So the mailman comes to your flat to deliver a package. You're not home because it's the middle of the day. Where are you? Yes, at work. You work 9-5:30 pretty much like most people. So the postman leaves a slip stating you can pick up your package at this delivery center. This is where the problems start. The delivery center in inconveniently placed out in the middle of nowhere interesting. It's not accessible by tube. The hours are terrible. They're only open while you are at work Monday through Friday, and on Saturday, the are open from 7AM -12PM. Who wants to wake up with the crow of the rooster to get their mail? Anyone anyone? I know that the workers have lives too, but there's got to be some better way to schedule this! I arrived a bit after noon to get my package and the man playing line-warden told me I was too late. Ok.... I walked 2.5 miles to get there, through the wind and rain and snow and sleet, uphill both ways with no shoes, and I'm being turned away? No. Not okay. It took me getting all upset and the aid of my fellow package-picker-uppers to convince the man to let me in. It was really the only time I could go, considering I work full time, but he would nearly deaf to my pleas. It would be great if they changed the hours slightly to be more amenable to the working crowd. The process itself took only a few minutes, but getting all the way out there was trying. read more

This probably isn't the best place to post this. But I am extremely frustrated with Royal Mail's customer service. So I just have to write them a review. I ordered some holiday gifts for my in-laws using Amazon UK. They, in turn, used Royal Mail's services to ship my order internationally. I was advised to call Royal Mail in order to check the status of my order. But their phone customer service is absolutely horrendous. After listening to their phone menus for 10 minutes, I had to wait for a representative. All I wanted to know was: 1. Will my order arrive today? (That's what is stated on it.) 2. How will I know that it was delivered? When I finally got the chance to speak to a representative, I received no answer to any of my questions. Instead I got nagged and patronized. And I had to listen to a 5-minute explanation on "how busy they are, because it's Christmas time." Yeah, no joke! The woman that I spoke to was extremely rude. Her tone was unprofessional. I can't believe someone would get paid to talk to customers in such manner. So my in-laws' Christmas gifts MIGHT arrive VERY SOON?! You've got to be kidding me... At the end of the conversation the woman had the audacity to tell me that I should call them regularly and check if they've received it. Does it cross her mind that I want to surprise them? Ugh... They can learn a lot from UPS' customer service. read more

A packet was too big for my letterbox when the postman tried to deliver it on 1st Feb 2011. I went on the one hour round trip to the sorting office to collect it on the 3rd Feb. It hadn't arrived back at the sorting office. I made the one hour round trip again on the 5th Feb. The packet STILL wasn't there. The man behind the counted told me that this particular postman does not deliver the undeliverable mail back to the sorting office at the end of his shift. This would mean he would have to walk an extra 40 minutes. So he POSTS it back. This means you are paying for a first class service but are having to wait an extra two days minimum to be able to collect, and in my case, five days have elapsed and I am still waiting. This is not acceptable for private residents nor for local businesses. We are in an economic downturn and because one man cannot walk for 40 minues, hundreds of individuals and businesses are being messed around. I have no idea how large the area is that is affected. Is this Royal Mail policy or one man being lazy and colleagues turning a blind eye? Either way, it is unacceptable. Resident of Layard Square, SE16 2JF read more

I am sent two packages within the same week and NOT received neither of them... I returned home to find a card saying the package was to big for the postbox and is waiting for at the my local Royal Mail Delivery Office on Mandela Way. I call the office to confirm the package is there and I was told 'It's here and I send it out again' it has now been over 2 weeks and I haven't received nothing! When I went to office to ask what happened I was told quite blatantly 'Its not a coincidence TWO packages have not been delivered its probably the post man!' I was giving a Customer Service card and told to complain and my number was also taken as someone was going to contact me to find out what had happened; again it has been over a week and NO contact has been made. I don't understand how my package can been stolen within the redelivery service and the other package to just vanish. You don't have to look far on the Internet to find the complaints and issues with this office, only last year 2012 Simon Hughes MP for North Southwark & Norman Lamb Postal Affairs Minister had to get involved regarding post being stolen, lost and terrible customer service. O yeah if trying to get hold of the office its only by shear chance they will answer the phone. The sad thing is the staff know post is being stolen and know one has done nothing about. Finally my advice to any one using Royal Mail is to never use there 1st Class Standard service it will never get there stick with Recorded at least you can record where the package is. read more

You used to be able to pick up after 24 hours - now it is 48 and even then there is no guarantee that your package is there. I was told parcels get returned to the sorting office and resend to the pick up centre. This is a very inefficient and environmentally unsound way of moving items around. Why not return it to the local post office as soon as the post person has finished their round? Cards completed by the delivery person are often incomplete without an indication who has attempted to deliver your parcel. I have noticed that some post delivery people actually write the cards beforehand and don't even bother ringing your bell (I have observed this personally as I was in the house and when I caught the postman doing this he took my parcel out of his van for the first time! Perhaps it is time to re-assess the post office as an institution and consider replacing it with something more people friendly and supportive of the elderly population, who rely on this service. read more

I understand that it can be annoying when you are left a card saying "Sorry You Were Out", but by leaving the card it creates work...we have to carry the packet around for the rest of our duty...return it to the office... store the packet...numerous phone calls are received as a result of leaving a card... it would be so much easier if you order something and you are at work...send it to your work address... as for having a lay in on a Saturday....!!!!. The postmen are out delivering..and yes we deliver in ALL WEATHERS and SATURDAY MORNINGS.... get an alarm clock forget the rooster...Maybe we could change the whole infrastructure of Royal Mail to fit around YOUR lifestyle...have you considered moving nearer to the office so it is easier for you to collect your packet or whatever it is that you ordered but were not at home to receive it... UNLESS you work in Royal Mail you will never understand the issues that arise....you ordered....we attempted delivery BUT you were not there to receive the item.... who's fault is that ;0)... you can reach the office quite easily... the no.42 bus stops around the corner to the office...get any bus to the Bricklayers Arms..Bermondsey station is a 10 minute walk from the office..You could have gone to the TFL.com website and planned your journey (it tells you what buses or trains you need)..its quite easy...have a thought for those workers that start work at 5:30am....not just posties but everyone else.... read more