Tag: Post Office

Post Office strike threat

Posted by | Aug 23, 2006 | |

Swansea’s two biggest post offices are bracing themselves for shutdown in a growing row over plans to move the city’s big Kingsway branch.

Staff have voted in favour of industrial action at a string of Crown post offices.

Details of exactly what form the action will take should emerge within 24 hours.

But it could force the temporary closure of The Kingsway, Morriston, Neath, Port Talbot, Llanelli and Carmarthen branches.

It would mean problems for customers who use them for anything from picking up benefit payments to applying for passports and renewing their car tax.

Union bosses say the action is in response to the proposed deal between the Post Office and WH Smith which would see The Kingsway office shut and move to the first floor of the Quadrant store.

On Saturday, 29 staff at The Kingsway’s post office braved downpours to stage a five-hour protest ahead of the controversial move that is planned for October 5.

Thousands of Swansea residents have signed a petition calling for bosses to scrap the proposal.

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Financial winners and losers in post shake-up

Posted by | Aug 22, 2006 | |

Today is the Royal Mail’s red letter day. The price of post will now depend on the size of what you are sending.

The new system has three categories.

The letter classification, with maximum 5mm thickness, is equivalent to a standard birthday card and the large letter, 25mm, around the depth of a monthly magazine.

The packet category covers anything larger.

The Royal Mail has predicted more than 85% of stamped mail will be the same price or cheaper than the old system.

The new pricing structure is called “Pricing In Proportion”.

Ian McKay, Royal Mail’s director of Scottish affairs, said one of the easiest ways to save money under the new rules was to fold all A4 items in half and put them in a C5 envelope.

Watchdog body Postwatch said there would be financial “winners and losers”.

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No chaos as postal prices change

Posted by | Aug 22, 2006 | |

Yesterday was a just a “typical day” for Post Office customers despite predictions the new pricing system would cause “chaos”, said Royal Mail.

New rules which came into force yesterday mean postage costs will determined by the size and shape of the item, not just weight.

Lorna Clarkson, Royal Mail’s Director of Pricing, said: “This is turning out to be a typical day in Post Office branches. There is no sign at all of the ‘chaos’ some predicted!

“I am very confident that customers will quickly get used to the new pricing structure, and we’re grateful for the way they have been taking the time to read the information we’ve distributed.”

The changes were accompanied by a pounds 10m campaign, 27m households received leaflets about the plan.

A spokeswoman for Postwatch, an independent consumer body, had earlier warned “many people still don’t know” about the details.

Ms Clarkson said: “Of course, we are not complacent and recognise that we are making significant changes. We will take all the time they need to explain these changes.

“But every indication we have had from Post Office branches and our customer call centres show that most people are aware of the changes.”

Royal Mail have said they will not gain extra revenue from the changes, and the postage for 80% of the mail will remain the same.

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Postal density charge plan attacked

Posted by | Aug 21, 2006 | |

Radical plans by Royal Mail to charge customers different rates according to the density of deliveries in each geographical area have been attacked by business.

The dominant postal operator is today launching its biggest price overhaul in decades, which will charge customers according to the size, thickness and weight of mail, rather than just weight alone.

But Royal Mail has also applied to Postcomm, the postal regulator, to extend zonal pricing to some bulk business mail from April, albeit with a six-month transition period.

The system is already used in some Royal Mail services, and would cut prices for delivering in densely populated areas and raise them for less dense zones.

It would not apply to stamped or frank consumer mail or erode the Royal Mail’s commitment to deliver to every address. But bulk mailers, in particular, would be affected.

Postcomm began to open up bulk mail to competition three years ago, with the entire market facing competition from the beginning of this year.

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First time buyers are overstretched and under protected

Posted by | Aug 21, 2006 | |

Nearly half (48 per cent) of first time buyers (FTBs) would only be able to meet their mortgage repayments for six months if they lost their regular income tomorrow, reveals new research by Post Office® Financial Services.

With the average house deposit now at GBP 11,710, many FTBs are left overstretched financially. A third then face the additional shock of household running costs, which are much higher than they expected.

The Post Office® research reveals that despite these financial pressures, many FTBs are skimping on protecting themselves. Almost half (45 per cent) of FTBs don’t have any kind of protection against loss of income, from accident, sickness or unemployment (Payment Protection Insurance). Of those who are unprotected, the majority (44 per cent) have avoided doing so because they think it’s too expensive. Almost a third just don’t think they need it.

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