LATE MAIL in the UK

CDid you know that you can get ompensation if your mail is late? You can also download a P58 form to fill in.

I have downloaded this information so I can't confirm all of it is correct. I do know that you can claim for late mail and it's worth doing so. I have heard so many people complaining this week over mail going missing with vouchers in them, envelopes torn open and money taken out. I have also had a parcel go astray. It makes me so angry.

You can claim up to £28 I believe if you get a certificate of posting but this does not include things like money, jewellery, vouchers and tickets

Money,vouchers and stamps shouldn't be sent in the ordinary mail and need to be special or recorded delivery. Check at the Post Office for this.

I am going to fill in a form even though I didn't have a certificate of posting. You should all do this if possible so that the Royal Mail can check where the problem is.. If you haven't time to fill in forms please send your moans to me and I will post them on this page.

Download an inland P58 form here. International mail is a different form

If Royal Mail does not deliver your mail on time, you may be able to claim

compensation. You will need to keep the packing/envelope/

DOMESTIC MAIL

Royal Mail is required to deliver first class post and special delivery items one

working day after posting, and second class post within three working days. You may

be able to claim compensation in the case of delay. There are separate rules for

business mail (see below).

What is domestic mail?

This is mail which carries a stamp, or a Post Office Counters sticker or has been

through a franking machine. Special Delivery is also included.

How much is the compensation?

This depends on the amount of evidence you can provide and the lateness of the mail.

Either the sender or receiver of domestic mail can claim, but not both. The

compensation rates are:

If First Class mail arrives more than four working days after posting or Second

Class letters arrive more than six working days after posting

For valid telephone claims (without written evidence): twelve 1st class stamps.

Valid claims with a written declaration and other evidence of posting and

delivery (such as the envelope and information on posting and receipt): £5.

If mail is more than 10 working days late

Written claims with evidence of posting as above: £10.

If a standard parcel arrives more than seven days after posting

For valid telephone claims (without written evidence): twelve 1st class stamps.

Valid claims with a written declaration and other evidence of posting and

delivery (such as the envelope and information on posting and receipt): £5.

If more than 10 working days late, either 12 x 1st class stamps or £5.00

If more than

12 working days late, £10.00.

The above are minimum rates. At its discretion Royal Mail may award higher

compensation of up to 100 times the value of a first class stamp -- £28.

Special Delivery

£5 and refund of postage if not delivered within 24 (working) hours of guaranteed

delivery time, and £10 and refund of postage if late by 8 working days or more. This

does not apply to the new Special Delivery by 09.00 service.

How do I claim?

For telephone claims, call Royal Mail Customer Services, 08457 740740 You will be

asked to provide certain information such as:

• Your name and address

• The name and address of the person to whom you sent the letter or from

where you received it

• The date of posting

• The date the letter arrived

• Any supporting information for your claim.

For written claims, write to Royal Mail at Royal Mail, Customer Services, Freepost, RM1

1AA with: You will have to fill in a form which you can download on line or get at any Post Office

• a written statement containing the information listed above,

• a declaration acknowledging that the making of a false statement may lead to

prosecution,

• the envelope or wrapping containing the address and stamp or marking.

There are some exclusions and Royal Mail can refuse claims it considers are not

valid. However, customers refused compensation can appeal - see below.

Can I appeal?

Yes. If you consider Royal Mail is not treating your compensation claim fairly, you

can appeal initially to Royal Mail itself and, if you are still not satisfied, to

Postwatch, the consumer body that represents mail users. Postwatch can be

contacted on 0845 601 3265.

BUSINESS MAIL

Businesses that use Royal Mail’s bulk mail services to send letters will

automatically be compensated at the rate of 1% of their bills for each 1% that Royal

Mail fails to meet its national targets for the service in question. This is subject to

Royal Mail missing a target by more than 1% and to a limit of a 5% refund.

Only the sender can receive compensation for late bulk mail items.

Postcomm January 2004.

2nd Novmber 2007 I posted a parcel from Peterborough to Addlestone about three weeks ago which hasn't arrived. P.R. Peterborough

3rd November 2007 I put my return address on a parcel I sent and instead of being posted to the address, it was sent back to me. Luckily my Postman intercepted it and it is being sent again. P.R. Peterborough

29th October 2007 Birthday card sent with a £10 note from Crowland to Stamford. Received in Stamford on the 31st slit down one side and £10 removed. E.B. Crowland.

I never received a photograph that was sent to me over the Christmas period

10th March 2008 I received a damaged packet today that was posted 20 days ago from U.S. Something was missing from it.

18th July 2008 I received a packet that was posted

31 days ago from the U.S.