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Discuss: Pain of the post office queue
POST office customers in London are being made to wait nearly half an hour to get served. What are you experience?
Postwatch says waiting times of more than 15 minutes are common.
But the postal services watchdog complains some people are forced to queue for up to 28 minutes before being served.
This is six times longer than the official guideline, which says customers should wait four minutes and 48 seconds on average.
The Postwatch study comes after 160 branches were shut across London last year.
What are you experiences of being served in the post office? Should more be done to tackle long queues and long waiting times?
Is the service provided by the post office when you finally get served good enough?
Away from the post office, are you happy with the quality of mail services in your area? Is your post regularly delivered and at a good time of the day?
Have your say - add your comments below.
9:54am Thursday 2nd October 2008
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CommentPosted by: LV, Dartford on 12:08pm Thu 2 Oct 08
I had to go to the post office yesterday to tax my car a couple of days ago and waited around 45 minutes. I avoided lunch time and the morning and still couldn't believe I had to wait this long!
I had to go to the post office yesterday to tax my car a couple of days ago and waited around 45 minutes. I avoided lunch time and the morning and still couldn't believe I had to wait this long!
Posted by: Lizzielooloo on 12:17pm Thu 2 Oct 08
I must say the post office near to my work is very good and to be honest longest I have ever had to wait in there is 10 mins. Although I must say I don't often have to make a trip to the Post Office. LV next time tax your car on line hun, so much easier.
I must say the post office near to my work is very good and to be honest longest I have ever had to wait in there is 10 mins. Although I must say I don't often have to make a trip to the Post Office. LV next time tax your car on line hun, so much easier.
Posted by: John on 1:50pm Thu 2 Oct 08
When has your tax disk ever been checked - having one is a waste of money!! I find if you drive quick enough there is no way a policeman can see for sure if the tax disk is in date or not...also when parking do so in a pub carpark and other such places as these are classified as private land so no need for a tax disk!!
I will also post this comment on the credit crunch blog to help others to save.
When has your tax disk ever been checked - having one is a waste of money!! I find if you drive quick enough there is no way a policeman can see for sure if the tax disk is in date or not...also when parking do so in a pub carpark and other such places as these are classified as private land so no need for a tax disk!!
I will also post this comment on the credit crunch blog to help others to save.
Posted by: LV on 1:58pm Thu 2 Oct 08
Lizzie I was going to do it online but I wouldn't have received it in time. I will be doing it online in future.
John I wish I didn't have to pay for tax or insurance but would rather do it then get caught (would be just my luck lol)
Lizzie I was going to do it online but I wouldn't have received it in time. I will be doing it online in future.
John I wish I didn't have to pay for tax or insurance but would rather do it then get caught (would be just my luck lol)
Posted by: John on 2:58pm Thu 2 Oct 08
LV - you worry to much, the easiest way not to get caught is unwind a wire coat hanger then attach it to your car to make it look like a mini cab aerial. The only drive late at night....no one ever stops you and you can earn some petrol money at the same time.
Credit Crunch tip number two!!
LV - you worry to much, the easiest way not to get caught is unwind a wire coat hanger then attach it to your car to make it look like a mini cab aerial. The only drive late at night....no one ever stops you and you can earn some petrol money at the same time.
Credit Crunch tip number two!!
Posted by: Lizzielooloo on 3:08pm Thu 2 Oct 08
Haha John you ol cynic you (loving those credit crunch tips). LV I think as long as you have got it taxed you are ok.
John they do check….. I have become (yes I am a saddo) and addict to Road Wars on Sky One, and the police now (apparently!) have this super doper equipment which by reading your number plate can tell if a car is taxed and insured. So I think I will always make sure my little motor is legal.
I don’t think I could live with myself either, as if you had an accident, you would not be covered on an un taxed car.
Haha John you ol cynic you (loving those credit crunch tips). LV I think as long as you have got it taxed you are ok.
John they do check….. I have become (yes I am a saddo) and addict to Road Wars on Sky One, and the police now (apparently!) have this super doper equipment which by reading your number plate can tell if a car is taxed and insured. So I think I will always make sure my little motor is legal.
I don’t think I could live with myself either, as if you had an accident, you would not be covered on an un taxed car.
Posted by: LV on 3:12pm Thu 2 Oct 08
Lizzie you are right. On a trip to Thorpe Park my dad got stopped on the motorway as his MOT had run out and he didnt know. They can check everything in a second
Lizzie you are right. On a trip to Thorpe Park my dad got stopped on the motorway as his MOT had run out and he didnt know. They can check everything in a second
Posted by: John on 3:24pm Thu 2 Oct 08
Your mistake is having the original number plates on. Pick someone you dont like and use the same number plate as them.....then you are free to speed freely knowing that not only are you helping the economy you are also making yourself happy!
Your mistake is having the original number plates on. Pick someone you dont like and use the same number plate as them.....then you are free to speed freely knowing that not only are you helping the economy you are also making yourself happy!
Posted by: Lizzielooloo on 4:01pm Thu 2 Oct 08
Cheers John, where do you live again, I'll be round to do a bit of cloning of the old number plates.
Just goes to show LV. When I drive to/from work I see the police at certain places with their camera's at the ready
Cheers John, where do you live again, I'll be round to do a bit of cloning of the old number plates.
Just goes to show LV. When I drive to/from work I see the police at certain places with their camera's at the ready
Posted by: John on 4:26pm Thu 2 Oct 08
Work - you two have so much to learn!!
Work - you two have so much to learn!!
Posted by: knowlsey, sidcup on 5:20pm Thu 2 Oct 08
Stop flirting your probobly both repulsivbe looking creatures.The post office sucks.
Stop flirting your probobly both repulsivbe looking creatures.The post office sucks.
Posted by: s james, swampley on 6:02pm Thu 2 Oct 08
Not likely the post office adverts we see on TV. Where celebrities walk in to be served, to find no queue, and served imediately by a caring employee. in reality you get a long queue, satff overworked with their manager doing nothing pacing up and down , ignorant of old pensioners that have queued for far too long.
Not likely the post office adverts we see on TV. Where celebrities walk in to be served, to find no queue, and served imediately by a caring employee. in reality you get a long queue, satff overworked with their manager doing nothing pacing up and down , ignorant of old pensioners that have queued for far too long.
Posted by: P C plod, london on 8:19pm Thu 2 Oct 08
John be very careful. The law has changed now. Anyone caught with no tax, no insurance, no driving licence will automatically have their car towed and crushed. Of course you can always pay the fine and pay to get your car back!
John be very careful. The law has changed now. Anyone caught with no tax, no insurance, no driving licence will automatically have their car towed and crushed. Of course you can always pay the fine and pay to get your car back!
Posted by: John, Catford on 10:31pm Thu 2 Oct 08
I visited catford post office earlier. It always amazes me how many staff are on duty when the Q is out the door. Today I visited at 1430. I counted 43 people in the Q and only five staff on duty. Why do they have thirteen windows one asks? I also do not understand why they don't have things such as passport application forms available from a dispenser and even a self service machine for postage stamps. You have to Q for absolutely everything! I am going to email postwatch and the post office about this.
I visited catford post office earlier. It always amazes me how many staff are on duty when the Q is out the door. Today I visited at 1430. I counted 43 people in the Q and only five staff on duty. Why do they have thirteen windows one asks? I also do not understand why they don't have things such as passport application forms available from a dispenser and even a self service machine for postage stamps. You have to Q for absolutely everything! I am going to email postwatch and the post office about this.
Posted by: Mark, Dartford on 7:33am Fri 3 Oct 08
When I was in Gravesend last month, I went to the Post Office in WH Smith.The queue was ridiculous and only two staff on.
When I was in Gravesend last month, I went to the Post Office in WH Smith.The queue was ridiculous and only two staff on.
Posted by: Anonymous, London on 3:42pm Mon 6 Oct 08
I used the post office near Charing Cross station on the rare occasion that I don't have the right stamps and it is not unusual to have to wait more than 45 minutes. There are 19 service "windows" but never more than 5 of them open at any one time and the staff seem to take a delight in serving people as slowly as possible. It is a disgrace!
I used the post office near Charing Cross station on the rare occasion that I don't have the right stamps and it is not unusual to have to wait more than 45 minutes. There are 19 service "windows" but never more than 5 of them open at any one time and the staff seem to take a delight in serving people as slowly as possible. It is a disgrace!
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