Trouble getting Packages at Post Office

[Devils'Advocate]

First, I live in Kanata, Ontario. The Post Office at which I pick up parcels has two people that work alternating night shifts. One lets me pick up the parcels with just showing my work ID as identification. The other is an an*l b#@*&.

She says that I require a photo identification that has my address on it. And they are not allowed to use the Ontario Health card. I don't have a drivers licence.. never needed it. The Liquor Commision says that they only give out "Age of Majority" cards to those under 35 (I'm not). I felt silly taking my passport to the Post Office, but she wouldn't accept even that because the address is crossed out and my new one written in (as Passport Canada tells you to do). To me, it would be absolutely crazy if I'd have to apply for a drivers licence just to pick up parcels at the Post Office.

Anyhow, for now, I take the parcel ticket to the Post Office, see who is working, and if crazy lady is there I'll come back the next day.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by Devils'Advocate

First, I live in Kanata, Ontario. The Post Office at which I pick up parcels has two people that work alternating night shifts. One lets me pick up the parcels with just showing my work ID as identification. The other is an an*l b#@*&.

She says that I require a photo identification that has my address on it. And they are not allowed to use the Ontario Health card. I don't have a drivers licence.. never needed it. The Liquor Commision says that they only give out "Age of Majority" cards to those under 35 (I'm not). I felt silly taking my passport to the Post Office, but she wouldn't accept even that because the address is crossed out and my new one written in (as Passport Canada tells you to do). To me, it would be absolutely crazy if I'd have to apply for a drivers licence just to pick up parcels at the Post Office.

Someone is thinking they are a bit more important than they really are. A passport that is worldwide accepted is certainly beyond the burden of proof you require to pick up your parcel. Next time you get the run around, call Canada Post and complain. If all you do is come by when Miss B..ch is not on her shift, nothing will change. She needs to be educated by her employer since she wont accept what you are providing her.

There must be a supervisor or someone who runs the depot you go to, complain there first. If nothing happens, go one more step up the ladder. Ridiculous that you get such a run around over a parcel that belongs to you.

[flip]

unfortunately i believe the crazy lady is correct and here's why:

lets say you were married and were getting a divorce, you moved but the soon to be ex kept the house. lets also say you are a crazy who will do anything to hurt her or the children. one of these crazy things is to do things like go and steal all her parcels, be it for her home business, documents regarding the divorce etc. hell maybe you are even there to steal the gifts grandma sent to the kids for their birthday.

this is why they often make sure that either just the address or the name and address match. essentially it is just a security issue.

i once worked at a postal outlet and i was actually given the exact same example story by a cop who i did not ID for his parcel. according to canada post you should ask for id from every person and if the address doesn't match they don't get the parcel.

of course if your name is on the parcel it and you have a second piece to confirm the new address you should be ok.

[moon]

Originally Posted by flip

unfortunately i believe the crazy lady is correct and here's why:

lets say you were married and were getting a divorce, you moved but the soon to be ex kept the house. lets also say you are a crazy who will do anything to hurt her or the children. one of these crazy things is to do things like go and steal all her parcels, be it for her home business, documents regarding the divorce etc. hell maybe you are even there to steal the gifts grandma sent to the kids for their birthday.

this is why they often make sure that either just the address or the name and address match. essentially it is just a security issue.

i once worked at a postal outlet and i was actually given the exact same example story by a cop who i did not ID for his parcel. according to canada post you should ask for id from every person and if the address doesn't match they don't get the parcel.

of course if your name is on the parcel it and you have a second piece to confirm the new address you should be ok.

How would that work if I still had my drivers license with my old address?

I would still easily and under the rules be able to steal all the packages.

Seems like someone is taking the rules way to seriously and thinks they are much more important than they are.

D.A.: How do you drive you car without a drivers lincense?

[redforever]

Originally Posted by flip

unfortunately i believe the crazy lady is correct and here's why:

lets say you were married and were getting a divorce, you moved but the soon to be ex kept the house. lets also say you are a crazy who will do anything to hurt her or the children. one of these crazy things is to do things like go and steal all her parcels, be it for her home business, documents regarding the divorce etc. hell maybe you are even there to steal the gifts grandma sent to the kids for their birthday.

this is why they often make sure that either just the address or the name and address match. essentially it is just a security issue.

i once worked at a postal outlet and i was actually given the exact same example story by a cop who i did not ID for his parcel. according to canada post you should ask for id from every person and if the address doesn't match they don't get the parcel.

I am fully aware of why they require burden of proof to get the parcel. I live in the country and have to go through the same process myself. I have no problem with the process, it is tediuos, but I understand fully the consequences that can arise when parcels go to the wrong party. BUT, if the parcel is addressed to you, at your address, they must give it to you!!!

Now if the passport agency has told them to simply write in the person's new mailing address and that makes the passport legitimate, then the people working at Canada Post have to honor that ruling. It is not up to them to say the passport is not legitimate when officials have already told the person that it is legitimate.

On the other hand, this is the process you have to go through if the parcel is addressed to someone either than yourself, and I know, since I have to go through this all the time. My husband also runs some businesses from our residential mailing address, so sometimes, registered letters or parcels, addressed to that business, have to be picked up. The hours the depot are open do not match my husband's working hours, so then I must pick them up.

To do so, I need a signed letter of consent, on the company letterhead, with my husband's signature as one of the officers and signing authority. Like I said, it is tedious, but once you get used to the process, or once the authority knows you, then it becomes simple.

That is something else that should happen here. Since there are only 2 people working at that pick up center, acquaint them with who you are. Once they know you, and you have shown them your proof of ID, they dont have to ask for it each and every time.

EDIT: I forgot to mention, that when I pick up mail for my husband's companies and present them with that signed letter of consent, they keep the letter each and every time, and staple it to the appropriate piece of paper you present to them when picking up the parcel. They are quite fastidious as should be.

I think in this case, the one person in question working at the depot has to be educated as to the legitimacy of the person's passport.

[ken0042]

Keep in mind Canada Post is a national corporation; so policies that they make are nation wide. So that means that just because you live in a province that happens to put a picture on your health card; most provinces don't.

I know both Manitoba and Alberta offer the equivilant ID to a driver's license without actually having to take the driver's test.

Another option is places like Money Mart offer a photo ID card. Maybe check with Canada Post to see if that is acceptable.

[flip]

Originally Posted by moon

How would that work if I still had my drivers license with my old address?

I would still easily and under the rules be able to steal all the packages.

Seems like someone is taking the rules way to seriously and thinks they are much more important than they are.

D.A.: How do you drive you car without a drivers lincense?

if its a parcel and your names not on it, but you had the old address on your id, it is conceivable they would give it to you but just as likely they would make the person with the name on the parcel come and get it.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by flip

if its a parcel and your names not on it, but you had the old address on your id, it is conceivable they would give it to you but just as likely they would make the person with the name on the parcel come and get it.

No, they will NOT give a parcel to you if you just show proof of the same address. Both the name and address on the parcel have to match on the proof you present to them.

Like I said earlier, I have to pick up parcels for my husband all the time. We both have the same mailing address. But if the parcel is addressed to him, or one of his companies, I need to present a signed letter of assent before they release the parcel to me.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by redforever

No, they will NOT give a parcel to you if you just show proof of the same address. Both the name and address on the parcel have to match on the proof you present to them.

Like I said earlier, I have to pick up parcels for my husband all the time. We both have the same mailing address. But if the parcel is addressed to him, or one of his companies, I need to present a signed letter of assent before they release the parcel to me.

If it's that much of a hassle, and you're always the one who has to pick the packages up, why doesn't your husband have the packages addressed to you?

[redforever]

Originally Posted by getbak

If it's that much of a hassle, and you're always the one who has to pick the packages up, why doesn't your husband have the packages addressed to you?

Like, these are registered and incorporated businesses. I have nothing to do with these businesses. The people at the other end would not recognize who I am. Why would they want to send a registered letter to an unknown entity?