'Snail mail' forcing firm to use couriers

A PAYROLL company has been forced to use private couriers costing £9 a
letter because of what it says is a sub standard service provided by the Royal
Mail in Gloucester. Dee Bee Payrolls, based at Innsworth Technology Park, provides accountancy
services to local companies in and around Gloucester, and in Bristol, Malvern,
Swindon and the Forest of Dean. But apparent failure by the Royal Mail to deliver payroll information has
meant that dozens of people are not being paid on time. Proprietor Diana Ball said: “It recently took Royal Mail eight days to deliver
a first class letter to Cinderford. That sort of thing is completely
unacceptable when people’s pay is involved. These are weekly-paid staff. “Royal Mail cannot deliver a first class letter from Innsworth to Westgate
Street the next day. Two employers in the street, KFC and the Fountain Inn,
have been forced to call round personally at my office to get their paperwork.
Our other customers might have to wait between three and five days. “The postal service is a farce and nothing like what they promise. “I have made numerous complaints to Royal Mail in Eastern Avenue, but they
seem incapable of doing anything about it. Now they are closing down the
customer service department in Gloucester. “When you complain you could be put through to the Royal Mail office in
Barnsley. If they are busy you get Bristol or Belfast. “One company on this business park pays Royal Mail £600-a-year to collect
their mail and that seems to get through on time. “When 12 other businesses here asked if they could have their mail collected
in the same van, Royal Mail demanded £600 from each of us. “In some cases I am having to use a courier service costing £9-a-letter to do
what Royal Mail should be doing.” Royal Mail spokesman Richard Smith said: “Eight days to deliver a first class
letter is clearly not acceptable to Royal Mail. We are still looking into the
complaint from Dee Bee. Next day delivery is not a guarantee for first class
mail, it is our aim. “The customer relations office is closing in Gloucester, but we believe that
with the use of new technology, we will be able to give a better service to
our customers in Gloucester. “We do charge for the business collection service, and that is right. We are a
commercial organisation.” Andrew Lewis, of Postwatch Midlands, a recently-created consumer body, said:
“We would like to take up Ms Ball’s complaint if she sends us all the
information. So far, we have only had eight complaints from Gloucestershire.” Postwatch can be contacted on 08456 013265 or by logging on to
www.postwatch.co.uk “Royal Mail cannot deliver a first class letter from Innsworth to Westgate
Street the next day. The postal service is a farce and nothing like what they
promise.” Diana Ball
CITIZEN, 03rd September 2001