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Not in for Postman Pat


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If its not too large, does not need a signature then they just put it in the outside post box with their skeleton key. Otherwise its the village post office who keeps it until claimed within a certain time
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If I am lucky my postman leaves a yellow form which means I have to go with ID to the main PO but not until 36 hours later. He does this automatically even though I am almost always at home when he calls, but he neither rings nor knocks.

If I am unlucky it just gets returned to sender (my original certificates sent from the DWP after I sent them in support of my OAP)   or lost (my Christmas album of family photos which I have never received)

LaPoste is one of the most inefficient institutions in France, and has a client service which makes even France Télécom look friendly.

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Your La Poste must be getting training from the Royal Mail or whatever they call themselves these days, the posties just dont have enough time to do their computer generated rounds so systematically leave the "you were not in cards" without even bringing the parcels/mail with them on their round, I have caught mine (UK address) in the act several times and he is very sheepish when I ask him where is the parcel that he cant deliver because I am (according to him) not in to sign for it.

I prefer the French system where a lot of delivery companies use a drop off point be it café, fleuriste or tabac.

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If we're not in and it's a la Poste package requiring signature the facteur leaves a note to collect the package at the village office. If it's a Royal Mail registered delivery he just signs it himself !!   [blink]     And if it won't fit in the box he puts in in the porch.  This works fine for us.
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[quote user="Chancer"]

Your La Poste must be getting training from the Royal Mail or whatever they call themselves these days, the posties just dont have enough time to do their computer generated rounds so systematically leave the "you were not in cards" without even bringing the parcels/mail with them on their round, I have caught mine (UK address) in the act several times and he is very sheepish when I ask him where is the parcel that he cant deliver because I am (according to him) not in to sign for it.

I prefer the French system where a lot of delivery companies use a drop off point be it café, fleuriste or tabac.

[/quote]

I guess it must depend a lot on where you live, and on the individual postman, whichever side of the channel you are...

If we're not in, our postman often leaves smaller bulky items under the doormat (which he carefully moves to one side so that it's not in view of the street).

A few weeks ago, our postman had left a card as I was out, but I returned only minutes later. He was further down the road, but had seen me return. He came back with the parcel, said "I saw your car so I knew you were back", and handed me the parcel, telling me to destroy the card he'd already posted through the letterbox.

We have a village post office and can request redelivery there, instead of having to go to the main sorting office to collect anything that can't be signed for. Mind you, there's a charge...OK it's only a pound (from memory), but it's a bit unfair.

Of course, a great deal depends not only on where you live, but on your relationship (or lack thereof) with your neighbours. The Royal Mail are supposed to be doing a trial whereby they are authorised (unless instructed otherwise) to leave post with neighbours if the homeowner is not in. All the delivery companies round here seem to do this automatically, and my neighbours and I are all quite happy to take each others parcels.

I can imagine that if you live in rural isolation in France, you may never see your postman (or woman) or, indeed, your neighbours, so it could be more difficult.

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[quote user="You can call me Betty"]

We have a village post office and can request redelivery there, instead of having to go to the main sorting office to collect anything that can't be signed for. Mind you, there's a charge...OK it's only a pound (from memory), but it's a bit unfair.

[/quote]

Ah but, Post Office Counters and Royal Mail are two separate companies hence I assume the charge

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My postie always tries to deliver stuff needing a signature. If the car is there, she knows someone is in and will simply park at the gate and toot. But the dogs will already have seen her and be baying so I just pop out and get whatever it is, and we have a little chat. If I am not there she will often come back right at the end of her round.

Otherwise, she will bring the stuff a second time. Small parcels go in the box.

But I do like the idea of central collection points. The other day La Redoute delivered in less than 48 hours, to the local bookshop cum newsagents. So easy to pick up from there.

 

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[quote user="PaulT"]

[quote user="You can call me Betty"]

We have a village post office and can request redelivery there, instead of having to go to the main sorting office to collect anything that can't be signed for. Mind you, there's a charge...OK it's only a pound (from memory), but it's a bit unfair.

[/quote]

Ah but, Post Office Counters and Royal Mail are two separate companies hence I assume the charge

[/quote]

OF course, Woolly..I hadn't thought of that.

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[quote user="woolybanana"]

But I do like the idea of central collection points. The other day La Redoute delivered in less than 48 hours, to the local bookshop cum newsagents. So easy to pick up from there.[/quote]Apologies for off-topic but doesn't the censorship software have a very dirty mind[8-)]

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Screw La Poste and everything to do with them.[:@]

I dont know what I have done to offend my postman, but I have not had "normal" mail for several months, not even the publicity that my neighbours get.

If its a parcel that wont go in the box, or something that needs signed for, he leaves the card. Do I then have to pop to the local office 2 minutes drive away with ample parking and firendly, helpful staff? No, I have to make a 20 minute drive to the next big town where it is impossible to park, the office is open for 4 hours per day, but shuts for 2 hours lunch, leaving a 2 hour window where it is rammed with people doing banking stuff. I then have to confront the surly old boot on the desk, show 17 forms of ID including an attestation from the midwife who delivered me and a character reference from the Pope before I can get my parcel. Then drive for 20 minutes to get home.

Couriers differ enormously; ranging from tracking me down at work to deliver the items down to scrawling a fake signature and stealing the parcel for themselves.

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