A Royal Mail postman has been advised to blacklist a customer following an "aggressive" parking incident that left him stuck for half an hour. The driver, who was delivering a parcel to a block of flats, found his van hemmed in by a Tesla upon returning from the delivery.
Incident Details
The postman, who was new to the role, parked in the nearest available space while delivering a package. When he came back, a Tesla had blocked him in. He honked several times, and a resident came out, explaining that the Tesla owner often does this to prevent non-residents from parking. It turned out the Tesla driver was the parcel recipient, but he initially refused to move his car.
After about 30 minutes, the Tesla driver finally emerged and moved his vehicle, allowing the postman to continue his round. The postman asked why he had been blocked in but was ignored.
Legal Context
Under Section 86 of the Postal Services Act 2000, deliberately obstructing a postal worker while they are carrying out their duties is an offence. The postman noted that there was a sign indicating residents' parking, which he had missed, but there were plenty of free bays near the entrance.
Reddit Reactions
Fellow Reddit users were quick to comment. One said: "30 minutes? All his parcels are RTS [return to sender]. He can come pick them up if he wants them." Another agreed: "And his mail, blacklist his address for aggressive behaviour." A third commented: "This exactly!! Your address goes in my mental black book, and you'd better get used to delayed deliveries or coming to collect your mail from the office."
Some offered alternative views, with one user stating: "It's an absolute pain when you live in a flat with shared parking. However, blocking in a RM van which is clearly delivering to the block of flats, goes too far." Another concurred: "I understand why people can get funny about 'outsiders' taking limited private parking slots. But to do that to the postman is insane."
Broader Context
The postman added: "I never got issues with residential parking in other areas, and the residents were nice and grateful." The incident highlights ongoing tensions around parking in residential areas, particularly with delivery drivers.
