Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

How is receiving Christmas post here going with everyone? We have received 2 cards up to date which were posted in November. We know for a fact that several people have sent. Went to Lapta post office again today - no post. Told to try again tomorrow. My Sister goes to Alsancak nothing again! Yes we are loved and yes we know who has sent them but Christmas Eve tomorrow. How are you all doing? Happy Christmas and New Year to all Kıbkomers

We have been waiting for post that was mailed 5 weeks ago, new post codes seem a waste of time, we are still dealing with an archaic system in a Banana Republic, Hasn't got any better in the 10 years I have been here.

We're still waiting for cards that were sent from UK in November.
None so far this Xmas.
Think we got 1 card via post last year.
PO box in Esentepe
Maybe we're not loved as much as we thought

Heaven, maybe they,ve used your moniker,
your cards might have been sent upstairs

Merry Xmas from Esentepe.

We had two cards delivered today in Lapta, one was posted 1 December and the other 12th December, both in the same UK town. We know that a lot of cards have been sent but we are still awaiting........... and hoping.

So thankful for your replies it is good to know all my old friends aren't lying - not that I thought they were !!! Family cards also. Have lived here 6 years and this has been the worst year. İs it England or here? Please lets hear from others and then we can get BRS to look into it Thank you all

I usually receive between 35/40 from the UK. 7 so far! As it is only delivered to Ozankoy on a Thursday. MAYBE some on Christmas day!!!!!! Received 3 in March this year!

Only received 1 card so far, was told there would be another delivery in Ozankoy tomorrow.

We have all been through this before, so I ask the same question yet again. Has anyone who has not had things posted from the UK lost or had their mail delayed? From what I remember over the years, anything posted here that does not have to go through the main London sorting office always gets here but if it goes via London - forget it!

It's a shame this post appears almost every Christmas. We have been here over 10yrs and it has not changed. We got so fed up at not receiving post we now have a P.O. Box on the South side. In two years we have not "lost" one single item of post including packages.

Would you not think by now the issue of lost post would have been resolved? So frustrating that some things have changed here for the better, the post is not one of them

Not good in Alsancak either. Had one arrival out of several sent! We have a PO box as well. Still awaiting stuff posted in Sep. 2011!! Good job it wasnt important.

Thank you all for your replies. We have just taken out a PO box on the south and will now change our address. I help run a charity as voluntary Company Secretary for street children in Nepal. In November I received the new bank cards posted from UK in early October. Still waiting for the pin numbers. Thought BRS were dealing with this years ago. Will e mail them. Please others who have not received post add to this so we all can once again try to make a strong case as those who have lived here longer have fought tirelessly

Maybe the BRS "New(old ) committee can try to sort this out again, before Christmas 2015.When they did the survey several years ago, I had 5 pieces of mail sent from the UK in various guises. Brown envelope, window, Air mail,white envelope, coloured. NOTHING ARRIVED!!!

Thanks Owl lady. Have telephoned Ann Challis tonight. Told her it needs looking into. I suggest to everyone receiving late mail ( if we are lucky to receive it!) That we try to see the post date from England and also the stamp from Lefkoşa and then the one from Girne (if there is one) and maybe we can find out where the fault is. Maybe we are all on our own about this!

Please keep replying good or bad because maybe THİS YEAR WİLL BE THE LAST YEAR of not hearing from our family and friends xx

I agree, but half the time, even if there is a stamp in Lefkosa,there is none in Girne!!You can try to keep a record of time from UK to your own post box where ever!

Had two so far in Lapta post box , both posted early November and from date stamps , both sat in Lefkosia for three weeks
Happy Christmas

I have been here for nearly 20 years, and although every year some cards have arrived in Jan or Feb (usually because they have been posted late and got delayed in the UK Christmas rush before they even got to Turkey!) this has been the worst Christmas for post ever. Only 2 cards so far.

The Ozankoy Muhtar's office said they had asked the Girne Post Office to deliver mail to them on Wednesday this week (usually it is Thursday) but no guarantees.

I too remember the days when mail via London was "waylaid" by someone in the London sorting office, but thought that had been sorted out apart from the lack of Chrismas cards only one item to to my knowledge got mislaid throughout this year, but from the numbers quoted above it look as if something has gone wrong somewhere

Had 2 delivered a few years ago, they came from the UK via Papua New Guinea, only delayed a week, I can recommend their postal system, obviously no GC's working in PNG post office then!

I will visit Lapta post office again today and let you all know! My husband hopes Santa´s delivery tonight is better and on time!!

If you research the post marks delays usually occur between Lefkosia and Girne. I found post that had sat for 14 days and longer, in Lefkosia before being sent to Girne. Haven't had any UK cards yet this year and expect as usual they will arrive at th end of January.

I've always said on this and other Forums that we have always been very lucky compared to others (over a period of 10 years) but this is the very worst year ever. Mothers Day and Fathers Day cards, (only 1 arrived, Wedding Anniverary cards, 1 arrived, Birthday cards, not arrived, Christmas card - two arrived so far, both with Post Codes on. What have arrived this year:- letters from Pensions and Tax authorities, expensive magazines which have been ordered from UK on a monthly basis and a quarterly newsletter from a company in UK. One envelope that did arrive in August was a 2013 Christmas card from UK that had a second class UK stamp, no airmail sticker and incorrectly addressed!!

If you contact the BRS, then its David Brown, Chairman you need to address. The promises over the years from the people equivalent to Post Master General have been legion. Promises that are just gusts of very hot air and worthless.

Still waiting for a small parcel that was posted in UK (Telford) on the 26th of October this year - sender has now put in a claim form as we consider it lost! Strange that Nationwide send me a bank statement every month to exactly the same post office box number in Girne and it always arrives, the same was true of Lloyds Master Card statements till I told them to stop sending them.

What else gets through without problem? Anything from HMRC, anything from the MoD, anything from Capita (now MyCSP but still gets here when the bother to send it), anything from Equiniti and anything from an official Government Department. All small parcels from Hong Kong, Germany, Spain, China and USA!!!

What goes missing? Most normal mail from the UK and every small parcel ever sent from the UK???

All the above is sent to a P.O. Box in Girne - including anything purchased from Ebay and sent from UK.

I called in to Alsancak P.O this morning,--nothing there, but was told that we now have a new postman, who will deliver EVERY DAY provided we have a post box!!!! Perhaps he'll bring my birthday cards, posted October, in UK. Perhaps!!!!

Waddo, Have you checked at the Parcels Office under the Post Office in Girne? I've had several packages languish there for weeks ..... and then they had the b...s to charge me for 'holding' them!!!!

yippee 1 card AND a birthday card for January posted 12 th December!!!

Been to PO in Girne today, no Christmas cards from UK only one posted from Canada!! Also still waiting for a birthday card for a birthday in November, it just gets worse, thought it would have all been sorted (excuse pun) by now.

Krin52 not tried that but going down tomorrow so will give that a go thanks.

Perhaps next year we should all ask our friends and relatives to send Christmas post : Care of Santa Clause, Lapland. Rudolph might be quicker

Happy Christmas and Yeni Yılınız kutlu olsun to you all anyway.

Well, I had to go to UK beginning Dec. I posted cards to my older friends who do not do internet. I am just glad to be here at last, with none of the ghastly trappings of Christmas. It's part of the reason we left the UK. Chillin' not Stressin'

Thank you so much for all your replies. I will now ask the relevant people to look into this. This is certainly not good enough. Keep sending me your complaints as this is certainly the worst year that I have lived here. Plus send me details as to when your cards show up. My sister reckons that we should celebrate Christmas in March! That is when her cards seem to turn up. I will ask BRS to find out whether it is here, Turkey or England. They said that they had done this before! Please keep in touch and keep check of date stamps. Anyway I hope you all have a very merry Christmas and yeah Santa WİLL BE ON TİME FOR ALL THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GOOD. I have been very very good.
Happy Christmas xx

Follow up to this morning's message 23. When I returned home, a handful of cards, all posted in UK early in December, had been safely delivered!
Thank you Alsancak PO. Long may this continue.

Yipee 5 more card in Ozankoy mail box today,so it did come a day earlier. Well done Zoe! Some post marked, some illegible, but some in Lefkosa since 2nd December. I am sure that is where the problem lies. Oh! and also a letter from the HSBC addressed to my late husband who died in April 2012!!!Well done HSBC

Post code or no post code - promised Christmas cards had not arrived by yesterday. Will take a look today - it could be a few Christmas wishes are awaiting us.

However, I hav enow got to the stage of advising people not to waste their money on apostage that seems to dorp in on all the countries of the world before it gets here - well that is how long it seems to take.

Pity though, isn't it - but somehow TRNC seems to be more cursed at Christmas time than U.K ever was for non-delivery.

Maybe it is because there are now so many foreigners that the postage system can't cope!

Whatever - I guess my Christmas cards can be early for next year.

Went to my Girne P.O. box this morning - nothing but dust - thought I would check the parcels office just in case - SHUT! For the future, they only open on Monday - Wednesday - Friday. Guy inside drinking coffee and reading the paper, working his fingers to the bone! Will try again tomorrow.

So early for next year then

Next year will not matter!!! On my way to the parcel office tomorrow I buy my Turkish State Lottery Ticket. Next year I will have all of my post hand delivered from the sender to me - the cost of the return flights plus the hotel stopover will not even dent my bank account - lol.

Before you ask - NO - I will not be moving away but I may have my jeep re-sprayed, maybe.

I bet if there was a charge for delivery the cards would arrive, the service is a disgrace

Okay Kibkomers! 3 cards from England plus 2 birthday cards posted December. I will be getting in touch with relevant people in New Year. Is it England or here! Keep letting me know also when you receive the bulk of them. İf you do!! Happy New Year to you all

Ha, Ha, Ha! Should have known better - should have read the whole thing! Went down to the parcel office on Friday as planned...........................

For your information only: The Girne Parcel Office is open only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, they work very hard in there so it is only open on those days between 0900 and 1100. A total of six hours a week to collect your parcels and that is your lot.

It was shut Friday, my fault, I got there at 10:50 and it must have been tea break before closing!! Can't go tomorrow but will be there at 09:00 on Wednesday to try again - not much hope as that is Market Day and of course New Years Eve as well as being a day in the week - any of those things could mean it would be closed for bayram.........

I still say the postal service here is good - it is just a little slow.....................................

Not sure where problem is but all I can say I have lived here 6 years and worst Christmas for post ever. however BRS said they sorted it England as well years ago. So I will e mail David Brown so hopefully they also take it up here and in England

Received 12!! in Ozankoy out of a possible 39,some could be dead of course!!I am 100% convinced the problem is between Lefkosa and Girne.

what does everyone think about a member of BRS going along secretly with a member of postal service to inspect Lefkoşa delivery office and see what is there. I used to do inspections of police custody cells un announced and it was amazing what I found. Surely I can arrange this. BRS are you out there I was told you would look at this site by Ann Challis!

Things looking up in Karaoglanoglu PO. 6 cards yesterday including Australia. Some have Lefkosa and Girne stamp, some just Lefkosa. Not sure whether that means they by pass Girne, or whether they just can't be bothered to stamp. Locals can't understand this obsession for sending cards you know!!

But we have friends and family that send to us from a long way away and we help the economy here plus we respect the culture here. Therefore it would be nice that our celebration cards are delivered on time but it could be London England and that is my suspicion, my Husband thinks lefkoşa but I have faith in this country

Heaven. how come they are post marked in England and arrive,and are stamped in Lefkosa 5/6 days later.Then arrive in my mail box in Ozankoy 2/3 WEEKS later???

This was posted last year, maybe someone should speak to the named person and ask for details and as it says, post goes into Istanbul, then on board Turkish Airlines, then onto Lefkosia for sorting.



http://www.lgcnews.com/trnc-postcodes-go-live/

Spoke to David Brown from BRS and he has promised to look into it and it will also be discussed at next meeting. Me couldn´t be bothered to go to PO at Lapta again today. Sending the car on it´s own tomorrow as it knows the way!!!

Two in Lapta post box today , one had no postmark at all
,other was in large brown envelope, in post office as too large for box , so no knowing how long it had been there,posted mid November
we have received several cards within 2 weeks of being posted in UK, yet no sign of others posted early November ................curiouser and curiouser

Yes exactly the same as us. Seems there is a very very large sackful of Christmas post missing.

Three cards delivered today in Catalkoy with Lefkosa stamp dated November 15, no Girne stamp on any of them.
I know a lot of cards posted to us have again not been delivered, they must be somewhere.......................................