Business

Thousands of Crystal Palace residents were astounded when opening their letter boxes to discover letters that had been delivered over 16 years late.

With post marks dating back to 1994, the letters had not reached residents’ mail boxes as reports emerged that a former postman had hoarded them.

But even though some of the addressees have since moved home in the past 16 years, those now living at the address are trying to reunite the recipients with their mail.

The letters were only discovered during a police investigation unrelated to the Royal Mail at an ex postman’s Dulwich address.

Rumours that the postman had deliberately withheld mail from particular mail boxes were quashed when the number of different affected addresses came to light.
A spokeswoman for Royal Mail speaking to News Shopper has admitted that almost 2,000 letters were affected and that these are now being delivered to householders along with a letter of apology from the company for the 16 year delay.

The Royal Mail had a zero tolerance approach to any dishonest behaviour such as withholding mail, the spokeswoman added.

She has also insisted that the majority of Royal Mail postmen and women carry out their duties with honesty and integrity.

She added: “We constantly review our operation to ensure it is as robust as possible and that customers’ mail is secure.

“We will always seek to prosecute the tiny minority of people who abuse their position of trust.”

Earlier this year, Royal Mail staff went on strike due to disagreements to do with pay and issues affecting the modernisation of the company as staff feared huge job losses and cuts.

The strikes brought mail deliveries to a standstill for several weeks with many companies losing out on business as a result.

Consumers who have already begun thinking about Christmas need not be put off buying items for the celebration by those who say it is too early to get stocked up.

One shop in London has already begun offering items such as Christmas tree decorations to those determined to get their shopping underway as soon as possible.

According to a report in the Guardian, Selfridges in London has launched its festive season, displaying items to adorn homes in, such as Christmas baubles.

The publication stated: “Oxford Street’s forward-thinking shoppers can now nip out of the scorching midday sun and stock up on crackers, fairy lights and paint-your-own baubles.”

It added: “But it’s the middle of summer. Indeed. And in the middle of summer what Selfridges customers want is a £500 life-size donkey and a 14ft pre-lit Christmas tree.”

According to buying manager at the department store Geraldine James, it will eventually be the case that keen consumers can enter the premises to get festive goodies at any point in the calendar.

She said: “I can see a time when we offer a Christmas collection throughout the year.”

Indeed, the 2010 festive selection available at the retail outlet was opened a week earlier this year than it was in 2009, suggesting the trend Ms James predicted is already underway.

Getting shopping for items such as Christmas tree decorations underway early may be beneficial for consumers at present given the strained nature of many people’s finances. Since the onset of the recession, consumers have been seeking to cut back on expenditure.

By purchasing items in small amounts between now and the middle of December, they may be able to budget more successfully.

Another way in which people can save cash is by seeking such items online, as this often works out cheaper than heading to the high street.

The Article is written by festive-lights.com providing <a href=”http://www.festive-lights.com/christmas-tree-decorations/”>Christmas Tree Decorations</a> and <a href=”http://www.festive-lights.com/christmas-tree-decorations/”>Cheap Christmas Decorations</a> Services. Visit http://www.festive-lights.com for more information on festive-lights.com Products & Services___________________________Copyright information This article is free for reproduction but must be reproduced in its entirety, including live links & this copyright statement must be included. Visit festive-lights.com for more services!

Virtually-glass.co.uk can supply the widest range of unbreakable plastic products, including plastic cocktail glasses and plastic wine glasses , giving the look of glass to give you a cost effective solution.