March 2014 by Iain D.
I don't use the Post Office on a regular basis, however today I had a particularly poor experience. Basically, I had a parcel that I needed picked up, when I got to the Post Office the woman I spoke to understandably asked for ID, I usually use my passport for ID but at this point I am awaiting a replacement passport (which incidentally the Post Office in Rutherglen helped with very efficiently), when I mentioned this she suggested I bring in a bill, now I don't get physical bill cos this is 2014 not 1990, so I suggested I show her a bill on my phone, which she point blank refused, however if I printed said bill off and showed her it presumably she would have accepted it. So, I asked how can I get this parcel as by the time I get my new passport the item will have been returned to sender, the woman I talked to was horribly unhelpful, it took me to suggest that it be redelivered, to which she said phone the number on the card, quite ridiculously the number of the Post Office I was in, turns out this was incorrect information and I can arrange redelivery online as the card suggests, however no one will be in for the item to be delivered, so I am left with the prospect of not receiving my item at all. Now, I can't comment on the Post Office as a whole but the one in Whitburn certainly needs to drag itself out of the dark ages and start accepting digital ID... maybe I'll print something off that I could have showed her on the spot and then they'll give me it or maybe I can send someone else (not the addressee) with their own ID and they'll hand it over, I've certainly done this to correct a parcel for my father in the same Post Office before.
January 2009 by Qype User (jo14?)
Over the years we have stayed in Whitburn the Post office has changed hands and has certainly improved. The shop is modern and is part of the Costcutter chain. There is a till near the front door for general groceries and things like large envelopes etc. This can cause conjestion getting in and out, especially when Whitburn Academy is having a mid morning break. (Why are school children allowed out in the morning?) The selection in the shop is marvellous and they often have some good offers. This seems to be a popular shop for topping up on things and also they have newspapers. The Post Office proper is at the back of the shop, there is a small booth for photographs in case you need to get a passport and staff can check that your form is correcrtly filled in. There are 4 desk positions I think, but rarely all are staffed at the same time. They are often busy and you need to queue in the area set up, but it often means you are standing in the shop area. If you are out when the postman wants to deliver a parcel it may be takento the Post office, but sometimes it takes a while to get there and you have to queue ages to find out! The staff are very friendly and helpful, and one day the owner provided me with some sellotape when an envelope hadn't stuck down very well after I had put in a stamp which I had just bought. Those little touches make you realise it's a good Post office, use it or lose it! let's hope this stays open. There is a bank facility both in the post office so you can pay by card and outside to draw out money out of hours.
