Royal Mail Recorded Delivery service (Royal Mail)

Member Name: rdastre

Product:	Royal Mail
Date:	28/04/09 (146 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Advantages: Should give peace of mind for item delivery

Disadvantages: Disadvantages: It doesn't due to slip shod Mail handling

I sent a 1st Class "recorded / signed for package for delivery in London. It was accepted by my local Post Office and should have been delivered to an ebayer purchaser within 2 days. It wasn't! I constantly checked the Post Office web site to check it's delivery status. It was never signed for and I was advised by Royal Mail to make out a claim which I did duly stressing that monetary compensation was not what I sought but the recovery of the item. Their so called investigation seemed to be to ask my local delivery office to look for it. It could not be found.
What I found astonishing is that there was no "tracking" as such and that recorded post is mixed with normal mail until it reaches the delivery office!
This demonstrates that there is no tracing whatsoever making the service no more secure than a first class stamp.
I am deeply saddened by the whole process which resulted in the loss of a cherished item for a paultry cheque sent in compensation. My Ebay buyer is also annoyed since he has had to accept return of his payment.
Clearly someone out there has my item illegally through the slack performance of Royal Mail Recorded/signed for service.

Summary: The Trace and Tracking of recorded mail needs tightening up