Austrian Post Office can't find its own complaints commission

Angry villagers protesting the Austrian Post Office’s closure of 600 rural branches have been told to complain to a “Control Commission” which doesn’t yet exist.

The Post Office said the Commission would mediate in disputed cases. Those concerned should write to its central Vienna offices.

But the villagers said on Friday there was only one problem. No-one could find the Commission – including the Post Office itself.

The 1,000-population village Weitersfelden in Northern Austria sent a registered letter to the correct address, said Mayor Josef Mitmannsgruber.

But three days later the letter came back stamped “addressee unknown” and “return to sender”.

“The Post Office simply sent us the letter back – without an answer. Now we’ve sent it again. We don’t see why they’re not telling us anything.”

Sources said Weitersfelden was not the only case. Other local communities had got their letters back too. Further letters were in sacks outside the office door.

There was outrage in the village of Unterrohr in Styria Province.

Two years ago the local post office moved to new quarters, with the community supplying part of the money. Now there would be a protest to the Control Commission.

The central Austrian Post Office tried to calm the situation. Spokesman Michael Homola gave an assurance that the Commission would start work next week.

But the reports said meanwhile Unterrohr post office had been closed last Monday, and Weitersfelden on Thursday, “probably for good”.

Even Post Office sources appeared to have little confidence in the Commission.

All 638 closures on cost-saving grounds would be by July 1 as planned . The Commission was “fairly toothless”, they said.

APA