AN 88-YEAR-OLD man had to travel for 30 minutes in freezing conditions after the Royal Mail failed to deliver important documents.Erick Schirm, from Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, thought his pension had not been paid after four letters notifying him of the payment went missing.

AN 88-YEAR-OLD man had to travel for 30 minutes in freezing conditions after the Royal Mail failed to deliver important documents.

Erick Schirm, from Woodbridge Road, Ipswich, thought his pension had not been paid after four letters notifying him of the payment went missing.

The money is usually paid by direct debit and the letters confirm that it has been paid.

However, he received no such notice from September to December despite attempts to find out why the letters had stopped.

He said: "I phoned the Post Office four or five times and the phone was always ringing but not answered. I left it a couple of months but when it became clear that I would not get the letters then I had to see them personally."

Mr Schirm went to the Royal Mail Sorting Office in Commercial Road, Ipswich, in December and January. He said: "I had to make four journeys down there each taking 20 to 30 minutes, in awful weather."

After his efforts the Royal Mail sent Mr Schirm a book of six first class stamps and a covering letter.

He said: "They were most curt in the way they were saying sorry and if you can call it an apology then it was a very poor one. Their attitude was that they didn't give a damn.

"I didn't want the six stamps, I just wanted to know who the culprit was and if any action had been taken against him.

"Until I got the bank statement I had no notification of having the money. Now I'm 88 I can do without the hassle of having to go and see them.

"Maybe they thought I had passed away or something or maybe they couldn't have cared less. I am not craving anything else but I think they handled it badly.

"The letter I received, in my opinion, was abruptly written and I was annoyed when they put in a book of stamps as it was a bit of a snub. Since I complained I have been getting the letters on time each month."

James Taylor, a spokesman for Royal Mail, said: "The incident has been under investigation by our senior managers and we will contact Mr Schirm as soon as possible. It would not be right for me to comment further until the investigation is completed."

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