not at all special delivery

[flipnflap]

To ensure a packet containing �60 in gift vouchers reached my brother & family before Xmas, I sent it Special Delivery. It never arrived. I filled in the claim form. Royal Mail refuse to compensate me because I haven't got receipts for the gift vouchers (I paid for them by cash, and didn't think I'd need receipts). I say to RM: you compensate me &, if you find the packet & find I've lied (ie. it doesn't contain �60 in gift vouchers), by all means sue me. They say: no receipts, no refund. I ask you: How many people keep receipts for Xmas gifts? And even if I produced receipts of purchase, how can I prove I put those items (which the receipts relate to) in the packet? Will RM compensate me fror all the time and stress caused by their incompetence? Not a chance! Be warned ABers, special Delivery certainly ain't special.

[joannie10]

I cannot give you any answers but all I can say is our Mailroom manager at work says these things are a con and not worth the paper they are written on. He always says anything valuable use a courier. It really is terrible that that has happened to you and hundereds of others I am sure.

[weas]

i use special delivery every week it is a great system,there is a box on the post office reciept to tick if the content have a value ,it is a free insurance check and see then claim

[dzug]

Whilst it's a good system, you have to be able to prove the value of your loss. As you've found out.

[Yorkie580]

I used Special Delivery before Christmas. It was 3 days late. I got full postage plus �5.00 extra compensation back.

It was the only time I've ever had aproblem.

It's like any compensation claim - once it has been decided that they are at fault then it will be down you you to show how much by. The cost of postage is easy because it's on your SD Slip, but the legal onus is on you to prove how much the contents cost. I don't think they'd quibble too much if you had receipts, as to whether or not you'd put the items in (how would anyone prove without a full checklist signed by whoever served you etc) unless the amount seemed excessive.

Put yourself in their shoes - would you pay out without some sort of proof?