A pensioner has been lift dismayed after her parcel filled with food and clothing was allegedly “dumped” in a bin and taken away before it could be collected.
In June, Eslyn Daley, 67, shipped the package from Birmingham to London so that her sibling could bring the items to their family in Jamaica.
However, Ms Daley’s brother was later shown a picture of the lost parcel in a recycling bin, which was cleared before the items could be recovered.
The 67-year-old has said she is yet to receive an apology directly from Royal Mail after the incident.
The 67-year-old has said she is yet to receive an apology directly from Royal Mail after the incident
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PARoyal Mail have confirmed that the member of staff involved has been spoken to, with the postal service adding that it has never been acceptable for parcels to be put in rubbish bins.
Ms Daley said the ordeal and subsequent treatment by Royal Mail has left her feeling “shocked, upset, and stressed”.
The 67-year-old said: “You put garbage and rubbish in a bin.
“If it is a mistake they need to prove that to me, but they haven’t said anything to me.
“If you take on the responsibility to deliver something, you should ensure that it is delivered in good condition.”
The postal service adding that it has never been acceptable for parcels to be put in rubbish bins (file photo)
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GETTY
Ms Daley’s local MP, Al Carns, who represents the Birmingham constituency of Selly Oak, wrote a letter to Royal Mail bosses on her behalf.
Mr Carns said the postal service had “failed” the grandmother and called on the company’s executives to ensure she receives an “appropriate financial sum for her troubles”.
The package is believed to contain period underwear, which is uncommon in Jamaica, for her 12-year old granddaughter and supplements for her almost 100-year-old uncle.
Due to the 67-year-old sending the package to London second class, she is only entitled to receive £20 in compensation, despite the total value of the contents totalling up to roughly £100.
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Al Carns, who represents the Birmingham constituency of Selly Oak, wrote a letter to Royal Mail bosses on her behalf
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A survey conducted by the Citizens Advice charity found that 36 per cent of 8,000 Britons asked had experienced issues with their last package delivery.
Royal Mail said if a parcel can’t be delivered and no instructions are given, it will be left with a neighbour, put in a so-called “safe place”, or taken back for customers to collect.
A statement from the postal service regarding the incident read: “We are very sorry for the way this item was delivered and for the distress caused to Ms Daley.
“We have spoken to the postman involved and reminded the team of the standards expected to ensure this does not happen again.”
Last year, Royal Mail was slapped with a £10.5million fine from Ofcom after failing to meet its first and second class mail delivery targets.
The regulator said that poor service being carried out by the company was “eroding public trust in one of the UK’s oldest institutions”.
Ofcom head of enforcement Ian Strawhorne said: “With millions of letters arriving late, far too many people aren’t getting what they pay for when they buy a stamp.
“Royal Mail has provided an improvement plan, and we’re seeing some signs of progress, but it must go further and faster to deliver the service that people expect.”