Tag: Royal Mail

Postcomm consults on Royal Mail's request for exemption (UK)

Posted by | Feb 19, 2008 | |

On 23 November 2007, Royal Mail applied for a Direction from Postcomm for exemption from certain aspects of Condition 7 for its Parts Express service. Specifically, Royal Mail requested exemption from the three month pre-notification requirements set out in Condition 7(2) and (3) and therefore by implication the publication requirements of Condition 7(4). In addition, Royal Mail requested exemption from the publication requirements of contracts won through competitive tenders that are set out in Condition 7(5) (b).

On 19 February 2008, Postcomm issued a consultation letter seeking views on Royal Mail’s request for exemption from certain requirements of Condition 7 for the Parts Express services and Postcomm’s initial assessment of this request.

It is important for Postcomm to get the views of stakeholders includnig other licensed postal operators, postal users, Postwatch, trade associations and other interested parties in the postal sector, and we will consider carefully these views in making our decision on Royal Mail’s request.

Notes for editors

The consultation will be open for four weeks and closes on 19 March 2008. Postcomm will then assess the responses received and meet interested parties to discuss the consultation as necessary. A final decision on this application is expected by the end of April 2008.

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Businesses CSR policies overlook the financially excluded (UK)

Posted by | Feb 19, 2008 | |

Post Office research has revealed that despite corporate social responsibility (CSR) becoming a key element of companies’ working practices, many are overlooking millions of customers by failing to offer a cash payment channel.

UK businesses are increasingly taking more responsibility for environmental issues by reducing their carbon footprint, as well as adopting more responsible attitudes to customers and suppliers to encourage sustainable social and economic growth.

But many companies offering basic services such as electricity, telephone, broadband and digital TV, and even gyms and health clubs, however, do not provide cash payment option.

With over 2.8 million UK adults (1.9 million households) without a bank or building society account and dependent on cash payment methods to pay their bills, the financially excluded population is unable to access a range of products and services which are available to those with bank accounts.

For example, among the UK’s top ten best selling domestic broadband providers, none currently offer a cash payment facility. In fact Post Office broadband, which launched last year, is the only broadband provider which offers a cash payment option.

The Post Office provides a range of bill payments services, enabling cash payments for telephone, cable TV, utilities, mail order, council tax, travel and insurance providers, to be made at any UK Post Office® branch. When it comes to making regular payments by cash or cheque the Post Office is the most popular location with over 50 per cent of all household bills paid at the Post Office.

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Post Office Ltd announces plan for London

Posted by | Feb 19, 2008 | |

Post Office Ltd today (February 19) opened a six week local public consultation on its Area Plan for London. In line with the criteria and factors set by the Government in its response document, DTI The Post Office Network, Government Response to Public Consultation May 2007 (www.dti.gov.uk/consultations/page36024.html) the Area Plan proposes future provision of Post Office services through a network of 681 branches across the area, resulting in the closure of 169 branches.

Under the proposals more than 7 million London residents will either see no change to their nearest branch or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.

The Government has already undertaken a 12-week national consultation before reaching a decision to reduce the UK wide network of Post Office branches by up to 2,500 from its current level of over 14,000 while continuing to provide funding to support a more sustainable network in the future. The proposals now published support the national accessibility criteria introduced by the Government.

Under the area plan proposals 89.4 per cent of the area’s population will see no change in their nearest branch. A further 10.6 per cent live less than one mile by road distance from the nearest alternative branch, with 5.9 per cent within half a mile.

Post Office Ltd has reached these proposals after engaging with and taking input from the independent consumer watchdog on postal services, Postwatch, and from local authorities within the area, and has considered factors relating to geography, the availability of local transport and alternative access to key Post Office services, local demographics and the impact on local economies.

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Royal Mail make changes to collection plates (UK)

Posted by | Feb 14, 2008 | |

Royal Mail is making changes to collection plates as a result of two separate initiatives, namely:

Sunday and bank holiday collections – changes to collection plates

Part of the agreement given by Postcomm to Royal Mail’s request to stop Sunday and Bank Holiday collections was for Royal Mail to amend the information on the collection plates.

Postwatch has been advised by Royal Mail that the removal of all references to Sunday and Bank Holiday collections to its collection plates will be completed by 25 February.

Changing collection plates to show final collections as close to 12.00 midday (Monday – Friday) as possible

In response to Postcomm’s Decision Document on its review of Royal Mail’s collection and delivery times Royal Mail has undertaken a review of collection points that have a collection time before 12:00 midday (Monday – Friday) to move as many back to midday or later where it was reasonably practical and make economic sense to do so. However, there will be some instances where it may not be possible in every instance due to practical and commercial restraints (further details are attached).

Royal Mail has advised us that all reviews are due to be completed by end of February/early March.

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Royal Mail – Digital tracking rolled out (UK)

Posted by | Feb 13, 2008 | |

As part of its ongoing modernisation plan, Royal Mail is to equip its workforce with mobile devices aimed at improving the accuracy and reliablty of its abilty to track items.

Royal Mail is currently looking for a contractor to manage the servicing and updates required. 130,000 will be in use once the system is up and running.

Similar devices are already being fitted to its fleet of vans, enabling delivery offices to track the progress of its collection and delivery service. Other postal operators are already equipped with scanning devices which cut down on the time involved in writing confirmaton sheets which in turn helps make deliveries and collections more efficient.

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