Rob Hobson is facing a heartbreaking loss, a vanished gold bar purchased with funds inherited from his late father. The 100-gram bar, a tangible link to a cherished memory, represented more than just its considerable monetary value.
He’d made the careful decision to sell the gold, hoping to bolster his pension fund with the proceeds. With retirement just eleven months away, the estimated buy-back value of £9730 from the Royal Mint felt like a secure step towards a comfortable future.
Rob entrusted the precious metal to Royal Mail’s Special Delivery Guaranteed service on October 15th, opting for next-day delivery by 1 pm and paying extra for comprehensive insurance, including coverage up to £10,000 for consequential loss. He diligently tracked the parcel, a beacon of hope as it moved from Exeter towards Romford.
But the tracking updates abruptly stopped over the weekend, leaving Rob with a growing sense of unease. Confirmation from the Royal Mint that the gold hadn’t arrived solidified his fears – the bar had disappeared somewhere within the postal system.
After navigating a frustrating process with Royal Mail, he received a call acknowledging the loss and directing him to file a claim. A visit to the Exeter sorting office revealed a baffling scenario: the parcel had been scanned into a sealed bag with other items, yet only his had failed to reach its destination.
Managers at the sorting office were visibly shocked, unable to explain how the parcel could simply vanish while others within the same bag arrived safely in London. Rob now believes someone deliberately intervened, removing the gold bar from the secure delivery route.
He has reported the incident to the police as a crime, but admits to a painful realization – a sense of naiveté in placing his trust in the postal service. The offered compensation of just £750 feels like a cruel insult, a fraction of the value lost.
Rob isn’t seeking financial reimbursement; he wants his gold back. He firmly believes someone knows its whereabouts, and the thought of it lost forever, a symbol of his father’s legacy, is deeply distressing. Royal Mail has stated they are investigating and will be in direct contact with Mr. Hobson, emphasizing their commitment to the security of items in their care.
