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A frustrated pensioner says he has received no letters or cards for a month – and fears he may have missed doctor’s appointments.
Roger White has lived in his flat in Central Parade, Herne Bay, for 23 years and has “never known anything like it”.
The 77-year-old says Royal Mail last posted a card or letter through his door two weeks before Christmas.
The retired lorry driver told KentOnline: “My son and friends have called and said, ‘Why haven’t you thanked us for your Christmas card? There’s money in there.’
“Well, the reason you haven’t been thanked is because we haven’t had it.
“Personally, I’m waiting for an appointment letter for a back problem that I have.
“I think some neighbours are waiting for them too.
“I’m angry. We haven’t even had any junk mail. Nothing at all.”
Mr White says he has called Royal Mail multiple times to complain about the wait but has not been given a clear timeframe as to when deliveries might return.
Furthermore, he says parcel drop-offs have continued as usual in the street.
He said: “I phoned the head office and they said, ‘We can only say we apologise and it will be sorted very quickly now.’
“That was just before Christmas.
“The holidays have ended now. Why hasn’t it got back to normal yet? I’m sick of it.
“Where’s it going? Some black hole? I just want the post for crying out loud!”
Mr White says the increase in October of the price of a first-class standard letter stamp by 30p to £1.65 just adds insult to injury.
Reaching the end of his tether, he says he will visit the Canterbury sorting office in person and demand he is given his mail if the situation is not sorted.
“I’ve lived here for 23 years and I’ve never known anything like this. Ever,” he added.
“I’m just totally fed up with it now.”
Royal Mail addressed criticism over long waits for Christmas cards on December 23.
The company said at the time that it was planning to clear the backlog by the next day.
One local resident echoed Mr White’s concerns, saying: “They put the cost of postage stamps up and we get a worse service!”
Royal Mail says it does not recognise Mr White’s claims that he has not received any post for the best part of a month, adding that not everyone has post to be delivered every day.
A spokesperson told KentOnline yesterday: “Almost all mail was cleared from the local delivery office today, we have a plan in place to manage delays and staff from nearby offices are supporting local posties.
“We expect service to markedly improve in the coming weeks. If a delay occurs, such as when a route is not completed, we will prioritise that area the following day to ensure any delays are kept to a minimum.”
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