British Expats

British Expats (https://britishexpats.com/forum/)
-   USA (https://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-57/)
-   -   Damaged Mail Arriving From UK (https://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-57/damaged-mail-arriving-uk-753473/)

mandpete Apr 1st 2012 3:12 pm

Damaged Mail Arriving From UK
 
Since the beginning of the year my daughter has received three greeting cards which seem to have been sliced open on two sides. The latest being an Easter Card which arrived yesterday. The strange thing is the small amount of dollars in each card has never been taken, which leads me to think the envelopes are being opened in the UK - Greater Manchester/Yorkshire areas.

A parcel also arrived recently which had been opened and then resealed with some of the much anticipated chocolate missing.

I am not sure whether to complain to USPS or get the senders to complain to the Royal Mail.

Has this been happening to anyone else?

Derrygal Apr 1st 2012 3:28 pm

Re: Damaged Mail Arriving From UK
 
I just received an Easter card from my aunt in Scotland a couple of days ago. Just like you said - opened on 3 sides, but the card itself was okay. I know there wouldn't be any money in it. My aunt couldn't afford to send me money (she's 89) and I wouldn't expect her too. Still, it's strange the way the envelope arrived - opened on 3 sides but the card was intact.

Jerseygirl Apr 1st 2012 3:36 pm

Re: Damaged Mail Arriving From UK
 

Originally Posted by mandpete (Post 9983422)
Since the beginning of the year my daughter has received three greeting cards which seem to have been sliced open on two sides. The latest being an Easter Card which arrived yesterday. The strange thing is the small amount of dollars in each card has never been taken, which leads me to think the envelopes are being opened in the UK - Greater Manchester/Yorkshire areas.

A parcel also arrived recently which had been opened and then resealed with some of the much anticipated chocolate missing.

I am not sure whether to complain to USPS or get the senders to complain to the Royal Mail.

Has this been happening to anyone else?

I've had the same thing happen to envelopes and packages. Cash was left in the envelopes...although I do now ask people not to send cash.

I think it's US customs that open them...don't know what you can do about it.

mandpete Apr 1st 2012 4:03 pm

Re: Damaged Mail Arriving From UK
 
Three Easter cards for the kids arrived on Friday along with two letters from HMRC. I have just noticed that two of the cards have been sliced open both with money still inside. The letters from HMRC were still intact but arrived via Malta.

My Mum loves to send 'a few dollars' over every now and then but I think I'll ask her to just send cards/letters and I'll give the kids some money.

I will try and find out if it is US customs rather than either postal service.

pennylessinindia Apr 1st 2012 4:17 pm

Re: Damaged Mail Arriving From UK
 
my this happened to me last week and i blamed then Indian post, may have to take it all back:confused:
hang on is this an April fool!

Weeze Apr 1st 2012 5:19 pm

Re: Damaged Mail Arriving From UK
 
We've never had it happen, but our mail comes via Mr Weeze's work address in London with their post. That suggests it is US side it happens to me.

kimilseung Apr 1st 2012 5:50 pm

Re: Damaged Mail Arriving From UK
 
We had money taken from mail on a couple of occasions. We too tell people not to do it now. We suspected it was US side, but I forget what we based that on.

cosmicjunkie Apr 1st 2012 6:03 pm

Re: Damaged Mail Arriving From UK
 
Funny you should say this because I mentioned this to my husband just the other day.I too have received cards and letters which have clearly been opened or at least look like someone has tried to open them. Not all of these letters have arrived from England. Two weeks ago my long awaited green card arrived by priority mail in an envelope which was wide open!!! It could have easily fallen out!

fatbrit Apr 1st 2012 7:03 pm

Re: Damaged Mail Arriving From UK
 
Snail mail, eh? How quaint!

rpjs Apr 1st 2012 8:55 pm

Re: Damaged Mail Arriving From UK
 
Not noticed that lately, but last year I ordered some UK train tickets from TheTrainLine and the envelope was open at one end. It also looked very water damaged and I assumed it had got wet and rubbed open.

I'd've thought if mail was opened for any official reason it would be resealed with some tape bearing the mark of the organisation that opened it. Back in the day, we'd occasionally get parcels from my aunt in Holland that had been opened and re-sealed by HM Customs (and occasionally a letter inside saying they'd confiscated plant bulbs that she'd sent us).

mandpete Apr 1st 2012 9:46 pm

Re: Damaged Mail Arriving From UK
 

Originally Posted by rpjs (Post 9983846)
I'd've thought if mail was opened for any official reason it would be resealed with some tape bearing the mark of the organisation that opened it.

That's exactly what I thought too.

We have received damaged domestic mail from USPS in the past which has been placed in a sealed plastic bag along with an apology.

Bob Apr 1st 2012 10:07 pm

Re: Damaged Mail Arriving From UK
 

Originally Posted by mandpete (Post 9983422)

A parcel also arrived recently which had been opened and then resealed with some of the much anticipated chocolate missing.

That's US customs having a poke around.

When the missus was moving back to the US years back, she sent a few boxes back in the mail, couple of them had been opened and reclosed by customs...the weirdest one was finding someone elses knickers in one of her boxes :lol:

Bob Apr 1st 2012 10:09 pm

Re: Damaged Mail Arriving From UK
 

Originally Posted by rpjs (Post 9983846)
... Back in the day, we'd occasionally get parcels from my aunt in Holland that had been opened and re-sealed by HM Customs (and occasionally a letter inside saying they'd confiscated plant bulbs that she'd sent us).

Plant bulbs you say? :lol:

Jerseygirl Apr 1st 2012 10:24 pm

Re: Damaged Mail Arriving From UK
 

Originally Posted by mandpete (Post 9983916)
That's exactly what I thought too.

We have received damaged domestic mail from USPS in the past which has been placed in a sealed plastic bag along with an apology.

We once received the same...however that was the USPS...I think it's customs that are opening overseas mail and they tend not to make apologies. :D

rpjs Apr 2nd 2012 2:17 am

Re: Damaged Mail Arriving From UK
 

Originally Posted by Bob (Post 9983960)
Plant bulbs you say? :lol:

You think they'd've been satisfied with confiscation if they were more than plant bulbs?


All times are GMT. The time now is 1:26 am.

Powered by vBulletin: ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.