating the problem. Stephen Rhodes from Three Counties Radio has been following up my case since 6 August.
Why not phone him for support? The media can help.

Melissa, Watford says...
5:12pm Sat 1 Sep 07

Our normal postie is a lovely man, but we haven't seen him for ages. Like many of you, we seem to have non-English speaking temps delivering the post. I wonder who on my street is actually getting my post! While I have packages missing, it seems minor compared to the people who have gone without medication, travel documents, etc. To those posties who are revelling in the chaos, remember, you make the bed you lie in. Public support matters, and you don't have any.

Gemma Slade, North Watford says...
6:12pm Sat 1 Sep 07

I am waiting for 7 items sent to me from various ebay sellers sent at the very beginning of August- we havent had much mail at all over the last month and no packets and parcels are beign delivered at all- I hope Dorothy Thornhill isnt palmed off by Adam Croziers promise to sort it out- she should keep on at him until something is actually done- lets get the national press involved in this and see how quickly he reacts- and what about Clare Ward? lets get her working as our MP!

paul, says...
9:02pm Sat 1 Sep 07

if the thousands of items of undelivered mail belonging to the residents of watford are being held at ascot road sorting office and other offices without any attempt of being delivered then they are effectively stealing from us all, if we were to steal the cars of the workers and management of these disgraceful soting office's they would be straight on the phone to the police to report this, so WHY CANT WE DO ANYTHING LIKE THIS? the general public, the royal mails customers didnt cause this awful mess yet we are the ones suffering! day after day, week after week, hardly any mail, especially packets and parcels. this situation is completely out of hand now. i have given up hope of EVER recieving the mail i've now been waiting up to 8 weeks for!

sam, Watford says...
10:10pm Sat 1 Sep 07

Does anybody know if it is illegal for the post to hold onto our personal items? If things have been bought and paid for surely this could be a criminal offence?

chopper, west watford says...
12:30pm Sun 2 Sep 07

2 items sent 1st class on 30/7 arrived on 28/8. Another recorded delivery sent on 31/7 arrived 28/8. Recordeed items can't be tracked until they've been delivered!!! The whole situation is farcicle.

leggattsresident, N.Watford says...
2:32pm Sun 2 Sep 07

Sunday 02/09 12:00, package delivered by a very smartly dressed postie (manager..?). Of the 4 or 5 packages I am waiting for this is the last that was posted on 15/08, others come from earlier in August. His van was parked in the Leggatts area for quite a while, looked like he was making a good few deliveries. Maybe, just maybe, managers are starting to get a grip on the situation. Showing a bit of responsibility to their customers.

Posties, you have lost the public support in Watford and many will now heap scorn on you on the picket line, you are fools for listening to your unions. You will not need your union soon as you have done yourselves out of a job. Roll on the breaking of the <2kg monopoly, when this happens I will never, ever, use RM again.

Bill Ayre, North Watford says...
2:41pm Sun 2 Sep 07

I may be a little cynical but it stikes as odd that in my mail on Friday I received 2 letters, 1 from a friend who lives in Watford that was posted first class on 13 August and another from the Town Hall posted second class on 30 August! When will they get rid of the RoyaL Mail's monopoly and let someone who can cope with the demands deliver mail in a timely manner?

Jos, Watford says...
3:45pm Sun 2 Sep 07

I received a letter posted to me on Thursday 30th August on Saturday morning - what's wrong with that?

Nick, Oxhey says...
4:27pm Sun 2 Sep 07

Jos wrote:
I received a letter posted to me on Thursday 30th August on Saturday morning - what's wrong with that?
Nothing wrong with that; that is a normal service. The problem is with the +200,000 PARCELS and PACKETS (not letters) being held at Ascot Road because of the ongoing dispute, some having been held since July.

citylinkarethenuts, watford says...
7:05pm Sun 2 Sep 07

Bill Ayre wrote:
I may be a little cynical but it stikes as odd that in my mail on Friday I received 2 letters, 1 from a friend who lives in Watford that was posted first class on 13 August and another from the Town Hall posted second class on 30 August! When will they get rid of the RoyaL Mail\'s monopoly and let someone who can cope with the demands deliver mail in a timely manner?
Listen to this one bill,it will kill you lol.I ordered an item online and paid for signed for delivery and this was on the 16th of july.After about 3 weeks i contacted the company to say the item had not arrived and they promptly apologised and sent out a replacement.By the end of august the original parcel arrived and was returned(wrong item and not the posts fault)This was on a sunday at that.When the second parcel arrived a few days ago i was a bit happier but vowed to use CITY LINK 08700 007 007 from now on.On saturday i got a letter from RM to say the company i purchased from online had put in a compensation claim and could i confirm if the parcel had been delivered or not.I had to laugh as its supposed to be signed for and therefore recorded.I sent back a short shrift F*** You,im not doing your job for you and to check your records.The strange thing is that letter was posted the day before.Like i say try using CITY LINK for all your essential deliveries and lets put Royal Mail further on the racks.Hopefully the management have the balls to sack all the lazy,workshy loafers at the sorting office.Apparently the sorting and delivery staff at ascot road have been told they dont work hard enough by the management.....hello

,thats been the case since the friggin war....

yrusostupid, watford says...
6:28am Mon 3 Sep 07

Jos wrote:
I received a letter posted to me on Thursday 30th August on Saturday morning - what's wrong with that?
Oh well,that must mean that everyone on here is immagining things.Try reading the comments before putting your tuppence worth in or are you just thumbing your nose at people....stupid person...

iCool, WD3 says...
10:36am Mon 3 Sep 07

Bill Ayre wrote:
I may be a little cynical but it stikes as odd that in my mail on Friday I received 2 letters, 1 from a friend who lives in Watford that was posted first class on 13 August and another from the Town Hall posted second class on 30 August! When will they get rid of the RoyaL Mail\'s monopoly and let someone who can cope with the demands deliver mail in a timely manner?
They'll get rid of Royal Mails monopoly when another company offers to deliver to the lucrative markets of the South West, mid Wales and Highlands of Scotland.

simon, Watford says...
11:31am Mon 3 Sep 07

Whats is so difficult about collecting and delivering mail?? Why do they allow postboxes to be open when they obviously cannot deliver? My company has been waiting for a cheque for nearly £20000, which i know has been posted late july....in kings langley!! I also am waiting for a repaired engagement ring, again posted over a month ago. GET YOU ACT TOGETHER POST OFFICE / CONSIGNIA.

Peter, Watford says...
11:32am Mon 3 Sep 07

People asking to see the end of the monopoly are displaying a similar level of intelligence to a turkey looking forward to Christmas.

Do they seriously believe that everything will work smoothly if the monopoly is ended?

Just look at the utilities that have already been privatised. Railways and water for instance - hardly a good example are they?

Companies will move in on the profitable jobs and as for the rest, the service will be far worse than it is now. Profits from the lucrative jobs will be taken by big business while taxpayers are left to pick up the bill for the remainder of the service.
Standard delivery times and prices will both suffer. Stop this lazy thinking and regurgitating of tabloid soundbites!!!


Al, North Watford says...
12:43pm Mon 3 Sep 07

I think we take it as read that we have all had ridiculous delays in receiving post. However my block of flats has simply had no postman visit it for over a week now. What a disgrace. Has anybody else in north watford experienced this or is it just our particular flats?

iCool, WD3 says...
12:49pm Mon 3 Sep 07

simon wrote:
Whats is so difficult about collecting and delivering mail?? Why do they allow postboxes to be open when they obviously cannot deliver? My company has been waiting for a cheque for nearly £20000, which i know has been posted late july....in kings langley!! I also am waiting for a repaired engagement ring, again posted over a month ago. GET YOU ACT TOGETHER POST OFFICE / CONSIGNIA.
Are you stuck in a timewarp? Most businesses use BACS for payment settlement now and Consignia became Royal Mail Group back in 2002.

Keep up.