IN reply to Rachel Baldwin, I think the Post Office seriously needs to get its house in order.

Someone not so long ago sent me a parcel with too few stamps on it. I sent additional postage costs to Birch Park, as instructed, and waited a week.

When I phoned to inquire what had happened to my parcel, they said they hadn't received the stamps and that if I had wanted to make sure that I received the package, I should have picked the item up myself.

A few weeks later, a parcel arrived while I was out. I rang a few hours later that day to arrange re-delivery and was told that the package wasn't there; perhaps it was still in the bottom of the postman's bag.

I was assured that they would search for it and ring me back, but they didn't bother.

When I rang again, they said they would have another look, and ring me back. Nothing. I made a third phone call a few days later, but their patience with me was obviously running out.

My parcel had disappeared somewhere between my house and the depot. All I was given was an automated customer service number, to make a claim.

That's two examples, within two weeks, of where the Post Office acknowledged it had my goods, but couldn't deliver.

Miraculously, and after a long wait, my first parcel arrived, but there's no sign of the second.

Beccy Ridsdel,

South Cottages,

Shipton Road, York.

Updated: 09:20 Tuesday, November 02, 2004