UK Postcomm proposes new codes of practice for a competitive market

Postcomm today (18 March 2005) began consulting on a number of measures to ensure the fully competitive multi-operator postal market, which comes into effect next January, will operate smoothly and efficiently.

Postcomm’s proposals involve all licensed operators meeting common standards to safeguard the mail in their charge from theft, damage or interference. Separately, Postcomm is proposing common operating procedures to ensure such things as letters marked “return to sender” and customer service enquiries are handled by the appropriate operator.

Nigel Stapleton, chairman of Postcomm said: “Customer confidence is an essential pre-requisite for a competitive postal market. In preparation for full market opening Postcomm is today issuing two consultation documents – on mail integrity and on common operating procedures — which we believe will secure that confidence.”

Protecting mail integrity

Postcomm is seeking views on a code which would require all licensed operators to minimise the exposure of mail in their care to the risk of loss, theft, damage and/or interference.

Interfering with the mail is a criminal offence and Postcomm has already taken action against individuals for dumping mail. A straight-forward code on mail integrity will ensure everyone – including the customer — knows the rules. Once agreed, Postcomm proposes that compliance with the code will be a licence condition.

Common operating procedures

Postcomm contends that in a multi-operator market it is only fair that all players share the responsibility and the cost of dealing with misdirected mail and that customers’ mail is not delayed because it gets into the wrong network. In a set of rules published today for consultation, Postcomm seeks to ensure that this is done in an efficient way and at a fair price.

The operational procedures detailed in the consultation document – which include handling customer service enquiries and other issues — were developed after a series of workshops and discussions between Postcomm and existing licensed operators. A key principle of the proposed arrangements is that mail and customer enquiries that enter the wrong network are “repatriated” to the intended licensee as soon as possible.

It is expected that most mis-delivered mail will need to be extracted from Royal Mail’s system for repatriation to the intended operator. This is because at the moment only Royal Mail has post boxes.

Once the principles and prices have been decided, Postcomm will set a code of practice which it proposes will be binding on all licensed operators.

Notes

Both of today’s consultation documents are published on Postcomm’s website www.psc.gov.uk. Printed copies will be available shortly from Postcomm at 6 Hercules Road London SE1 7DB

The documents are: ‘Protecting the Integrity of Mail – A Code of Practice,’ and ‘Postal Code of Practice for Common Operational Procedures.’ Responses to both are requested by 17 June 2005.