Tag: Royal Mail

Royal Mail ‘Address Detectives’ prepare for festive postcode challenge

Posted by | Dec 7, 2007 | |

Royal Mail today urged people to postcode their festive greetings as 5,400 “address detectives” face up to the challenge of helping 400 million poorly addressed and written cards to their destination this Christmas,

Millions of people are expected to sit down this weekend to start writing their Christmas cards to friends and family,

Royal Mail expects to deliver more than two billion items over the festive period but estimates 400 million cards and letters will not be able to be read by its automated sorting machinery either because the postcode has not been included, the item has been poorly addressed or the handwriting style is difficult to read.

Nearly 4,200 “address detectives” have been recruited for the festive season to support the 1,200-strong team who will decipher the addresses of items that cannot be read automatically so that the letters can still be processed by the sorting machinery rather than by hand.

Alex Batchelor, Royal Mail’s Marketing Director, said: “Mail volumes almost double on peak days in December and it is important that people properly address their Christmas cards and use the postcode. Letters and cards that have clearly written addresses and a postcode can be read by our machines and handled 20 times faster than by hand.

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Royal Mail Retail Compensation to Receive Overhaul

Posted by | Dec 6, 2007 | |

After a public consultation and a close look at Royal Mail’s compensation scheme, Postcomm is proposing changes to the way in which compensation claims are dealt with. The idea is to simplify the process and make it fairer.

Postcomm was concerned that there were inconsistencies in the way in which claims for retail customers were processed and with guidance from Postwatch, a new scheme is being proposed.

Retail customers should, say Postcomm, face less difficulty for claims where post has been lost, damaged or delayed with changes to:

– the processes for making a claim;
– the evidence required to support a claim; and
– the compensation payments themselves.

Nigel Stapleton, Chairman of Postcomm said: “Royal Mail’s compensation schemes for their retail customers have developed over many years and have become difficult for customers to understand. Recognising this, Postcomm has worked closely with Royal Mail and Postwatch to try and find ways to cut through the complexity and make sure mail customers have access to a clear, fair and user-friendly compensation system.”

“Postcomm is committed to remove prescriptive regulation where possible and the development of competition for the business of the largest mailers means we are proposing to do so by withdrawing the regulated bulk mail compensation scheme from April 2009 in favour of solutions based on individual customer need.

“While the overall volume of lost, damaged and delayed post is very small in the context of the total amount of mail carried by Royal Mail, every item is valued by customers and they should be properly compensated when there are such problems.”

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Postcomm proposals aim to simplify Royal Mail's compensation schemes

Posted by | Dec 6, 2007 | |

Royal Mail’s current schemes are inconsistent and difficult for customers to understand.
Proposals aimed at simplifying current schemes to make them easier to use.
Postcomm proposes to remove bulk mail from the compensation scheme in April 2009.

Postcomm, the independent regulator for postal services, has outlined proposed changes to Royal Mail’s compensation schemes for lost, damaged and delayed mail to make them fairer and more suited to customer needs.

The regulator has conducted a public consultation and worked closely with Royal Mail and Postwatch to address concerns about the complexity of Royal Mail’s current compensation schemes for retail customers and some inconsistency in how they are applied.

Following this review, Postcomm is proposing to remove bulk mail from a regulated compensation scheme for delay. Competition for bulk mail customers has developed to a point where the regulator is proposing that it is more appropriate to move towards a market driven option allowing the growth of schemes which reflect the differing needs of large mailers.

Royal Mail’s retail customers should face less difficulty in pursuing their claims because, for retail mail that has been lost, damaged or delayed, the proposals aim to simplify and align:
– the processes for making a claim;
– the evidence required to support a claim; and
– the compensation payments themselves.

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Decisions on Kent Post Office Branches Announced

Posted by | Dec 6, 2007 | |

Post Office Ltd today announced decisions on the future of Post Office® branches across Kent, following a six week public consultation ending on 12 November. Post Office® services will be provided through a network of 295 branches, which supports the national accessibility criteria introduced by the Government and ensures that 99 pct of the county’s population will either see no change to their existing branch or will remain within one mile (by road distance) of an alternative branch.

The plan confirmed today means that 56 branches will close in Kent, with the first closures scheduled to take place in January. These branches were detailed in the Area Plan proposal published on 2 October 2007.

Two branches originally proposed for closure – Cliff’s End in Ramsgate and Hawkhurst – will now remain open following a review of the issues raised during consultation and of factors relating to geography, the availability of local transport and access to alternative branches, local demographics and the impact on local economics.

At Cliff’s End, having taken into account local feedback, Post Office Ltd was concerned that alternative branches were not sufficiently easy to reach and that the viability of the branch’s retail business, which provided a critical service for the community, would be threatened. In Hawkshurst, further review during consultation demonstrated the difficulties that customers would face reaching an alternative branch further from the main shopping area of the village.

Additionally, as a result of the information provided during the six week public consultation process, improvements will be made to 18 branches in Kent to improve accessibility, particularly for customers with disabilities, or to increase capacity by providing additional counter positions.

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Postcomm proposals aim to simplify Royal Mail's compensationschemes

Posted by | Dec 6, 2007 | |

Postcomm has outlined proposed changes to Royal Mail’s compensation schemes for lost, damaged and delayed mail to make them fairer and more suited to customer needs.

The regulator has conducted a public consultation and worked closely with Royal Mail and Postwatch to address concerns about the complexity of Royal Mail’s current compensation schemes for retail customers and some inconsistency in how they are applied.

Following this review, Postcomm is proposing to remove bulk mail from a regulated compensation scheme for delay. Competition for bulk mail customers has developed to a point where the regulator is proposing that it is more appropriate to move towards a market driven option allowing the growth of schemes which reflect the differing needs of large mailers.

Royal Mail’s retail customers should face less difficulty in pursuing their claims because, for retail mail that has been lost, damaged or delayed, the proposals aim to simplify and align:

* the processes for making a claim;
* the evidence required to support a claim; and
* the compensation payments themselves.

Read More

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