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Fiona Parkinson said she has been left “stressed” over missing post relating to her late father-in-law’s estate after only receiving around two letters from Royal Mail since December.
Her father-in-law Malcolm died suddenly on December 19, 2025, in Cornwall – more than four hours away from their home in Spennells, Kidderminster.
Ms Parkinson and her husband, Glyn, managed to register the death in Worcestershire, but the death certificate had to be issued in Cornwall where Malcolm died, so the couple had no choice but to get the ten certificates posted via Royal Mail.
The 49-year-old, who works as a store colleague at a supermarket, said: “Unfortunately, my father-in-law died very suddenly, so we couldn’t get down to Cornwall in time. We’ve had several trips back and forth, but there isn’t really anyone who can help in Cornwall, so we’ve taken on the responsibility of trying to sort everything after his death.
“We had to get the death certificates posted from Cornwall. We ordered ten and didn’t think it would be a problem, but weeks went by and they never arrived.
“They eventually turned up five and a half weeks later, but in the meantime, we haven’t been able to apply for probate or get anything done relating to my father-in-law’s accounts or estate as everyone asks for the death certificate. We’ve only had two letters from Royal Mail since December 19. It’s ridiculous.”
As well as the missing death certificates, Ms Parkinson said they have received no correspondence from the building society and are also waiting on an important form to allow the couple to spread part of Malcolm’s ashes in Germany.
Royal Mail has apologised to Ms Parkinson for the upset caused by the delays.
Ms Parkinson said: “It’s just added stress on top of what is already a really upsetting and stressful time for us as a family. I’m convinced that one day, the postman will come with a massive bundle of letters tied together with an elastic band of all our missing post.
“It’s worrying to think that if we’re missing letters about my father-in-law, then what other letters are missing? I’m waiting for hospital letters and for all I know, I might have already missed my appointments.
“It is causing genuine heartache for us. We want to scatter part of my father-in-law’s ashes in Germany, but we can’t do it without a particular form that we’re waiting for in the post. The delays from Royal Mail are stopping us from getting closure.”
Ms Parkinson said she had already had problems with Royal Mail delivering other neighbour’s confidential letters to her address, so she did check with neighbours to see if her post was going elsewhere but to no avail.
She is having to constantly ring people to check if post has been sent out and called the situation and “absolute nightmare”.
She said: “We loved Glyn’s dad to bits. It’s been a really difficult time but the problems with the post really isn’t helping the situation. It’s becoming an absolute nightmare.
“We’ve got rescue dogs that can’t be out in kennels due to stress and I care for my disabled parents, so we can’t just pop down to Cornwall.
“I’ve complained to Royal Mail but nothing has been done.”
A spokesperson for Royal Mail said: “We are very sorry to hear about Fiona’s experience and recognise how upsetting delays to important correspondence can be at an already difficult time.
“Our records indicate that deliveries in this part of Kidderminster are currently being completed and the local delivery office is being cleared of mail each day. While this suggests post is moving through the network as expected, we are treating the concerns raised seriously.
“The vast majority of mail in the area is delivered on time, and where short-term issues do arise they are usually limited to individual routes and resolved as quickly as possible.”
