Rob Hobson is fighting to recover a gold bar worth nearly ten thousand pounds, a precious piece of his inheritance, that vanished within the Royal Mail’s system. The 100-gram bar, purchased with funds from his late father, represented a significant step towards a secure retirement, now hanging precariously in the balance.
He’d carefully planned to sell the gold, capitalizing on high market prices to bolster his pension fund, just eleven months away from realization. The Royal Mint had already agreed to a buy-back valuation of £9730, a sum that promised a comfortable future. But that future now feels distant, lost somewhere between Exeter and Romford.
Rob entrusted the gold to Royal Mail’s “gold standard” Special Delivery Guaranteed service, paying extra for comprehensive insurance, including consequential loss coverage up to £10,000. He meticulously tracked the parcel, confident in its secure transit, but the tracking updates abruptly ceased over a weekend, leaving him with a growing sense of dread.
Confirmation from the Royal Mint that the gold hadn’t arrived ignited a frantic search. Despite the assurances of guaranteed next-day delivery, the parcel seemed to have disappeared into thin air after being scanned into a sealed bag alongside other deliveries at the Exeter sorting office.
Managers at the Exeter facility were reportedly shocked, confirming the parcel’s entry into the system but unable to explain its subsequent disappearance. While other parcels from the same sealed bag reached their destination in London, Rob’s valuable shipment remained unaccounted for.
Rob believes foul play is the only plausible explanation, suggesting someone deliberately “intervened” to steal the gold. He’s filed a police report, but admits a painful realization: a degree of trust in the postal service that now feels profoundly misplaced.
The Royal Mail’s response has been deeply frustrating. Despite the substantial insurance coverage, they initially offered a paltry £750 in compensation, a sum that barely scratches the surface of his loss. Rob isn’t seeking a payout; he wants his gold returned, convinced someone knows its whereabouts.
The Royal Mail has stated they are investigating the incident and will be in direct contact with Mr. Hobson, reiterating their commitment to the safety and security of items in their care. But for Rob, the investigation feels slow, and the prospect of recovering his father’s legacy grows dimmer with each passing day.
