Tag: Royal Mail

Sixteen Postal Operators Sign REIMS III Terminal Dues Agreement

Posted by | Apr 1, 2008 | |

After two years of negotiations European postal operators have reached a new agreement on terminal dues payments replacing the REIMS II Agreement in force since 1997.

The REIMS III Agreement took effect on 1 January 2008 with sixteen European postal operators committing to it. REIMS stands for Remuneration for the Exchange of International Mails. The sixteen posts that are now part of REIMS III are from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

Additional posts are expected to sign the agreement, which will remain open for signature for all present and former parties of the REIMS II Agreement and the REIMS East Agreement that participated in its negotiation.

REIMS III continues with quality of service standards much more ambitious than the targets under the EU Postal Directive. The individualized penalties in REIMS III for not reaching the J+1 standard and a target of 93 percent will continue to produce quality of service benefits. Transitional rules have been outlined that will continue to raise targets for those parties that have not yet reached 93% J+1.

A second benefit in the REIMS III agreement is that ensures that terminal dues as stipulated in the EU Postal Directive are cost-based, and are based on regulated domestic tariffs in the delivering country.

The parties to REIMS III have the firm commitment to continue to offer Third Party Access in line with the EU Commission’s 2003 Exemption Decision.

With the REIMS East transitional arrangement and the REIMS and REIMS East IDM Agreements incorporated into the REIMS III Agreement, it is expected that more REIMS East parties will sign the REIMS III Agreement during 2008.

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Post Office Ltd announces plan for Northern Ireland

Posted by | Apr 1, 2008 | |

Post Office Ltd today (Tuesday, 1 April) opened local public consultation on changes to the Post Office® network in Northern Ireland needed to meet Government requirements.

Proposals for the future provision of Post Office services have been published today and will remain open for consultation for six weeks until 12 May 2008.

Under the Northern Ireland proposals, 94.1 pct of the total population will see no change to their nearest Post Office branch.

The plan proposes future provision of Post Office services through a network of 492 branches, including 54 outreach outlets, while 42 branches would close. The number of branches in the network currently is 534.

Of the 492 branches that are proposed to remain open, 54 Post Office branches will be operated through a form of outreach service. These services will give customers continued access to Post Office services in their local communities on a regular basis without having to travel to another branch.

Possible types of outreach service include a mobile Post Office visiting small communities at set times; a hosted service operated within third-party premises for restricted hours each week (a local community centre, for example); a partner service within the premises of local retail partner (such as a shop), or a home service whereby customers can contact a subpostmaster by telephone for Post Office services.

Post Office Ltd is seeking views on the proposed future service provision in Northern Ireland including, in particular, views on access to Post Office services, the accessibility of alternative branches to those proposed for closure and the appropriate provision of outreach services.

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Homeowners waste millions buying mortgage lender’s life cover

Posted by | Mar 31, 2008 | |

Financially stretched homeowners could be overpaying by GBP 310 million every year by taking out life insurance with their mortgage provider, which many mistakenly believe is compulsory.

A study by the Post Office reveals that over a third (34 per cent) of people completing a mortgage application bought life insurance through their mortgage provider, which could be costing them an additional GBP 2000 each.

Confusion appears to be the main reason for people choosing to take out life insurance this way; 35 per cent said they felt pressured into buying it, or believed it was compulsory to purchase life insurance with the same provider.

Over half (54 per cent) of respondents said it was simply more convenient to arrange their life insurance and mortgage together, despite the fact they could be wasting hundreds of pounds by failing to shop around.

Worryingly, it seems many people are actually aware they are not getting the best deal, as only 16 per cent said that their mortgage provider offered the best value on life insurance.

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Postcomm forward work plan 2008-11

Posted by | Mar 31, 2008 | |

The forward work plan sets out our overall strategy for 2008-11, along with detail on the specific projects we intend to undertake. It describes Postcomm’s mandate and goals, and its priorities for the year. There are a number of top priority workstreams, which must be completed, as well as potential projects/workstreams that are contingent on factors beyond our control, for example, access determinations, or appeals against any Postcomm decisions. If we are required to divert resources to such projects, then others – which are desirable but not an absolute priority – may be re-evaluated.

Postcomm’s Forward Work Plan for 2008-11 sets out our overall strategy for 2008-11, along with the detail on the specific projects we intend to undertake.

Our projects and workstreams fall into four corporate goals:
– ensuring a universal service
– protecting customer interests (for more detail, see our web pages on Royal Mail standards and prices and postal licences and operators)
– replacing regulation through the promotion of sustainable competition
– advising on the Post Office network.

The achievement of these four goals is supported by building effective stakeholder relations and by using and developing resources effectively.

We will also continue to inform our decisions through international benchmarking, wherever possible.

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Government review – Postwatch initial response (UK)

Posted by | Mar 31, 2008 | |

Postwatch has submitted its answers to the first 19 questions posed by the independent review panel appointed by the Government.

The review panel’s terms of reference are to:

• assess the impacts to date of liberalization of the UK postal services market, including on the Royal Mail, alternative carriers and consumers;

• explore trends in future market development and the likely impact of these on Royal Mail, alternative carriers and consumers; and

• consider how to maintain the universal service obligation in the light of trends and market developments identified.

In her covering letter Millie Banerjee CBE, Chair of Postwatch, made the following points:

• The review is timely and welcome.

• Royal Mail has a dominant influence on the future of the UK’s postal industry. Postwatch is encouraged that Royal Mail acknowledges the need both for a far greater customer focus and for a fundamental change in its internal culture. Postwatch believes these to be huge tasks that will require little less than a revolution in Royal Mail’s thinking and approach.

• The needs and interests of its customers must be factored in at every point of Royal Mail’s transformation plan.

• Declining mail volumes are a major challenge but must not be used an excuse for declining customer service and lack of investment. Instead Royal Mail should be reinvigorating the mail market to make it an attractive medium for advertising and fulfilment delivery.

• A financially healthy, customer focused, efficient Royal Mail is required if the UK’s postal industry is to thrive. Postcomm, as economic regulator, must ensure that its regime provides real incentives for this to happen.

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