Tag: Post Office

Post Office® (UK) insurance sales hit half a million

Posted by | May 1, 2007 | |

Post Office® Financial Services confirmed its position as one of the fastest growing insurance providers in the UK as insurance policy sales passed the 500,000 mark.

Already the largest independent provider of travel insurance in the UK, the Post Office® has built on this success over the past three years with Post Office® Financial Services which was launched as a joint venture with Bank or Ireland in 2004.

Post Office® Financial Services insurance products now include motor, home (buildings and contents) and most recently van cover for small businesses. Alongside this it has also successfully launched a range of lending and savings products.

The Post Office® has strived to bring innovation and fair value to the insurance market: it was the first provider to offer a GBP 50 cash back incentive to all new car insurance customers. From May 1 2007, it is launching a new promotion offering one month’s free cover to all new car, van or home insurance customers.

CEO of Post Office® Financial Services Patrick Waldron said: “Our aim at launch was to become a major player in the financial services industry and now, reaching half a million customers with our insurance products alone, we are definitely on target to achieve this.

“We believe in offering customers fairer, easier and better insurance – for example our customers can already save up to 33 per cent on car insurance alone, offered through 14,300 branches, online or over the phone. With one month free it’s even better value.”

All products are available by telephone and online and information is available at all 14,300 UK Post Office® branches – one of the largest retail networks in Europe.

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Post Office hit list claim

Posted by | Apr 30, 2007 | |

The Welsh Liberal Democrats in Aberavon are calling for the government to publish its post office “hit list”.They claim the list shows post offices threatened with closure following a consultation on their future.

The Liberal Democrats have been campaigning to keep local post offices open.

Their five-point plan would see:
GBP 2 billion invested in post offices.
New branches opening where needed.
Government services continuing to be available at the Post Office.
The Post Office freed from Royal Mail restrictions which will allow it to develop new business.
A new legal requirement placed upon the Government to maintain the local post office network.

Ten post offices have closed in Aberavon between 1999 and 2006.

Under the Government’s plans an average of three to four more post offices per constituency will close.

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Post Office plans causing concerns

Posted by | Apr 26, 2007 | |

Rural sub-postmasters and their customers in north Wiltshire are fearful and angry about proposed Government cuts, according to new research.

The Government believes the current network of post offices is unsustainable and needs restructuring.

In December 2006, it published a consultation document including proposals to end a special subsidy payment for rural post offices.

The Chippenham-based Citizen’s Advice Bureau surveyed a selection of postmasters and discovered that more than half would be forced to close as a result of the new measures. It says this will have devastating affects on the community.

CAB manager Sheila Venn said: “We know that for many local people, who come to us for advice, the local post office provides an invaluable service, whether it’s to buy groceries or cash pensions.

According to the research, which surveyed 15 sub-post offices in north Wiltshire in January, 63 per cent of sub-postmasters surveyed had worries for their customers and 91 per cent were concerned about the negative affect on the local community.

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Post Office closure angers staff and clients

Posted by | Apr 26, 2007 | |

Market traders and customers of Woking’s main post office in Market Square have been angered by plans to close the branch and move its services into WH Smith.

Customers say the proposals, announced this week as part of a nationwide scheme, would be inconvenient and difficult for older people and traders say it would detract further from an already sparse trading environment.

Relocation would also mean the loss of jobs at the Post Office — staff would be invited to re-apply for their jobs with WH Smith but not all would be successful. Royal Mail said the plan could leave some staff redundant.

A statement from Royal Mail said: “There will be opportunities for existing Post Office Ltd people at relocated branches to be re-employed by WH Smith in the new branches.

“Some people are expected to take up alternative roles within the Royal Mail group or take voluntary redundancy, should they wish to leave the business.”

Staff at Woking Post Office were told of the plans last Thursday. WH Smith confirmed that not all staff would necessarily be taken on from the closing branches. A spokesman said: “Staff at the existing Post Offices will have the opportunity to apply for jobs and then have a chance of becoming WH Smith employees.

The new nationwide blueprint for Royal Mail branches will see the company retain control of 373 key outlets, with 70 moving into WH Smith stores and a handful facing an uncertain future.

During trials for the new scheme, customers at the new WH Smith-based branches reported faster service and shorter queues. “In many cases our stores are more modern than Post Office branches, which will benefit customers,” said a spokesman. The two brands sell many of the same item ranges and would create a “one-stop-shop” for stationery and gifts.

The fate of the vacant building if the Post Office is relocated is unclear.

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Get one month’s free cover with the Post Office®

Posted by | Apr 25, 2007 | |

As of May 1 2007, customers taking out a new annual car, van or home1 and contents insurance policy with the Post Office® will receive one month’s cover free* – that’s 12 months for the price of 11!

The Post Office® already offers savings of up to GBP 1292 on car insurance and up to GBP 1733 on home insurance and now, with one month’s free insurance, customers can save even more.

Customers that pay for their policy in one lump sum will be charged for just 11 month’s cover. Those that choose to spread the cost of their policy premiums will have one month’s worth of cover knocked off their deposit.

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