Tag: Germany

German regulator Federal Network Agency has started a formal investigation into Deutsche Post AG for allegedly dumping in its mail operations, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung said, citing sources. Based on complaints filed with the agency, it said Deutsche Post had attempted to curtail competition in the area of letter collection, sorting and delivery through its wholly-owned unit Deutsche Post In Haus Service GmbH (DPIHS). It is alleged to have offered bundling of mailshots from federal agencies at special conditions, matching the offers from competitors for such services. Lawyer Christian von Ulmenstein, who represent the complainants, told the newspaper that by offering these extra services plus the regular offerings in-house, Deutsche Post has curtailed competition in the sector and abused its market position.

Deutsche Post AG plans to transform some 200 of its estimated 5,400 postal outlets into postal agencies to be owned jointly with other companies, Bild said, citing no specific sources. The newspaper added the outlets to be transformed are the smaller-sized ones.

German national postal services provider Deutsche Post is hoping to streamline its costly post office network when it loses its monopoly on letter deliveries at the end of 2007. Deutsche Post believes that the law on the legal obligations of the monopolist (PUDLV) should simply set out a minimum number of post offices to be run by the group, rather than telling the group where exactly to site post offices and boxes. The group also hopes to alter the number of deliveries made in the week.