Beware - RM Special Delivery for home test kits

[Jefner]

Usually with home test kits they have a prepaid label for return but I always prefer to send next day Special Delivery.

No issues until this week when I sent two blood tests and both took 3 days to get there and Lab has informed me that both samples are unusable; thankfully on this occasion they are sending me a freeby kit, but because I restarted certain supplements there is now going to be a delay in me being able to redo the test.

I phoned RM to complain and mention how much money they had cost me, and had this dingbat female tell me special delivery next day wasn't guaranteed and there were current delays with that service, so I kindly reminded her that the word "guaranteed" was plastered all over their website with nothing currently detailed against that service saying there were delays. "I am very sorry but all you can do it put in a claim"

RM are clearly not to be trusted so I am going to have to find a next day courier service for future, so please be aware so you don't get caught out

[bantam12]

I always used to send them by special delivery but decided it wasn’t worth the effort as all local post offices have closed, so now I just bung them in normal post box and so far not had any problem with them being delivered next day.

[Jefner in reply to bantam12]

i don't normally have issues but warning others that there currently seems to be

[Obsdian]

I post mine in a post box I know gets collected three times daily. I get mine in before the 9am collection.

[Lottyplum in reply to Obsdian]

Ditto! In post box for collection by 9am! MMH received following day+results in same afternoon. A parcel I was expecting was 2 days late thanks to Royal Mail - nothing royal about em!

[jimh111]

First class mail can take many days. In our part of London collection from the local post box is at 8:30 am and delivery in the afternoon. Thus, if you post at 9:00 am Monday 'next day' means Wednesday afternoon - if they achieve it. In practice first class mail can take several days. I have some sympathy for Royal Mail, the couriers cherry pick they deliver to the large cities and charge more for the more remote places. Not a level playing field.

Back to the subject! Sadly, we can't rely on Royal Mail although I have found Special Delivery more reliable. It's important to submit a claim, you don't get much but it's something.

[Sparklingsunshine in reply to jimh111]

I got £12 worth of stamps when my £3.35 recorded letter went astray. I was surprised actually, it was more generous than I expected. That said I'd rather they just improved the service.

[Sparklingsunshine]

I've sent off tests to MMH by SD and never had an issue. I've just received my next test kit. I must admit I haven't tested since February. Royal Mail have gone downhill so much. I sent an important NHS letter via recorded delivery recently, which never got there and I did claim compensation.

It wasnt the cost so much as the principle. If you use a tracked service then they have a duty to ensure it gets there. People tend to use tracked services for a reason. Like so many things, the service aint what it used to be.

[Judithdalston]

I had the same problem over the summer in the hot weather, with the blood sitting in Exeter sorting Office totally unmoving for over 24 hrs… Initially Monitor my Health were not going to test most of the sample but I complained and got more results back, except folate, apparently I was 10 mins.within their acceptable time window from blood draw to test. This was the second test as first ones weren’t right as ‘not enough serum’ hsyrebood draw the week before.

[Hedgeree]

Hi Jefner,

As others have said Royal Mail isn't as reliable as it once was but make sure you get your money back on the guaranteed Special Delivery that you used. If I remember correctly you have 14 days to apply for it. Also request the cost of the blood test as the guarantee includes compensation up to a certain amount but you'll need receipts/proof of purchase.

I realise it's not about the cost but the inconvenience of having to do your blood tests again and the planning/organising that goes onto it. I'd be really peed off as I have to pay extra for a blood draw (as not good with finger prick tests) and would have to plan it around caring for a relative and other commitments. Thankfully I use a priority postbox and the prepaid label and have had no issues so far.

[blondpalomino in reply to Hedgeree]

Hi, yes you should claim back for your special delivery postage, I did when my parcel didn't get there the next day as guaranteed. Perhaps if everyone did that then they might improve their service.

[samaja]

As our postie explained, the only delivery service with any hope of guarantee is the next day special delivery because this is the one that the post bosses bonus is tied to. The rest, whether first class, tracked or anything else, there is no obligatin to deliver until they fancy it. We always post SD and even if delivered next day but not before specified time, we claim compensation.

[Polo22]

Nothing to do with returning blood tests but have had problems recently with RM. Daughter is in Uni in Leeds, she forgot to change address on her contact lense supply and had run out. I sent her contacts , some solution and a little treat paid £8.35 for guaranteed next day delivery-tracked/signed for by 1pm. This was Monday morning, they delivered them Friday afternoon. 🤯😕🤬