CUSTOMERS trying to pick up Christmas parcels from the Royal Mail's depot in Midland Road have been faced with long delays.
And their frustration and anger was intensified yesterday when some of them collected parking tickets while waiting to collect their packages.
Businesses have also been affected – including the Derby Telegraph, which was unable to pick up any of its mail yesterday.
Telegraph Facilities co-ordinator John Forde said he went to the sorting office as usual at 8.30am only to find big queues of people waiting.
The usual sack of mail was not ready. He went back three times but each time there was no sign of it.
John said: "The guy at the counter said we should complain to the management. He said something about them not having any staff in the sorting office over the weekend, so a backlog built up.
"There were one or two other guys there who normally pick up their mail and there was nothing for them either.
"People were queuing out of the door and the traffic wardens were going around ticketing cars which had been parked outside.
"No-one is going to buy a ticket when they think they'll only be there for five minutes."
A spokesman for the city council said it would not yet be able to reveal the number of parking tickets handed out around the sorting office.
Derby Telegraph readers last night took to social media to vent their anger at the news.
User John Brittain said: "It was never like this years ago when it had real managers who knew what they were doing and planned. Shame."
KhalSir said he did not bother joining a huge queue a few days ago. He said his parcel was redelivered.
Rapunzellet said: "Privatisation did not help then?"
Royal Mail spokeswoman Jennifer Bird last night said: "Christmas is the busiest time of year for Royal Mail. We apologise to customers who have experienced delays in collecting items or posting items from Derby Delivery Office and ask customers to be patient when picking up parcels.
"Royal Mail makes every effort to deliver mail to customers first time. If this is not possible because they are not at home when we attempt to deliver an item that needs a signature or is too large to fit through the letterbox, Royal Mail can now leave these items with a neighbour.
"Alternatively, customers can arrange a redelivery free of charge on a day that is convenient for them or we can deliver the item to a different address within the same postcode area.
"We have also extended our opening hours at the callers office from 0630-1930hrs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 0630-2000hrs Wednesday and 0630-1730hrs on Saturdays and 0630-1700hrs on Christmas Eve."
