I have set up a Royal Mail redirection in the UK. I get a few letters redirected which are not mine (another family member), so there is obviously room for error.

 

Does anybody know how the system actually works at the Royal Mail depot? Are there human sorters who redirect the post, or is it all done with some kind machine?

 

Thanks

No I don't know exactly but I have had redirection for the best part of 6 years (with a gap in the middle as they only allow 4 max at the moment), and have probably had only 1 (maybe 2?) items in the whole of that time which was not redirected. Not aware of any that were but shouldn't have been. 

Could just be because your other "family" share the same surname and if manually sorted just made a mistake?

 

In my instance I think I complained online or even rang them and I would do that if I was you.

18 hours ago, RickG16 said:

some kind machine

well, if it's not doing it correctly then it's not a kind machine-doubtful there's an AI in place that can correctly interpret the millions of different handwriting styles but maybe for computer printed labels.

Watch "Men in Black II" through the scene where Will Smith finds Tommy Lee Jones and they tour the Post Office where he is the postmaster. Pay close attention to the mail sorter. Yes, it's in the USA, but the same is employed worldwide.  Seriously!!!

2 hours ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

Watch "Men in Black II" through the scene where Will Smith finds Tommy Lee Jones and they tour the Post Office where he is the postmaster. Pay close attention to the mail sorter. Yes, it's in the USA, but the same is employed worldwide.  Seriously!!!

I was about to suggest to take a look at the scene in the post office in MIB II. Then I saw your post. 

Human sorters at the local distribution centre and sometimes the actual postie who delivers the mail. The person who set up the redirection can add other family members with the same surname for an additional charge. It is open to human error unfortunately.

Had Royal Mail redirection from time to time. The amount of mail that doesn’t get redirected or redirected erroneously is a small percentage. I think the problem can occur when something gets addressed to Mr/Mrs/Ms X, and they can’t sort out your specific mail. Physically I suspect it’s sorted by a machine.