Postal Digest: UPU and IPC partner; record for Royal Mail staff

Rounding up some more of the latest news from around the postal world, including bpost’s new prepaid debit card, Russian Post’s promise from Sweden, and La Poste’s mobile expansion…

bpost launches prepaid debit card next week

bpost is to launch Belgium’s first universal pre-paid debit card next week, called “bpaid”.

The new product will go on sale in post offices from February 13, combining the advantages of cash with the simplicity of a payment card, helping consumers manage their budgets while also allowing users to shop online. Since the card is not connected to a bank account, bpost said users would have extra protection against fraud, for example in online transactions.

Cards can be refilled with up to EUR 6,000 by bank transfer, by credit card at bpost’s website, or over the post office counter, with the service incurring a EUR 12 annual fee.

UPU and IPC to work more closely together

The International Post Corporation and the Universal Postal Union have pledged to “re-energise” the relationship between them, with the intention of more collaborative working.

The IPC hosted a half-day meeting at the end of January at its Brussels headquarters for leaders of the two organisations, including (pictured right).

The IPC, whose 24 members are all also UPU members and deliver around 80% of global mail volumes, said the meeting had identified environmental sustainability was to be one particular focus of their joint working, and that they would look to find ways to combine strengths and maximise results with limited available resources.

Swedish pledge for Russia’s international mail

Russian Post says it has received assurances from Posten, the Swedish postal operator, that it will not delay the sending of parcels sent from the United States via the Scandinavian country.

At the start of this year, Russian Post received more than 12,000 mail items that had travelled from the US via Europe to the Moscow mail processing plant arriving two months late. Investigations have suggested the mail was sent through Sweden.

Russian Post said Posten had blamed the delays on a lack of available freight capacity during the peak season. Given that international volumes are expected to increase, Russian Post said it would initiate discussions at the Universal Postal Union to look at transport issues that might see creation of a single trans-national postal carrier organisation for interested countries.

La Poste continues expanding mobile phone network

France’s La Poste is continuing its efforts to standardise and broaden its mobile phone retail presence this month, expanding its La Poste Mobile system to 1,000 more post offices.

The company already has the largest distribution network in the country for mobile phones, but wants to see its full range of products available in 10,000 post offices by July. The total is expected to reach 3,000 at the end of March.

La Poste Mobile has a range of products available including monthly payment packages, smartphone packages including Internet access, phonecards and international services.

Royal Mail staff break world record

Royal Mail’s work force have broken a world record for the most registered charities supported by a Payroll Giving Scheme.

One in four of the workers at the British postal service support charities through the programme, which donates money direct from their pay to 975 registered charities. About GBP 23m has been donated through the programme since it started 23 years ago, including GBP 2m last year alone.

Gaz Davies, the Guiness World Records Adjudicator, said: “This Guinness World Record recognises the 975 registered charities supported, and reflects the huge generosity of all those working at the Royal Mail, congratulations on this special world record.”