Anyone use medichecks and send their blood parcel next day delivery at the post office rather than use the label and post?

[ukred]

Anyone use medichecks and send their blood parcel next day delivery at the post office rather than use the label and post?

[bantam12]

I always use guaranteed next day delivery.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

I always use Special Delivery Guaranteed Next Day by 1pm.The cost should be reduced by the amount of the pre-paid label on the envelope.

If you are going to do it then make sure you keep the receipt safe as the tracking number is on there and you can track it on Royal Mail's website. If it fails to arrive by their guaranteed time you can claim the fee back.

[humanbean in reply to SeasideSusie]

I always use guaranteed next day delivery by 1pm. Nobody has ever reduced the cost of it by the cost of the postage on the pre-paid envelope. I'm feeling rather miffed and hard done by!

For anyone who says that paying extra for the delivery that I do is unnecessary, I do have my reasons...

If I was to use the envelope as supplied and my blood samples got delayed or lost in the post I would have to go through the whole process of testing all over again, while having to deal with either or both of Medichecks and the Post Office / Royal Mail. I have other health issues besides hypothyroidism and I have very little energy, either physical or mental, to deal with those problems. So I pay for the better posting option in order to reduce the risk that I haven't got the energy to cope with such problems.

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to humanbean]

At one time it was hit and miss and I thought it was down to the counter clerk. I asked one day and was told no they don't reduce the cost. So I contacted Royal Mail and the confirmed they don't reduce the cost. This was probably 2 or 3 years ago.

Then suddenly the cost of the prepaid postage was taken off the fee, I didn't say anything, was just happy to pay less. When I looked at the receipt it was printed on there "less prepaid postage" (or similar") but I don't know if the counter clerk has to input this so again, it could be hit and miss.

[ukred in reply to SeasideSusie]

The woman at the ppost office wouldn’t take the prepaid envelop cost off. She said it was a different service

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ukred]

Like I said, it's hit and miss, I don't question it now, just grateful if it's taken off . It could very well be down to the counter clerk inputting the "deduct prepaid postage" and maybe the one at my post office has got it wrong.

[Zephyrbear]

I did my latest blood test with Medichecks last Wednesday and used their prepaid envelope (which had the new lab address) and put it into a normal post box. I got a message the following day (Thursday) to say it had arrived and I got my results the day after that (Friday), so I think their postal system worked extremely well without having to resort to paying extra...

[Hibs1 in reply to Zephyrbear]

Same with me

[Fruitandnutcase]

I always do and I always send it on a Monday or Tuesday even though I know it will get there next day.

[Carys21]

They told me by email when I asked this question to stick it in the priority post box and they would send a new kit FOC if it got lost in the post. Therefore you are wasting your money paying extra. Mine still got there the next day.

[ukred in reply to Carys21]

I’m only doing this because it took 4 days to get to medichecks last time

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Carys21]

There are a few members, like ukred, whose samples have taken quite a few days to arrive regardless of the "Tracked 24" label now included (which is not guaranteed to be there in 24 hours) and the priority post boxes. Those of us who want to ensure our samples get there next day and don't want to go through another fingerprick test and waste time if it gets lost in the post are happy to pay the extra.

[Carys21 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Fair enough, I thought the priority post boxes were guaranteed, guess I was just lucky then

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Carys21]

My post box is a priority one but a sample to MonitorMyHealth, which uses Business Class mail rather than Tracked 24, still took 2 or 3 days.

[Miffie in reply to SeasideSusie]

I have today posted thyroid test to MMH. The envelope was marked First class. I asked for next day and paid £6:85. Think I could have driven there for less fuel, I live 90 minutes away. It certainly increases the cost of a basic test quite significantly. I should have remembered to ask about deduction of pre paid. Having a senior day! 😁

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Miffie]

I have also posted one to MMH today. The counter clerk was training a new employee so going through every step for Special Delivery. She showed her the pre-paid amount on the return envelope, told her how much it was (£1.29) showed her the "deduct pre-paid amount" button on her keyboard then asked me to pay £5.56.

humanbean this might interest you.

[humanbean in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you for the info. My most recent blood sample cost me £6 or £7 to post I think, so they didn't take off the pre-paid amount for me.

[ukred]

Well I'm panicking now because I had trouble with late arrival at medichecks a few months ago I sent two tests today by next day delivery. Only one of them has come up on the medichecks dashboard The other says 'awaiting sample'. I've rang them and they are saying don't panic but.......

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to ukred]

ukred

I sent two tests today by next day delivery

You sent them today??? You mean yesterday?

I have had Special Delivery Next Day take 2 days, if yours does then claim your fee back, you do it online, you need the tracking numberoff your certificate of posting.

[humanbean in reply to ukred]

Presumably the two parcels weren't exactly the same test? Perhaps one of them has gone to a different part of the lab, and so the receipt of it might be handled by different people.

I sent off a basic thyroid test and an iron deficiency test to Medichecks a couple of months ago. I put both boxes in the same envelope. One of them (the thyroid one I think) showed up on the website as having arrived quite a long time before the other one.

[ukred in reply to humanbean]

Thanks for that I am just hoping that has happened

[ukred]

OK so I had my blood tests (adv thyroid & IFAB). Monday and posted next day delivery as soon as the post office opened at 8.30. I did this because my last lot in Feb took 4 days to get there. Now I’m thinking it was medichecks at faukt all along! Not only was my tsh different to an nhs one done at the same time last time but it took over a week.

So this Tues the IFAB test showed up as ‘testing’ on Tues and complete Yesterday. My dadhboard is still saying the adv thyroid is ‘awaiting sample’! After a phone call each day I’ve kept being told its received and being tested! I don’t care how much cheaper they are, I won’t use medichecks again. Its far too stressful

[ukred]

For anyone following this. I had problems with my sample taking 4 days to reach medichecks in Feb so when I had my blood taken on Monday (10th) I decided to pay the £6+ for next day delivery. I placed two tests in the envelope and by Tuesday one had shown up received. The other didn't. Wednesday the first test was complete. The other 'awaiting sample'. Each day I rang and emailed and was told it would be looked into. It's Friday....they have finally put 'sample received'. Where's it been????? I wanted these tests quickly. I'm still waiting...

[ukred]

OK the saga continues .....So the IF sample was completed the day after it arrived by next day delivery I had paid extra for. Since that day - Wednesday- I have contacted medichecks every single day for an update on the other sample in the same parcel. I gave up B12 for these tests for 2 weeks and felt awful.... So yesterday I get an email back saying 'sorry about the delay' - and BLAMING ROYAL MAIL!!! The parcel was delivered on Tuesday. Today it still says 'sample received'. So I ring up and am told it's with the doctor. Then get an email to invite me for a clinic appointment for a blood test????!!! Have no idea what is going on. Was told AGAIN to 'leave it with me' and when I asked for a supervisor I was told it would be 'within 5 days' 7 days after test and it's expediated delivery a day later....and no idea what's happened to it...

[ukred]

OK just got results. Feel a little worried at trusting them - what if the blood was left in a cupboard??? But going to do another post......thanks if you followed this far