Gahh Post Office Problems!

[Wildkid]

So I wake up this morning, go to tax my bike online but because my policy has just started again for today it said the bike wasnt insured so I couldnt do it online...


When I finished work, nipped down to the post office to tax it with all the documents etc... had the cover note on my phone as the documents were still not sent through at this time, presented them to the lady at the counter and she refuses because she needs a paper copy!


Walk down a couple of shops into a hardware store and asked him if he could recieve a fax which he said he could with his ancient fax machine.

Phoned insurance again to ask them to fax it over... fax takes bloody 15 minutes because of the Sh** machine and because it was two bloody sides I pay £1 for 2 pieces of paper.

Walk back to the post office and being served by another lady at the counter... ' Here's my documents....' ' Sorry you cant use a cover note you need the full policy details that are sent to you' ARE YOU SH**ting me!

Shout across to the women who served me before moaning my head off and she finally comes across and agrees to give me my tax disc!


THIS IS REDICULOUS!

( Sorry for my rant)

[joshwalker094]

To get tax you need, mot, certificate of insurance only! No entire policy. And the tax renewal form

[tigersaw]

I ws refused using a cover note donkeys years ago, don't think its a new rule

[joshwalker094]

I ws refused using a cover note donkeys years ago, don't think its a new rule

Weird! It even says it on the back of a tax renewal that you just need a certificate of insurance.
I've never had problem when taxing over the last few years

[yorkie_chris]

Back in the days of paper, there used to be a difference between a cover note and a certificate.


As more of a hangover than trying to get the smell of "fat bird" off your kitchen table some policies even still have notes to the effect that originals only and not printed copies are valid certificates. This is from companies which issue electronic only documents!


To be fair taking it in on the screen of a mobile phone is taking the p*ss... just print one out...

[timwilky]

Some times the post office are brilliant.

My problem for some reason I couldn't tax on line. It couldn't find my insurance on the database. So off to the post office.

The nice chap points out that my certificate is showing my registration with two numbers transposed. He says as he hands over the new disc, best get onto the insurers and get it sorted or your going to get pulled by every ANPR. This was sorted as soon as I got in and a new certificate downloaded.

[Wildkid]

To be fair taking it in on the screen of a mobile phone is taking the p*ss... just print one out...


They have taken that before so I just assumed none the wiser mate

[yorkie_chris]

Maybe taking the p*ss was too strong a term... I dunno, they are paper shufflers, give them some to shuffle it makes them feel better :)

[Wildkid]

Maybe taking the p*ss was too strong a term... I dunno, they are paper shufflers, give them some to shuffle it makes them feel better :)

Saying that, Dont you just love rocking up with a massive jar of change at a bank?? ;)

[yorkie_chris]

It's been so long since I had any money I wouldn't know!

I need to find a bank that attaches monetary value to the reciepts that sit where cash used to.

[Wildkid]

It's been so long since I had any money I wouldn't know!

I need to find a bank that attaches monetary value to the reciepts that sit where cash used to.


One day I will find a money tree!

[Iantson]

The post office depends on where you like and the type of people in your area.
I have a similar situation trying to tax my car I took out a policy with Swiftcover a few years ago a online only company paid my money printed off my certificate of insurance, My local post had a long queue so I thought as I was going into town and call later. Passing though the next village I saw another post office with no queue so I may as well get my tax here well so I thought. Sorry I cannot accept this certificate as in this area we have lots of people printing off insurance certificates getting tax and then cancelling the policy once they get the tax. I said good day to her (but in a few more abusive words about the low life scum in that area) on my way home from town I called to my local post office told him what happened at the other post office he said its well known for that trick up there but we have never had it here give me your documents.
He gave me my tax without any problems I paid him and off home I went.:D

So what I learnt from that day is that we need to keep all our local post office open so "use it before you loose it" and thank my lucky stars I don't live in an area full of low life scum.

[yorkie_chris]

It's a complete bollox reason though.
You could also get a certificate posted and then cancel the policy!

Effectively they're saying "we don't do tax discs", or you look a bit pikey? :-P

[L3nny]

Post masters love the power trip. The old hag at my village office wouldn't five you tax if there was less than a month left on your MOT, unless you knew her and then she didn't even check. Luckily post offices are rapidly becoming things of the past.

[Messie]

Hang on .... people are trying to do their job, in difficult circumstances, with little training or support from their bosses higher up the chain, then shouting swearing 'customers' come in shouting about their 'rights' because they expect everything to be be done for them, right here, right now ... and such poeple complain on an internet forum?
Local (village and small town) post offices are closing because people would rather do things online and in town, so the scant services that are left, or which open in far fetched places (our local Farm shop for example) try their hardest to cope with difficult aspects of their job. I don't know the facts for certain, but I seem to remember that such PO's are subject to being paid as far as they are used.
Old hags? Powertrips? Or maybe, trying hard to scratch a living like so many people today. Do you really need to give this people such abuse as well?
Are you really so time and patience limited that you cant try to follow simple instructions and present the documents as requested?
It's really not that difficult. Reg document, and either live MOT and insurance which can be verified online (get yourself better organised and do it online) or the actual pieces of paper.
System worked for years like this

[yorkie_chris]

I can kinda see your point, but:

MOTs due within next month... so what, you can tax online with a days MOT left, why should the PO be annoying about it?*
Insurance cover notes vs certificates vs possible fakes. Any faker is going to be able to knock up whatever they want with a laser printer. Hell you could probably have got jessops to do it for you...


I'd be arguing, it's not personal, it's about the facts.

If you want to complain, complain to the management and try get them to supply their staff with the facts.


I see a few of them who are firmly stuck in 1950 with regards the insurance/MOT enforcement value of a tax disc. In these days of ANPR and databases it doesn't really show that much.


*Is there a law about this?

[Teejayexc]

I can kinda see your point, but:

MOTs due within next month... so what, you can tax online with a days MOT left...


I'd be arguing, it's not personal, it's about the facts.






No you fecking can't.

If your stating a fact make sure first :smt018

[Wildkid]

I said I tried to do it online but it said my vehicle wasn't insured ( which it is) if you actually read.. I always get all my documentation right so to actually take a dig at me when im following process messie is a bit much.

Even when I followed the process of what the other women requested I got delayed because another worker refused in which she later asked the other member as she didnt even know herself.

I had stuff to do that day and was in a rush as I had to get on and off the motorway before I got stuck in horrendous traffic on the M25.

[yorkie_chris]

No you fecking can't.

If your stating a fact make sure first :smt018

I have done before with about 3 days remaining. Exaggeration, maybe.

A quick read suggests the requirement is for an MOT which is valid on the day the disc comes into force.

[Grant66]

If they all knew the correct rules and applied them consistently, then you'd know the position. The staff are only good as the management train them to be.

I was once refused road tax because it was my wife's car. They wouldn't let me use the passport renewal service because the passport had expired, why else would I want to renew it?

Don't go anywhere near a post office if I can possibly avoid it.

Unfortunately had to today as parcel force couldn't read a message on a door giving them two options (leave in porch or with neighbour, who was in and watched guy pull up get out of van with card in hand, he had gone by the time she got to the end of the drive).

So go to post office to collect, not the closest one BTW, with the card (note: no mention of needing ID on the card) only to be asked for ID. How did I get the card without access to the house it was supposed to be delivered to? Not good enough needed to show her a bank card with my name on it. So assuming I'd broken in to the house and took the card as long as I stole a bank card as well she was happy to hand over the goods, pointed this out, saw it ruffle her hair as it went over her head. No need for signature, sigh.


Sorry about the slight rant, feel better now.

[Teejayexc]

If they all knew the correct rules and applied them consistently, then you'd know the position. The staff are only good as the management train them to be.

I was once refused road tax because it was my wife's car. They wouldn't let me use the passport renewal service because the passport had expired, why else would I want to renew it?

Don't go anywhere near a post office if I can possibly avoid it.

Unfortunately had to today as parcel force couldn't read a message on a door giving them two options (leave in porch or with neighbour, who was in and watched guy pull up get out of van with card in hand, he had gone by the time she got to the end of the drive).

So go to post office to collect, not the closest one BTW, with the card (note: no mention of needing ID on the card) only to be asked for ID. How did I get the card without access to the house it was supposed to be delivered to? Not good enough needed to show her a bank card with my name on it. So assuming I'd broken in to the house and took the card as long as I stole a bank card as well she was happy to hand over the goods, pointed this out, saw it ruffle her hair as it went over her head. No need for signature, sigh.


Sorry about the slight rant, feel better now.

Whilst walking the dogs a couple of weeks ago I came across a pile of parcelforce, "sorry you were out, you're parcel is at....." cards, all with names and addresses clearly visible on them.

Now, if I'd have gone to the post office* armed with these would the rightful owners have been a bit miffed if their parcels had just been handed over without checking?

*highly unlikely the parcels were actually at a post office but....just saying. :neutral:

[Sir Trev]

A quick read suggests the requirement is for an MOT which is valid on the day the disc comes into force.

Interestingly the form used to say "valid MoT", with no mention of the day the disc comes into force. Was turned away at a PO for that reason a few years ago and had to screw up my day getting the MoT done a week earlier than planned as I'd have no time to get the disc on another day. Hopefully the forms are better now.

I know what Messie means but I have consistently come across rude arrogant people behind PO counters over the years who frequently don't care. Trying to keep cool and polite is sometimes a struggle faced with this provocation so it works both ways.

[L3nny]

I wasn't tarring all post office staff, simply referring to one particular woman who obviously hated doing anything other than chatting to the other old ladies from the village all day. She has since retired and a nice family have taken over and turned the place around.

Going to the post office however, unless you have nothing else to do that day and fancy a nice long chat, is one of the most painful things you have to do and when the staff are less than helpful it makes it even worse.

At the end of the day working in a post office is essentially a customer service job so if you don't have good customer service skills you should really be doing something else.

[Wildkid]

post office is essentially a customer service job so if you don't have good customer service skills you should really be doing something else.

Completely agree with this!