Devon MPs are demanding action from Royal Mail after local people missed vital appointments because their post was delayed.
In one case a driver missed the crucial time ‘window’ to pay a reduced parking fine because her post was three weeks late arriving.
Torbay Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling said the service was being ‘vandalised’ but Royal Mail said its latest published figures showed that the quality of its service was the best it had been for many years.
Speaking during a Westminster Hall debate on Royal Mail performance, Mr Darling said that on a visit to a sorting office Newton Abbot Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley had been told that undelivered post was hidden at the back of the office so he wouldn’t see it.
“There are some sharp practices occurring,” he said, adding that the parking charge delay which resulted in an enforcement organisation chasing up the unpaid fine was ‘utterly shameful’.
And, he went on: “Perhaps the most poignant issue is missed appointments, and I am aware of a number of examples in my constituency which impact not only people’s health, but also the hospitals.
“We are seeing the Royal Mail, in effect, vandalising the service by failing to deliver post in a timely manner, which is utterly shocking.”
He said when he raised concerns with Royal Mail he received ‘bureaucratic drivel’ in reply.
Exeter’s Labour MP Steve Race, meanwhile, has met senior representatives from the watchdog Ofcom to call for action on postal service reliability in Exeter.
He said the meeting followed months of complaints from people in the city, with almost 50 individual cases raised including delays affecting time-sensitive NHS letters, benefits decisions, bank cards and bills.
Royal Mail acknowledges that service levels in Exeter have not been good enough but maintains that the service is improving and that recruitment and operational changes are having a positive impact.
Mr Race said: “In an increasingly online world, it can be easy to underestimate the value of a reliable postal service. But when you are waiting for a new bank card, a hospital appointment or even a card or letter from a relative, unpredictable delays can have a significant knock-on effect.
“I’ve heard from hundreds of Exeter people directly or through my survey who continue to experience serious delays and disruption.
Earlier this week Prime Minister Andy Burnham said his government was ready to deal with postal delays, saying the service had been ‘unacceptable for far too long’.
During Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons he said: “Post is being held up for weeks on end and it’s causing serious issues for far too many people.”
Targets set by the watchdog Ofcom say 90 per cent of first-class mail should be delivered the next day and 95 per cent of second-class mail should be delivered within three days. Ofcom lowered the targets in April, but Royal Mail has still not met them.
Mr Burnham went on: “Let’s be clear, they need to bring forward a plan to restore service standards. They need to do it quickly, or we will consider further measures.”
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “We know how important it is that customers receive their mail when expected and we take concerns about delays seriously.
“Our latest published figures show that quality of service is improving in the EX postcode area, with 81.8% of First Class letters delivered the next working day, up from 74.4% in the previous quarter.
“In the TQ postcode area, 87.4% of First Class letters were delivered the next working day. We know there is more to do and remain focused on improving the reliability and consistency of our service for customers.”
Fire service opts to restrict water usage amid severe drought hitting Devon
More than 4 in 10 South West school leaders say their schools face redundancies or restructuring
RNLI urges public to stay safe in the South West during Storm Austen
Natural flood defences shown to protect flood-prone Devon communities.
South West Water urges customers to check for leaking toilets as drought reaches critical phase
One week left to have your say on Devon's mayoral plans
Storm Austen: Check before you travel as strong winds impact rail services in Devon and Cornwall on Friday
Revised plans to repair Exeter’s Trews Weir revealed
Road users urged to take care as Storm Austen approaches
Councillors on patrol to see how Exeter is being kept safe and welcoming
Exmouth Sixth Form Football Academy Expands to Girls
New research finds no evidence that bigger councils deliver better services
Go-ahead for Newton Abbot HMO despite concerns
Get snapping now and capture prizes in tree photo competition
Devon MPs issue air ambulance funding plea to chancellor
Keeping the region’s water flowing as the drought reaches a critical phase
