Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

I have just been to my mail box on Ozankoy. The mail is delivered on a Thursday. NOTHING! After a previous posting re Air mail stickers I have noticed the only 3 items in the box last week had stickers!
Any ideas, apart from the bin?

I guess it's the bin again Owl Lady, we've had three more cards, all airmail, but none of our other mail has arrived, nor has a parcel dispatched three weeks ago from a company I use on a regular basis. I have contacted the Post Office but got the usual courtesy from these organisations, no reply .
In my opinion this almost amounts to stealing, it's disgusting.

I had my first card for three years last week Zoe phoned me and told me it was there , it had been in lefcosia for over a week I suggest you try there for your lost mail .

Eventually had some cards in my PO box on 26th. All but one had Airmail stickers and the majority were stamped on the back in Lefkosa between 11th and 13th of Dec. It took 8 days from the UK and 15 from Lefkosa to Ozankoy!!. Wonderful isn't it? and there are still about 75% missing.

Like you Owl Lady a lot of my mail didn't arrive, as I've said before only those sent airmail were delivered, a shocking example of the TRNC postal service. To add insult to injury a parcel I was waiting for did finally arrive in Girne, but instead of being sent on to my P.O box in Lapta it was delivered back to the company in the UK, what a shambles.

The specific problem in Ozankoy is (or so I have been told) that the mail is only delivered here from the Girne post office on Thursdays - and for some reason it was missed last week, so with Christmas day being on a Wed .....................! If you live in Ozankoy you either have to accept up to 7 days built in delay or take a PO Box in Girne and make the journey to Girne to collect.

As I said before I have rarely(touch wood) had problems with post, except at Christmas where it is usually delayed . Royal Mail admits it is overwhelmed at Christmas and advises people to post early, so perhaps it is a bit much to expect the postoffice in a country which does not officially celebrate Christmas to make special arrangements to cope with the extra post generated by expats at this time of year! I advise people NOT to send me valuables at Christmas , but to sent two at my Birthday instead - well a girl can hope!

On one occasion I SENT a parcel with my (ie the senders) name and address on the back, and it was promptly returned to me! I was advised to put "GÖN" (note the accent) alongside "Sender" and it hsnt happened again, so presumably it works!

Heather on the Hill wrote:The specific problem in Ozankoy is (or so I have been told) that the mail is only delivered here from the Girne post office on Thursdays - and for some reason it was missed last week, so with Christmas day being on a Wed .....................! If you live in Ozankoy you either have to accept up to 7 days built in delay or take a PO Box in Girne and make the journey to Girne to collect.

As I said before I have rarely(touch wood) had problems with post, except at Christmas where it is usually delayed . Royal Mail admits it is overwhelmed at Christmas and advises people to post early, so perhaps it is a bit much to expect the postoffice in a country which does not officially celebrate Christmas to make special arrangements to cope with the extra post generated by expats at this time of year! I advise people NOT to send me valuables at Christmas , but to sent two at my Birthday instead - well a girl can hope!

On one occasion I SENT a parcel with my (ie the senders) name and address on the back, and it was promptly returned to me! I was advised to put "GÖN" (note the accent) alongside "Sender" and it hsnt happened again, so presumably it works!

That's great, but I don't live in Ozankoy, and I do accept that at busy times mail could be delayed wherever we live, but why is it that only the ones with an airmail sticker are getting delivered, what happens to the rest. Heaven knows how early people are expected to post Christmas cards, to be sure of them getting here in time a couple of mine were posted on November 22nd! As for parcels being returned to the sender, a parcel which didn't contain valuables, was posted, by a company I use often on December 2nd, there is no excuse for that, it is just incompetence, I am disgusted with the Postal Service here but it's no surprise I suppose.

I have 6 brothers and a sister and all but one still living in Belfast. I know for a fact they have all sent my Christmas cards early but still no slgn of any yet. Not unusual, I think round about the beginning of January, if i'm lucky.

We live in Catalkoy and haven't had one card delivered this year. Previous years have been fine but nothing this year. Where are they all?

Elizabeth: Sorry if I wasnt clear, I was actually responding to the OP who referred specifically to Ozankoy, where there is a known built in delay in deliveries between Girne and the village. It may be other places only get a weekly delivery fromGirne?

I dont understand the Airmail issue, it takes a deliberate act to sort out types of post so not down to inefficiency or carlessless - perhaps someone doesnt like us. But surely the Airmail sticker affects the sending Post Office, NOT the receiving end? I have had correspondence delayed because the sender put only enough stamps forUK Posting on them, but in that case Royal Mail puts a sticker on explaining it has been sent bya slower method because of inadequate postage.

DO remember that our mail goes through three separate postal authorities, originator , Turkish and N. Cyprus, so there are three times the opportunity for error .. and that when there is an additional burden of post at Christmas thee may be delays at all three and Royal Mail has to use temporary inexperienced and untrained staff. Also that English names are not easy for Turkish speakers, and mistakes can be made and post has been known to be put in the wrong box, and if it goes in the box of a "swallow" may lie unknown for months until they next visit the TRNC and check their mail. Zoe of the Ozankoy Muhtars office advised me to use first name rather than just initials to minimise confusion between people with the same or similar names.

Elizabeth: Sorry if I wasnt clear, I was actually responding to the OP who referred specifically to Ozankoy, where there is a known built in delay in deliveries between Girne and the village. It may be other places only get a weekly delivery fromGirne?

I dont understand the Airmail issue, it takes a deliberate act to sort out types of post so not down to inefficiency or carlessless - perhaps someone doesnt like us. But surely the Airmail sticker affects the sending Post Office, NOT the receiving end? I have had correspondence delayed because the sender put only enough stamps forUK Posting on them, but in that case Royal Mail puts a sticker on explaining it has been sent bya slower method because of inadequate postage.

DO remember that our mail goes through three separate postal authorities, originator , Turkish and N. Cyprus, so there are three times the opportunity for error .. and that when there is an additional burden of post at Christmas thee may be delays at all three and Royal Mail has to use temporary inexperienced and untrained staff. Also that English names are not easy for Turkish speakers, and mistakes can be made and post has been known to be put in the wrong box, and if it goes in the box of a "swallow" may lie unknown for months until they next visit the TRNC and check their mail. Zoe of the Ozankoy Muhtars office advised me to use first name rather than just initials to minimise confusion between people with the same or similar names.

Picked up a letter from my Bellapais post box yesterday - posted in UK 2nd December with an air mail sticker and the post code so this took 26 days to arrive.

Probably the post code confused them and took it even longer!

Hi,did anyone get any mail in Ozankoy this week. Either in the mail box or the office?
Yes I appreciate it was New Year, but other area have had mail delivered.

Yes we did, picked it up yesterday

We went a 11.55 yesterday as we have lots of Christmas cards not arrived yet and it was closed, door to other office was open so I enquired why it was shut and was told it closed at 12.00 and to come back at 2.00, only in TRNC !!!!!!!

I was there just before 12 and it was closed, there were a couple of other people (Cypriots) also looking puzzled. I have only had three so far this year, so even allowing for a few ecards and the usual Christmas delays mainly due late posting there is a lot missing, if they are not all waiting at the Muhtars

Judging by the few I did receive that were stamped 11/13 Dec in Lefkosa and arrive Ozankoy 26th, I suspect they are still there or have been dumped by now.

We have had the odd card at Ozankoy and also at out P.O. box in Girne, where they are all supposed to go..................but don`t let me get on my soap box about that one!!!

Latest Headlines

TRNC Postcodes go live
13 February 2013

Dogan Emirogullari, Director of the TRNC Post Office Service, has promised that postal delivery will be much faster now that the postcodes are in operation, with delivery of a letter within North Cyprus typically taking one day rather than two. Post will now be delivered straight to the door or PO Box, instead of to the nearest post office. Any packages over 20kg will be held at the nearest post office for collection and postal staff will inform the recipient by phone if a contact number is available.

Historically there have been numerous reports of post going missing, specifically post sent from the UK to North Cyprus. Emirogullari says all post from abroad comes via Istanbul, where it is then transported on a Turkish Airlines plane to Ercan airport. From there the Post Office Service takes the post to their headquarters in Nicosia for sorting and distribution. It is not clear at what point the post was going missing, but Emirogullari wants to reassure residents that no post is thrown away and delivery times will be much improved.

SO, Do we watch and wait, again.

We live in Catalkoy and have only had three cards delivered from the UK this year and two of those came this week although they had been stamped on the back in Lefkosa on November 25th!
Frustrated as Lots of friends are asking if their cards arrived with us in time!
These cards must be somewhere, but I don't suppose we will receive them now.

Dont depair Panchocat, several years I have received Christmas cards in February!

Incidentally my experience bears out one statement in the quoted report in message 20 - what little of mymail that has disappeared in thepast has been from the UK, post from Australia, North America and Italy has always arrived eventually. Historically we suspected a mole in Royal Mil - surely he has not been resurrected at it does seem worse this year!

I can't understand why people stlll continue to say ".........but hey, this is the TRNC" When we first moved here nearly 9 years ago, I too said this, because to be honest they were light years behind the times with many things. However, we are being told time after time after time by the Government and other NGO's that "things" are now up to EU standards. THEY ARE NOT and the PO system is one of them. What it is is downright incompetence, but of course we'll never ever get anyone to admit this will we?

Beat you H on the H, got one last year 26th May! Joking apart it is seriously worse than ever this year and there doesn't appear to be anything we can do about it, or is there?

Yes there is, get a box on the South, easy peasy 100% guaranteed to receive all your mail, 31 Euros a year.

Sounds fine if you drive or have transport to Lefkosa. to cross the border to the post box. Why should we have to do that, in order to get a mail delivery. It did improve for a couple of years, now it has gone to pot again. WHY?

Four posters in Ozankoy, one in Catalkoy, one in Bellapaise: looks as if there may be a specific problem between Girne PO and villages East of Girne?

I live in Lapta and am still waiting for cards posted in the UK and also Australia.

We live in Lapta, had several cards delivered to p.o box, friday the postman delivered 2 cards on his scooter

jen wrote:We live in Lapta, had several cards delivered to p.o box, friday the postman delivered 2 cards on his scooter

Can I ask if the cards had an airmail sticker on please.

Yes, all cards we've received this year have had air mail stickers on

We have received just 2 cards so far and neither had air mail stickers, they both had hand written air mail. It would be nice to think they will still deliver the outstanding cards even if they are weeks late!

All but one with Airmail stickers, just counted, received 11 out of a usual 45.GREAT!!

Dont know about Airmail stickers because I havent got them! I checked Ozankoy Muhtar this am - there was an Englishman there who said same as I - he usually got post ok BUT this Christmas no cards! The Mukhtar was there himself so I asked him what had happened to British mail - he said try Thursday but I explained it should have been here three weeks ago and it was not just me but several people who are missing mail and asked him to ask the Girne PO what had happened Dont know if he will, but perhaps if everyone goes and asks nicely it will help?

What about "the power of the Press"? Could Marion suggest something? There does seem to be a specific out of usual problem here.

If it is still in Girne then God help us. Talking to a friend today who went into Girne PO to query where the mail was from her Girne PO box and was shown a mail bag full of mail that she could "look through"!!!

Perhaps the 360 temporary workers that the last government employed could be re located to sort through the mail, they set on temporary workers to do what ????

Reading through all the various posts on this subject, it seems as if the delay in the mail is when it arrives at Lefkosia, where it seems to be held for several weeks before being passed on to Girne. If this is so, then why are they sitting on the mail for so long? It is all very well for the person in charge of mail deliveries to say that now that post codes are live there will be no more delays. What I would love to know is the reason for the delays we have at present.

Hard hat on before typing this, waiting for the flak! The delay is basically because they are bone idle, a FULL days, hard work would kill them! A few days of increased labour would clear any back log of mail, but this is too much to ask.

Owl Lady wrote:Hard hat on before typing this, waiting for the flak! The delay is basically because they are bone idle, a FULL days, hard work would kill them! A few days of increased labour would clear any back log of mail, but this is too much to ask.

I couldn't agree more, a couple of days would solve the problem but I doubt it will happen.

I need to borrow the hard hat now! Sorting mail is NOT an easy task - ask any Royal Mail worker. My enquiries have constantly elicited the response that the bulk of Christmas Mail is just overhwhelming for the local Post Office and the using unskilled temporary workers who were probably empoyed for labouring work would only increase the confusion, because the other problem (in addition to bad handwriting universal to any PO ) is unfamiliarity with English names and misspelling of Turkish place names. When I check my pigeon hole I also check to see if any mail has been misplaced under the wrong initial. I do understand a (very) little Turkish and having been here a while I am familiar with most common Turkish names,and I am also familiar with techniques of filing and cataloguing , and I find even that time consuming and difficult. No wonder if an unskilled worker with no English and perhaps not very literate in their own language would make mistakes.

I agree there may be a problem in some areas with mail generally, and there seems to currently be some specific problems East of Girne, but being offensive to the country you have chosen to live in because they dont direct resources to excess mail for a Festival they dont celebrate and probably dont understand since most Brits seem to celebrate it by spending a lot of money on unnecessary luxuries, it not the way to deal with it.

Perhaps we should consider offering volunteer to check the British mail (think of the chance to snoop on what everyone else is getting!) or better still see if (particularly in these days of email) we could reduce the amount of Christmas mail and spend the money more in the tru spirit of Christmas on a suitable Charity. Yes, I kknowaout Charity cards, but in many cases only a portion goes to the needy and none of the postage costs!

Meantime as a result of previous experiences I suspect some of the missing mail is languishing in the boxes of "pigeons" and will not emerge until they next come to Cyprus.

Sorry , didn't mean to "offensive" only telling the truth.I did cut down on my cards and sent E-cards instead. Donating the saved postage to the NCCCT Charity.

Good for you Owl Lady. I do something similar. It also saves trees (and dusting!) and remember at the other end the cost of UK postage stamps has risen considerably. I know not getting mail is annnoying but it is no use offending the Cypriots, it only results in them writing us off as "moaning Brits" and then failing to listen to us when something goes badly wrong and out of the normal. One has to remember that Royal Mail (who make a lot of mistakes) have had centuries of providing a mail service for a much larger population than the TRNC who have less than 50 years and have over he last few years had a large increase in population. Also that there will always be some delays and losses whilst the TRNC is not recognised and mail has to go through a third country. Nothing against Turkey but their staff are even less liable to understand English and the Cypriots, AND all humans (Brits, Cypriots and Turks) are fallible and it increases the possibility for error by a third as well as taking longer in transit. My main worry is that important financial mail which cant be sent by email (or even fax) may be lost in the avalanch of not really necessary Christmas post.

The postal service used to be even worse because of interference in London POs for mail for NOrth Cyprus - and in the days when the Border was not open it was often redirected to Post Offices in the South. It improved for a while, but unfortunately this coincided with the influx of a large number of Brits who did not really understand the problems of the country , plus the constuction of large numbers of estates with strange names caused a lot of confusion. This latter also happends in the UK: when I moved into a new house there on a new Estate it took several weeks and a lot of money and grey hairs to get recognised by the British postal and telephone services, and being before the days of mobile phones we were completely cut off!!

Just as a side note - I have been waiting on a package from Germany to a RoC PO box for over 6 weeks now. It is even a 'tracked package' - I can go online and see that it has not been delivered yet and is still 'out there somewhere'. It was sent by Deutsche Post (now owners of DHL) with RoC mail taking over at the Cyprus end. I also had a package sent to the RoC via DHL for collection from DHL offices in the South from the UK, which arrived in three days. Then again I paid a lot more for the DHL delivery than I did for the Deutsche Post one, so maybe its just a case of you get what you pay for ?

For those of you with PO boxes dotted around the villages have you ever checked to see if your cards are in someone elses box. The reason I ask is because the lock on the front of most of the boxes in our local PO are totally useless and can be opened by using a car/door key or even a thumb nail. Last year I found 4 cards destined for a different box, in ours. I used my finger nail, opened the correct box, put their cards in and "locked" box again with said thumb nail. I don't suppose the other UK named person was ever aware of what had happened. I did it again last week but it looked more like a bill!!

Received 9 Christmas cards this morning! I know for sure that one was posted before December 6th, so it now takes a month. Never mind I will have to inform family to post in November next year!

Interesting point Sophie.

We live in Karsiyaka and collect our post from the Belidiye office where the mail is kept in pigeon holes in alpha order. Last week in our letter heap I spotted a letter for someone we knew who has a PO box. This letter did not have the PO box number on it. Having told the person who the letter was addressed to they went to office and collected it. It had been there for several weeks!!!!!!!!

The question I ask is how many people may have PO boxes but because their mail has the PO box number either omitted or incorrect their mail goes to a letter drop some where?

I agree that systems here often leave a lot to be desired but on the post issue may be a look at how your mail is addressed in future may save some upset. As for Christmas cards, they are a big money making con and destructive to the environment.

H on the H I have sent you a PM

We received three more cards this morning two were stamped in Lefkosa on Dec 8 one on Nov 25!!