On 2006-02-14, I used Canada Post On-line Business Centre (OBC), and mailed a parcel via Xpresspost from Gatineau, QC to Drumheller, AB. Since I knew that it may take between 24 hours and 48 hours for the package to show up on Canada Post tracking system (7081232520567006), I waited until 2006-02-17 (3 days after mailing) to check the Canada Post website.
Since the tracking system still did not show my parcel after 3 days from the mailing, I telephoned Canada Post Customer Service to inquire about the status. They told me that the tracking system is updated only once a day, around noon. They also said that sometimes Xpresspost parcels do not get scanned into the system, but that the delivery is guaranteed within 5 days in Canada, on or before 2006-02-20. I wonder why it is so difficult for Canada Post to show the tracking data in near real-time, just as any other courier company does.
On 2006-02-19, the tracking system was still saying "No records found for specified search criteria" for my parcel, the "guaranteed" 5 days after mailing.
On 2006-02-22, the tracking system finally said "Item successfully delivered to Receiver's address". This is the only entry on webpage "Detailed Item Information". How detailed is that? The "Date/Time of Event" is "2006/02/21 AM", so it took one full day from the time of delivery to show up in the tracking system that the item had been delivered, and 8 days since the item was actually mailed. So much for the 5-day guarantee!
On 2006-02-23, I filed a claim for refund on Canada Post website, including the tracking number (7081232520567006) for Canada Post tracking system which contains all the sender/addressee information. Yet, 1 week later on 2006-03-01, I received the following message. Help!
Please provide me with the addressee's name and complete address. The Claims Department cannot process the refund before they receive this information.
Clicking on "View Delivery Confirmation Certificate (PDF)" on webpage "Detailed Item Information" shows an empty page. No certificate, nothing at all!
On 2006-03-07, I received a Credit Memo for $13.19 CAD from Canada Post in my snail mail. The amount was correct, but when I visited the "Manage My Accounts" section of Canada Post On-line Business Centre (OBC), my Account Balance showed $0.00 CAD. I panicked and called the Accounting department. They said that the amount of $13.19 CAD was indeed in the system, but had no explanation as to why I was not able to see the credit on-line. They transferred me to the On-line Business Centre (OBC) department. They said that they cannot see the amount of $13.19 CAD either, and that I should call the Accounting department!
For several shipments of Xpresspost, including this item, I did not receive Delivery Notification even though I specified on the On-line Business Centre (OBC) the E-mail address to receive such notification.
Also, I entered my E-mail address to request Delivery Notification for small packets in previous transactions, but the Canada Post Customer Service told me that Delivery Notification is not possible for small packets. Why in the world does the webpage for small packets ask an E-mail address for Delivery Notification, then?
