Wednesday, 27 June 2012

Further footnote on taking in neighbours’ post

Royal Mail no deliver stickerSomeone has kindly sent me this version of the Royal Mail’s ‘neighbours not trusted here’ sticker. It can be displayed brazenly by those unwilling to take in post on behalf of a temporarily absent neighbour, or to have their own post held by a neighbour. The sticker measures about 5 inches by 2 inches.

I’m curious to know whether post workers will carry spare copies with them, so that if they disturb someone who declines to take in post, but has not displayed, they can encourage them either to change their mind or to apply the sticker.

I'm also wondering if estate agents, perhaps offering a valuation to a prospective seller, might subtly suggest they remove the sticker before prospective purchasers come round?

And as a neighbour, supposing you needed to pop round and ask or tell them something - say, 'sorry just to let you know we're having builders round the back the next few days, sorry if there's a bit of noise and dust' or whatever... Would you just happen to notice and remark, oh what's the sticker you have, I didn't get one of those, what does it do?

Meanwhile, at the door this morning was a rep from a private delivery company, asking would I take in a package for two doors along. I asked him if many people decline, in his experience, and he told me that when one refuses, ‘you find quite a lot are the same and it’s hard to get anyone to take it.’

He also claimed that in some streets, where there are well-kept houses and front gardens but one stands out as unkempt, no-one will take a parcel for that house. I would treat that story with caution.

Previously:

Footnote on taking in your neighbour’s post

Neighbours not trusted here

 

27 Jun 2012 14:34:53 | Neighbourhood relations

1 Comment

An ironic coda to the taking-in of the package mentioned in this post... Neighbour did not come round to pick it up. I lugged it round a couple of times but missed them. Come Saturday, spotted one of them outside and asked would she like to come and pick up her package (in fact it was a substantial and space-consuming box)? She said, 'you know what, I saw the card, and I just thought, I can't be bothered.' Genuinely not a response I would have anticipated. We finessed it with a joke or two but I can see how in some cases such an attitude could cause tension.

Posted by: Kevin Harris | Monday, 02 July 2012 at 09:34

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