lj2

I had that happen to me a couple of times. Lost some newspaper and some cheqing gum.

Brigette

I received a package last year through DHL that wasn't open. Must have been an oversight by customs.

Mummy in the foothills

In all my years here I've never hand anything arrive open. I had one thing a bit mangled, but it had been bagged and a note from the post office inside said what happened.
So I've now jinxed myself haven't I? All my Easter sweeties will be missing.

joto

If family sent cards for the kid's birthdays, (UK to UK), quite often the cards would come to us unsealed, but the sender had sealed them and said they had sent some money, both notes and cheques, and the money had gone. We asked them to tape down the envelope flaps after that. Yeah, I know it's daft sending any sort of money in the mail.

penguinbar

My husband used to work for the Royal Mail. He said it most probably happened in the UK. I've never had an issue with cards mailed from US to US but I have had issues from UK to US. He said the Royal Mail are notorious for opening mail and packages. I'm sure it happens over here as well though.

mandpete

Quick update, a family member in Devon received a greeting card from the Manchester area recently which had been sliced open and money was missing. The latest batch of opened greetings cards I received were sent from Devon and not Manchester as I thought. So I am back to thinking my mail was opened in the UK not USA.

Jscl

We've had a couple of things opened by customs over the years, and they arrive with a stamp (the pressed sort) on the front saying where they were processed. And I've had domestic US mail arrived damaged and it's been in a plastic bag with a useless, but still thoughtful I guess, apology printed on the back. I haven't had anything clearly cut open that hasn't been marked.

Just a guess but I'd say it's more likely to be opened on the sending (UK) side. That's when packages sit around, saying "gift" on the customs form, or looking like a card which might have money in, waiting for the next shipment. Once the card or package gets to the US end I think it's pretty much mechanical/automatic.

Jerseygirl

The money was still in the envelopes that I received.

Deeks

While in the UK my husband got a Father's Day card from his son, the gift card was missing. We then noticed that almost all greeting cards we received had been opened, the same was true for cards we sent to mum & dad. Then saw a Dispatches program about Royal Mail. We started writing on envelopes "No Cash Enclosed, Don't Bother Looking".

tonrob

Wow - never realized this was such a problem. Have never experienced this at all myself, and send stuff back and forth quite regularly. We are talking about the UK here, aren't we? (Just in case I joined Nigerian Expats by mistake all those years ago...).