Post office worker takes a shortcut

I bought a ranch style home for myself and my two daughters nearly six years ago. Unfortunately, two of the bedrooms face the front of the home and the neighbourhood Post Office is seem to think that it's okay to drop past the windows with the mail instead of using the sidewalk. I have asked the Postal Carrier(s) nicely to refrain from walking on the lawn in the front of our home and to use the sidewalk instead, but so far my words appear to have fallen on deaf ears.

As if I need to explain this simple request, I had a spinal fusion surgery and was laid up in bed for months in one of the rooms at the front of the house. My ignorant Postal Carrier walks right in front of my bedroom window each day because he is presumably too lazy to take any other route! I explained to him when I was a child, I was taught there was a public side and a private side of a sidewalk. I learned what "private property" meant. For some reason or other the people working in my local Post Office have no clue what this means!

I have personally asked the postal carriers to stay off my lawn for the simple fact they are making a path and ruining the lawn, let alone depriving me of the privacy that I am entitled to in my home! After numerous calls to the Post Office and notes on my mailbox or around my property, do you think anyone over at the Post Office actually understands? No, it would appear they do not!

After yet another phone call today, I am told "This is the first I have heard about it... and sometimes the carrier needs to take shortcuts to be able to deliver all the mail in one day..."

Excuses and more excuses, they can't even understand why I am upset by this! This has been going on for six years. I do have multiple sclerosis! and I am being as calm as I can be. I even went so far as to send my mail somewhere else because the situation is so ridiculous!

Does anyone have a solution to this? How can I get it through to them that that taking a shortcut through my property is depriving me of my privacy?!

By: Bluesformail

Other Related Gripes

Home delivery at your convenience - what's that?
I don't like cutting the grass
Working with a lazy half a job Bob who cuts corners
Recorded delivery goods damaged
Debenhams Direct online shopping disaster
My first experience claiming benefits
Fed up with rogue tradesmen
Heating system upgrade is causing stress
Rude shop staff lack basic good manners
Bluetooth phone headset didn't arrive
Village road used as a rat run by traffic - so what?
Junk mail from banks and credit card companies
DHL lost my parcel, failed to deliver package

Comments from visitors

Post a comment

Page: 1 2

Sort:

Postal management requires us to cross lawns, plain and simple. I have a long suburban route with big yards. I have gone for years without crossing peoples lawns and using the sidewalks. The other day management conducted a "route travel" to adjust route times. I am now ordered under threat of discipline for "not following instructions" to cross any lawn possible as it is an "obvoius shortcut" and unless we get a note in writing from the customer to not cross their lawn it is to be considered OK. So before everyone keeps going on about the cocky mail carriers who have no respect for the lawn and want to get done early, maybe take a moment to think the real reason why we do it. We get paid by the hour and try to do our jobs the safest way possible, but sometimes people who sit in the offices and never carry mail think they have the best ideas, and sadly we have to follow them if we want to keep our jobs.

-4

Click to rate

Report

localmailcarrier - 30-Nov-11 20:23

LOL! I Just had another thought..... put out some lawn ornaments, like those plastic flamingos etc.... that would be a riot. Just till they get the idea. LOL!

Click to rate

Report

NoNoNannette - 14-Nov-11 18:57

Might I suggest putting a tree or potted plant in front of your window or maybe a little wire fence? I am having the same problem but it seems the mail carrier won't walk across the the tiny fence around my porch. I'm thinking about lining my walk way with it because he surely didn't abide by my request when we planted grass seed.

-2

Click to rate

Report

NoNoNannette - 14-Nov-11 18:54

It`s only a lawn, and privacy what is he on your lawn a full 5 seconds of your day why don`t you grow a heart and be kinder to your fellow man

-11

Click to rate

Report

sowhat - 19-Apr-11 23:33

Hi I recently purchassed an item and it is being sent out by Royal Mail
The item needs to be returned as I cancelled the purchasse
I chose to do this whithin the 7 days cooling of period
and need to know should I refuse the item and get Royal Mail to return the item or accept it and pay additional postage to send the product back
so was looking for info on my rights to refuse the item and get the Royal Mail to return it to sender without incurring additonal postage charges but I can find no information on this

-9

Click to rate

Report

Fitter - 17-Dec-10 04:26

Are you allowed to put up a fence around your property? That should clearly demarcate which is public and which is private property. Sometimes this can act as a psychological deterrent,

-7

Click to rate

Report

ajp - 31-Oct-10 22:48

Helpful blog, bookmarked the website with hopes to read more!

Click to rate

Report

1982 - 21-Oct-10 08:50

Why in the pass have postmen gone on strike, God only knows! Our neighbour is a postman or should I say part-time postman. He goes out the same time as my husband 5.45am and is back home at 12 noon and in bed by 1.00pm until 5.00pm and my husband is still at work at 7.00pm working a 14 hour day. What a life!!!!!!! Our neighbour is also allowed a day off also in the week. How can they strike?????

-9

Click to rate

Report

Joanne - 25-Aug-10 20:17

Anyone noticed that Postman Pat leaves red elastic bands all over the place? (UK Posties). One got caught up in my Flymo the other day and jammed the blade. Litterbugs...

-4

Click to rate

Report

Rider of the Apocalypse - 21-Apr-10 12:08

I am dealing with the same thing in Fremont, CA, USA. My mail carrier was nice enough to knock on the door after receiving my note requesting that she not walk across the grass. She told me that her supervisors are mandating that they take the shortest route and that they get written up if they don't. She also told me that somehow they have a "right" to walk across my lawn. I will be investigating this further, as it is total BS to me.

Click to rate

Report

Steve Wilson - 1-Sep-09 19:27

Enter the third world. I thought I was in some exotic bazaar in the far east, in the Punjab perhaps. What had I done? Had I rubbed some bottle up the wrong way? No, I was in my local high street's main post office. What a shabby institution that has become, a fine institution reduced by Thatcherist economics to total penury. No one who works in my local Post Office speaks the Queen's English. All of them are foreigners, recent arrivals in the land . Why? The discrimination again hiring local indigenous citizens seems to have probably destroyed the value of the job. No one wanting a real job would want to work there ever again, a career? forget it, 40 years work for a pension not worth the price of a toilet roll, you have got to be kidding.

You have to wait in line like as if you are expecting a hand out from Oxfam, 25 minutes to buy a stamp for Europe. 45 years ago you could have bought the necessary stamps from the machine outside the building. Not anymore.

Click to rate

Report

Stamped On - 26-Apr-09 13:20

I actually do have help for you. In the Postal Carriers union contract it allows for postal workers to cross your yard to aid in their delivery time. That being said, it is also in their contract that if you go to the post office and fill out a paper requesting they not cross your yard they must abide by it. Remind your carrier its in his/her contract. Good luck

+10

Click to rate

Report

jim - 31-Jan-09 21:40

Try ringing Royal Mail instead of talking to your local post office. The post office staff are not responsible for your mail delivery.
Or go along to your local Royal Mail delivery office and speak to the manager.

Click to rate

Report

Santiago - 22-Jan-09 13:00

Our postal carrier walks down the street, leaps over our wall, tramples across the garden, knocks into the roses and then uses the letterbox at the front of the house. Have actually had to stand out in the garden to stop him.

-11

Click to rate

Report

Sally - midlands - 22-Jan-09 12:15

I am a carrier. the problem is a lot of offices have different and beginning carriers on same route each day. call the post office and ask for carrier supervisor. they need to make a sign that is put everyday in mail case for your house that reminds carrier "stay off lawn at house #___". carriers can get in trouble for not obeying.

Click to rate

Report

femailman - 22-Dec-08 06:56

@Santino 22 Nov 2008
Thanks for that,not sure whether to take it as a compliment or not really. You are the reason why websites like this are such good fun. You obviously don't understand humour, a bit like most Americans really. BTW it's O.K to insult a whole nation but don't pick on my mother it wasn't her fault. Blame it on the crap I watch on the TV most of which comes from the USof A where I believe you can buy a gun in a supermarket with your groceries.

Click to rate

Report

Nick - 22-Nov-08 20:33

@Nick 3 Mar 2008

You sir are a misanthropist for no other reason than to create hate and discontent. What was the point of your ignorant comment? Do you really think the government of a country determines the caliber of the people in it? I personally am not enamored with the governments of many countries, but I have found that the people living in those countries are kind and respectful people which I would be proud to call my neighbors. You are the reason why websites, which you can post, on have made it possible for other users to delete or hide ignorant comments. I would say you should have your mother wash your mouth out with soap, but retrospect she is the one who probably taught you your small mindedness. I guess the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree

Click to rate

Report

Santino - 22-Nov-08 00:45

Bluesformail, you're obviously from that great nation the USofA so why don't you just buy a gun and shoot the postie ? I here that's OK in the greatest nation on Earth as he is trespassing anyway.

Click to rate

Report

Nick - 3-Mar-08 18:59

First of all it is a letter carriers duty to take the shortest path possible. That means he is required to walk your lawn. to say that he is ignorant is an insult and maybe that is why he is not doing what you have asked him. I suggest putting this in writing and taking it to your post office and ask them if they could use your sidewalk and if not you might have a better understanding what is going on.

-10

Click to rate

Report

hacker - 2-Mar-08 21:26

I am a letter carrier to. I must say that it isa very hard job but one that is considered customer service 95% of the time. It is our job to keep t he customers happy and we do get paid $17 a hour so we are getting paid to make a slight detour to protect your yard. I have a route that is primarily driven but some of my customers ask for me to stay in a certaain area to protect the grass from being run over. And as they request I do that just for there box. Her privacy is her privacy and her carrier should understand that if she is the only one asking it should be done. They can cut accros others yards untill they say something to. I am terribly sorry that the post office in your area has treated you in this way. I wish I was your carrier. But if this wont stop I have a idea, Take 4 peices of wood and put them in all corners and put string around them and put a great big sign that says stay off grass. Hazard to your health if stepped on. Maybe then they might stop.

-9

Click to rate

Report

Postal Carrier of 19939 - 30-Sep-07 21:46

Page: 1 2

Sort: