Postal Services

[Norseman]

I know for a fact that some letters from Europe, sent to my address here in Hua Hin, never reaches me.
Am I the only one to suffer from this or has anyone experienced the same?
The last lost mail was a Visa card sent to me in an anonymous envelope from my bank. (This lost card is of course suspended and a new card is received from a visitor).
Will it be safer to send this sort of mail by TNT - FedEx or similar services?

[Bamboo Grove]

I've had several similar experiences thoughout the years and have now advised people not to send me anything important via mail. Even letters including only photos have disappered

[buksida]

Same has happened to me, the reason is simple. A lot of the postal workers including the postman that delivers the mail can't read English so they simply ignore it. There is almost a room full of undelivered mail in the post office in Hua Hin, you can go in there and wade through it, tons of the stuff and 95% of it is for foreigners.

[Bamboo Grove]

Buksida wrote

A lot of the postal workers including the postman that delivers the mail can't read English so they simply ignore it

Wish this would be the case. Some years ago I dropped my wallet near the post office. I only noticed this after reaching home and when I returned to the place where it happened, it was nowhere to be seen. There was only about 1,000 baht in it so that didn't worry me. However my visa card and atm card were there too, so I naturally cancelled them. 3-4 days later the mailman carried my wallet to my home. Somebody had found it, taken the money and then put it into mailbox. The mailman saw my photo and delivered the "mail" to me. So I assume he knows me.

Yes, I know this has nothing to do with the reading abilities of the people at the P.O. but it just reminded me of this incident. Still, I think there are some people with long fingers in the post offices around Thailand as well, not only staff who can't read English as I've sometimes told people to write the address in Thai (copy/paste) as well and still they've gone missing.

[caller]

With some of the exposes on the current state of the UK postal service - or what's left of it - recently aired on TV, I wouldn't just assume those long fingers are only in Thailand!

After the initial programme and after the PO claimed they had sorted out all the problems, Postman who couldn't speak or read English, no effective vetting of staff etc, the TV company went back in and found that nothing had changed.

Lucky to get my mail by midday and then I and all the neighbours have got into the habit of putting the mail through the correct doors!!!

And I have had cards go missing and so on.....

[Gin tonic - no lime]

I have sent 4 "packages" to HH over the last 2 years. They were the small bubble pack envelopes and contained only letters, pictures and a couple of CD's I burned for a friend. Only ONE of the packages arrived at the Hua Hun destination. I have stopped sending any mail there by regular post.

I would be interested to hear about experiences with the different courier services. Although the cost of those services would be many times the value of the type of things I usually send, at least they might get there!!

[lomuamart]

I've had a box number at the PO for about 5 years and am not aware of anything going missing - yet.
I think it costs me 150 baht a year and a deposit of 300 for the key.

[dr dave soul monsta]

Happens all the time unfortunately Always send registered post,,, still does not guarantee arrival but at least it can be traced and some compensation may be available


try this link for posting out of thailand prices do vary when you arrive at the counter but it does give all sevices available at Thai post counters

http://www.thailandpost.com/search_ems_en.asp

[magobligin]

Quite surprised to read of the missing mail as I have received everything that has been posted to my home address in Takieb (over a one year period) including Jiffy Bags, Post Paks, magazines and parcels. If no one is at home the postman leaves a docket in my postbox and I pick-up at the Post Office. Maybe I'm just lucky!!

PS All my mail is addressed in English language

[Randy Cornhole]

Every letter that has been sent to me from England has never arrived, they include birthday cards and family photos also an expensive cycling top and shorts.
The only one to arrive was sent registered and contained a credit card.
I live at Sport Villa and the postman always delivers there so it can't be that diffucult can it.....!!!
You bet your sweet ass it can. Thick as s**t comes to mind..

[tuktukmike]

Simple.

Send by data post from the UK with The Post Office.

Everything arrives as you would wish.

Mike.

[songkurai]

As a long time Post employee, I can state that much mail is either destroyed or sent back as the name and address is incorrect or illegible.

1. Have all correspondants TYPE you name and address.

2. Make sure that all your correspondents have your CORRECT name and address.

3. Never mail anything of value without using REGISTERED MAIL. Registered mail can be traced.

In my home country we used to have a dedicated employee spend all day looking up correct addresses for mail sent with incorrect or insufficient addresses. This no longer is done because of cost cutting. Mail is either trashed (3rd class) or sent back with endorsement of "insufficient address".

You may be able to read your handwriting but others may not. And in a foreign country - forget it.

Is your mail receptacle secure? Do you have a mail box?

Theft? Certainly, this can happen. But it could just as easily happen in your home country as well as LOS.

Most mail is now processed with machines. Letters do get destroyed if someone puts anything in a letter other than paper.

But try UPS or Fedex. The cost will probably be more than Registered Mail.

[Norseman]

Thank you "songkurai" for your construcive and useful answer.
Think I go for UPS or FedEx when I know somebody is going to send me something of value or importance.

[suzannejames]

Same has happened to me, the reason is simple. A lot of the postal workers including the postman that delivers the mail can't read English so they simply ignore it. There is almost a room full of undelivered mail in the post office in Hua Hin, you can go in there and wade through it, tons of the stuff and 95% of it is for foreigners.

Just found this thread after 3 months of living in Hua Hin. Wish I'd found it sooner.

I've had just about 50 letters from the US mailed to me, and recieved only 7 of them.

On one day I called out to the postman on motorbike delivering mail across the street from me, inquiring with a smile if I had any mail. He rifled through a small stack of mail and pulled out a trio of letters held together with a rubberband. Had I not asked I have no doubt I would not have recieved that mail either.

I'm in the post office 3 or 4 times a week, every week. They know me, my address, etc. I still don't get my mail. They suggested I get a post office box. Fine. Ah, they didn't have one available. They said they wouldn't deliver any more mail to my house and would instead "hold" it for me to pick up. No mail so far, and I know with certainity mail has been sent.

I've done everything I know to do, and I've done it all cheerfully, with a smile and a "Thank you", as a good farang should do. That hasn't worked. The written list of addresses they keep for returned mail has never yet had my address show up on it. It's a good show of professionalism and efficiency, tho.

So, if there's a pile of mail in the seriously disorganized back mailroom, I'd like the opportunity to go through it. How in the hell do I get myself into that big near-room size pile of mail? I want to salvage what I can of my three months of correspondance!

I don't speak any Thai, so this will be another adventure. Suggestions anyone?

[johnnyk]

In September I sent two registered mails via Thai Post.
One from Pattaya to Isle of Man, the other from HH to Jersey, both contained important papers.
Happily, each arrived within the time the post office said they would.
FYI, I tried to use their courier service to Jersey but Thai Post said they didn't courier there.
I think bubble packs alert the stickfingers that something worthwhile could ne inside.