Charlottechicken Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 OK, I just need to get this off my chest. Before Christmas I had a run-in with officialdom at my local Post Office when sending off a small packet, containing a Christmas gift, to a friend. The counter person wanted to know exactly what was in my small, soft, lightweight parcel (a cloth tote bag, a bar of chocolate and some toiletries, if I remember). Now, I always thought that as long as you were sending something below the value that was covered by normal mail (presently £20) and it wasn't on their prohibited list (lengthy, but covers things like used batteries, gas canisters, dangerous animals etc you get the gist) then it was my business as to what exactly was in my parcel! Not anymore, it seems. I'm back on ebay flogging bits and pieces and was asked by the nice lady at the Post Office near work, for security reasons she explained, what exactly was in the parcels I was sending. So, I'm wondering, can anyone in the know shed light on this, is the mail no longer confidential?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I generate my postage online and note that when sending things overseas I have to to tick a box just to say that it doesn't contain any prohibited items. I don't have to specify. I don't have to do anything for inland items. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Yep, I've been asked too Selling wool on eBay, presents to friends etc I think it's very rude to ask, I'm tempted to say pornography Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I would email Royal Mail to ask them as it sounds a bit nosey to me. If it happens again say you are selling used underwear to dirty old men (no offence meant to any dirty old men on the forum) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapdragon Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I have been asked too but they point to the prohibited list that is on display as they do it so I just say 'none of those' and leave it at that. If a customer refused to answer I wonder if the counter staff could decline to process the parcel As far as I am aware, as long as you assure them that the parcel does not contain anything on the prohibited list then I don't think that they can insist on knowing the actual contents (one could, of course, lie ) I will ask next time I am in the village PO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 10, 2014 Author Share Posted February 10, 2014 If it happens again say you are selling used underwear to dirty old men (no offence meant to any dirty old men on the forum) I have been tempted to say it is a stool sample for lab testing, but I think it may be on the prohibited list I think it breaches the whole confidentiality of the mail service, and if I can find an email address I will ask them. I've been through the Royal Mail site and it is split into different criteria, none of which this applies to. I may attempt to contact the Post Office, as it is their staff, not Royal Mail's, who I am dealing with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I have also been asked this recently and thought it was very odd! There has obviously been some kind of circular gone round to all Post Offices asking them to do this, but at the time I thought it was exceptionally nosey and not really any of their business! (I may well try the used underwear line next time though!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 If it happens again say you are selling used underwear to dirty old men (no offence meant to any dirty old men on the forum) I have been tempted to say it is a stool sample for lab testing, but I think it may be on the prohibited list I think it breaches the whole confidentiality of the mail service, and if I can find an email address I will ask them. I've been through the Royal Mail site and it is split into different criteria, none of which this applies to. I may attempt to contact the Post Office, as it is their staff, not Royal Mail's, who I am dealing with. You can send stool samples in the post, I work for screening services and we send out bowel screening kits which people do at home then post back to us Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I was about to say, I've posted one of those (but just used the post box) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 It's a bit pointless of them to ask - after all, there is no check on what people post in pilllar boxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 I have just done a quick google about this. Seems a lot of people are very angry about it, and I am not surprised. It doesn't appear to be a legal requirement, but one guy wasn't allowed to post his parcel as he wouldn't say what was in it. I wonder if you can just say I know it doesn't contain any thing not the prohibited list. I first encountered it last year, but thought it was because we were sending an item abroad. But then when I posted my Christmas crafty swap, I was asked again. Trouble is, I am the sort of person when asked something, I answer. I will have another look at their Ts and Cs and see what they say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 10, 2014 Author Share Posted February 10, 2014 Thanks for all your replies, I think I'm going to make up a small list of mildly embarrassing items to match the sizes of parcel I am sending and see what happens. I will have to google and see what others are saying about this, glad it's not just me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I have been asked this recently - not at the small sub-post office near work, but at the bigger one in town; I questioned them about it, and they said that it's a new regulation about prohibited items, and that much like airlines, they have to ask, although a customer could tell them anything. Daft, but it's their job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 just tell it's confidential items and if they don't like that you'll take your business to DHL or TNT (other carriers are available) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Uh huh - I have been asked too. Its fine, doesn't bother me in the least, but I did reply with 'Sticky toffee popcorn, Bagpuss knickers & chocolate hearts' the other week when I was sending a care pack to my daughter at Uni! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I get this at my small local PO too - although interestingly it's only the boss that ever asks me - the staff don't - I use the PO a lot and the staff there know me quite well, which I think is why they don't ask me - the boss knows me too, but he says he can't take the chance and not ask as I might be a "mystery shopper"! As I've mentioned to him before, it's all very well asking me what's in my parcel, but who is going to check if my answer is truthful? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 http://www.royalmail.com/business/help-and-support/tell-me-about-restricted-goods Here is the full list, for personal customers. Most things which may be dodgy, like perfume for instance, are restricted by volume, & its a pretty generous size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I would email Royal Mail to ask them as it sounds a bit nosey to me. If it happens again say you are selling used underwear to dirty old men (no offence meant to any dirty old men on the forum) Sorry just sprayed my coffee laughing at the mental picture at the PO counter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 When DS was in Afghan I used to have to fill out a declaration of items in his parcels he is currently in UAE and I haven't been asked to fill out anything or asked what the parcels contain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 It is a new regime which started about 6 weeks ago, & shouldn't really cause too many problems for most people, unless you are sending large amounts of liquids, or something potentially corrosive or dangerous. The restrictions have always been there I think, just that now they have to assess each parcel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Our post office has been asking for over a year now as I was asked what was in the parcel - home made clotted cream fudge. The girl drooled and said if I had any left over could she have testers! Didn't really think anything of it. But there should be a way of weighing by yourself and working out the cost - just go to the counter and ask for stamps for that item and then pop it in the box if flat enough. I've noticed it only happens when you ask them to weigh it or send it recorded etc. I do like the idea of saying something rude though like the naughty knicks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
