Tracking a lost parcel in Royal Mail

[Alistair Robertson 1Participant @alistairrobertson1]

I bought a second hand Iphone from a well known supplier who I have used for years. I have never bought a new phone!   Unfortunately this one would not charge so I was asked to return it using a tracked service.

I carefully put it back in the original packaging and tootled down to the local Post Office where I sent it away using Express 48 Tracked service.  I checked the tracking a couple of days later and found the tracking number was “Not Recognised”   Hmm, So I checked with the phone company, they hadn’t received it.

I checked with the Post Office where I sent them a copy of the Receipt and Barcode etc. They said the barcode was incorrect! and they couldn’t help!!   I asked if I could get compensation but they said only for the postage cost and if I could prove it hadn’t been delivered.

Has anyone else had similar bothers?     Looks as if I will be £160 out of pocket.

 

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

The story seems to rather conflict with the claimed service level !

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/mail/parcelforce-express-services-two-day

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/track-trace

MichaelG.

.

I don’t wish to pry, but would you mind sharing the barcode ?

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

Surely it’s up to Royal mail to prove it has been delivered, and the incorrect tracking number is their problem, not yours. Tracked 48 comes with £150 insurance, so you should get that back. The problem is that the Post Office and Royal Mail are separate entities,  whose daft idea was that? The complaints procedure is here https://www.ofcom.org.uk/complaints/complain-about-postal-services/royal-mail

[duncan webster 1]

On duncan webster 1 Said:

… The problem is that the Post Office and Royal Mail are separate entities,  whose daft idea was that?

 

Exactly so, especially since separation the two businesses don’t seem to get on.   Competition isn’t always good for the customer!

Normally, I understand the drill for Express 48 is to connect to Royal Mail online, who take payment and issue the necessary documentation there and then.  Then they either collect the parcel from your home address, or you leave it with a Post Office.  The Post Office is just a collection point, not part of the tracking and payment process.

I guess if a parcel is taken direct to a Post Office, they do the Royal Mail admin behind the counter, and might get it wrong.   One possibility is that that the Post Office use other carriers, not just Royal Mail.  It’s possible Alastair has been given an EVRI or DPD tracking number, or that the Post Office gave a Royal Mail parcel to the wrong carrier, who is baffled because they don’t understand the labelling!  Possibly the parcel is wending it’s way through some complicated inter-carrier error system.   I believe they all send lost parcels to their failed to deliver handling point, Amazon’s is in Aberdeen.   There, detective work might identify the sender, or who should be handling it, but much depends on what went wrong.

Try entering the number into the EVRI and DPD tracking system.   With luck they might recognise it.

A Royal Mail reference number will be between 9 and 27 characters long.   EVRI and DPD references are between 10 and 16 characters.

Dave

 

 

[Alistair Robertson 1Participant @alistairrobertson1]

Someone at Royal Mail must read these posts!

I’ve just got a text from Parcel Force saying they have just delivered my parcel, on Friday!

Problem seems to be solved but the Post Office, Royal Mail and Parcel Force seem to work together but seperately!!

Thanks to all for your input.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Had trouble with parcel force on Friday saying they had delivered but we had seen no-one , Ian from rotagrip checked up for me and lo and behold a nationwide computer glitch but did get the parcel llater that day.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Oh no, Not a Post office computer glitch again !

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