OT: Royal Mail tracking numbers

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

I bought something, on or before 7 Nov, projected delivery 13
(Wednesday), no sign yet (Friday 15). Not really worried, as no hurry
(potential Christmas present provided it checks out OK), but thought I'd
look into it.

ebay show "A tracking number was provided.", and the usual blob chart

Dispatched
Step 1 - In progress - Dispatched
In transit
Step 2 - Upcoming - In transit
Out for delivery
Step 3 - Upcoming - Out for delivery
Estimated delivery
Step 4 - Upcoming - Estimated delivery Wed 13 Nov

(Oh! I wasn't expecting all that when I copy-and-pasted; all I see is
four blobs: Dispatched In transit Out for delivery Estimate
with just the left one blue with a tick in it, the other three grey.).

But it also says "8 Nov 2019
3:04am
Tracking number provided", which makes me suspicious: Apart from the
Charing Cross/Trafalgar Square one, I know of no post office that will
be open at that time of day, so I assume this is some sort of automatic
number allocation system that big shippers arrange with the Post Office.

Anyone know? The fact that it isn't even shown as "In transit" yet makes
me think it's still sitting at the sender (or, even, on a slow boat from
China), and the Royal Mail number is meaningless.

[Flop]

Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
I bought something, on or before 7 Nov, projected delivery 13
(Wednesday), no sign yet (Friday 15). Not really worried, as no hurry
(potential Christmas present provided it checks out OK), but thought I'd
look into it.
ebay show "A tracking number was provided.", and the usual blob chart
Dispatched
Step 1 - In progress - Dispatched
In transit
Step 2 - Upcoming - In transit
Out for delivery
Step 3 - Upcoming - Out for delivery
Estimated delivery
Step 4 - Upcoming - Estimated delivery Wed 13 Nov
(Oh! I wasn't expecting all that when I copy-and-pasted; all I see is
four blobs: Dispatched  In transit      Out for delivery        Estimate
with just the left one blue with a tick in it, the other three grey.).
But it also says "8 Nov 2019
3:04am
Tracking number provided", which makes me suspicious: Apart from the
Charing Cross/Trafalgar Square one, I know of no post office that will
be open at that time of day, so I assume this is some sort of automatic
number allocation system that big shippers arrange with the Post Office.
Anyone know? The fact that it isn't even shown as "In transit" yet makes
me think it's still sitting at the sender (or, even, on a slow boat from
China), and the Royal Mail number is meaningless.

These are usually automated (totally fictitious) times and places.

48 hour delivery from Birmingham to Reading:

Date / Time Description
22/10/2019 - 14:38 Parcel Delivered to Customer
15/10/2019 - 03:43 Scan In - Delivery Depot
14/10/2019 - 19:28 Scan In - Collecting Depot
14/10/2019 - 11:55 Parcel Picked Up by Carrier
09/10/2019 - 10:12 Parcel Stored by Customer
08/10/2019 - 21:58 Ready For Dispatch

The Description for the first line should read...

"Parcel lost; given up; closing Tracking data"


I tried their Chat Line at one point to see if they had any more
information. They could not tell me because of DPA. Go figure.

[J. P. Gilliver (John)]

[]

Post by Flop

Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
But it also says "8 Nov 2019
3:04am
Tracking number provided", which makes me suspicious: Apart from the

[]

Post by Flop

Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
automatic number allocation system that big shippers arrange with the
Post Office.
Anyone know? The fact that it isn't even shown as "In transit" yet
makes me think it's still sitting at the sender (or, even, on a slow
boat from China), and the Royal Mail number is meaningless.

These are usually automated (totally fictitious) times and places.
Date / Time Description
22/10/2019 - 14:38 Parcel Delivered to Customer
15/10/2019 - 03:43 Scan In - Delivery Depot
14/10/2019 - 19:28 Scan In - Collecting Depot
14/10/2019 - 11:55 Parcel Picked Up by Carrier
09/10/2019 - 10:12 Parcel Stored by Customer
08/10/2019 - 21:58 Ready For Dispatch
The Description for the first line should read...
"Parcel lost; given up; closing Tracking data"

When you say first line, do you mean the earliest dated or the top one?

Who do you think might have lost my parcel - the seller or Royal Mail?

Post by Flop
I tried their Chat Line at one point to see if they had any more
information. They could not tell me because of DPA. Go figure.

Whose chat line - RM?
As for DPA, I am getting Really Pissed Off with companies claiming that:
I have encountered it too often. I think next time I encounter it, I'm
going to tell the person that misuse of it in that way is a criminal
offence, and ask them again.

[Flop]

Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)

Date / Time            Description
22/10/2019 - 14:38     Parcel Delivered to Customer
15/10/2019 - 03:43     Scan In - Delivery Depot
14/10/2019 - 19:28     Scan In - Collecting Depot
14/10/2019 - 11:55     Parcel Picked Up by Carrier
09/10/2019 - 10:12     Parcel Stored by Customer
08/10/2019 - 21:58     Ready For Dispatch
The Description for the first line should read...
"Parcel lost; given up; closing Tracking data"

When you say first line, do you mean the earliest dated or the top one?

The 'Parcel Delivered to Customer' never happened.

Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Who do you think might have lost my parcel - the seller or Royal Mail?

Considering that a)it appears to have reached its delivery depot and
b) the seller did his best to get the replacement item to me quickly, I
am inclined to blame the courier(s)*

Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)

I tried their Chat Line at one point to see if they had any more
information. They could not tell me because of DPA. Go figure.

Whose chat line - RM?

Actually, Parcel2go who act as agents - which is why the carrier* may
have been more than one courier.

Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
I have encountered it too often. I think next time I encounter it, I'm
going to tell the person that misuse of it in that way is a criminal
offence, and ask them again.

They are never able to explain but 'rules is rules'.

[Penny]

On Fri, 15 Nov 2019 14:15:08 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
It's GDPR which is causing me headaches.

There is a company, deseat.me which will (if you let it) search through
your emails (irony overload) and email those you select to request removal
of your data. If we can't find anyone in our database with the email
address the request comes from we tell them that, job done.

Not everyone uses deseat.me though. There was a chap recently who started
out asking for help to log in as he couldn't remember the details. He
wanted me to change the registered email to his current one - I assumed so
he could go the 'forgotten password' route. The name on the account was the
same as the email so I asked what email address he had registered with. He
gave me a list of 4 possibles, none of which matched.

At this point he said he wanted to change things on his profile because of
GDPR. It seemed to me the only current data we held for him (before he
emailed us) was his name and he has failed to verify he is the account
owner. We've had no response from an email to the registered address which
our legal chap says demonstrates due diligence from us. I'm still loath to
give him access to the account - not that he could gain anything from it.