Tag: Royal Mail

Royal Mail has been accused of cynically manipulating customers by claiming they might not receive vital information if they opt out of junk mail.

Householders wanting to end the mountains of unsolicited letters that land on the doormat are being warned they risk missing important notices from local and central government.

These could include public health warnings such as how to deal with an outbreak of bird flu or Home Office advice about terrorist threats.

But yesterday the independent consumer body Postwatch described the threat – which angry customers say is blackmail – as ‘completely untrue’.

The revelation caused further anger yesterday. Labour MP Stephen Pound accused Royal Mail of effectively blackmailing customers to protect its lucrative junk mail business – last year it delivered 3.3billion items and the amount is rising.
Royal Mail has launched an email address – [email protected] – in addition to posted requests from customers to end junk mail deliveries.

But yesterday it was still warning callers to its telephone hotline that they would not receive ‘any unaddressed mail’ if they sent in the form.

ROYAL Mail is urging more small businesses who use postage meters to take advantage of a GBP 30 million discount by resetting meters to reflect a price reduction, following the introduction of the new pricing system.
As part of the new pricing structure, the price of 1st class post for meter users has been reduced by 1p and now costs 30p, rather than the previous price of 31p or the 32p for stamped mail. To take advantage of the discount, all customers need to do is reset their machines.

Royal Mail’s Lorna Clarkson said: “We always remind users to reset their meters when there is a tariff change, and this time is particularly important if business customers are to get a share in the GBP 30 million price reduction.”

While it is important that all businesses check their meters have been reset, it is particularly important for smaller businesses that use manual franking machines.

The reduction is in recognition that business post costs Royal Mail less to handle and is on top of the 1p discount given to business mail as part of tariff changes in April 2005.

Under the new pricing system Royal Mail is giving businesses a “double whammy” of price reductions, with an increase in the weight limit from 60g to 100g, so customers can send more for less.

Nearly one in three Postal Orders sold are now being used to pay for goods bought by online and home shoppers. The Post Office® has calculated that GBP 104 million worth of Postal Orders will be sold to fund the UK’s online and home shopping boom this year.
The figures show that a new generation of shoppers are relying on the security and convenience of the traditional Postal Order for their virtual shopping trips. Kevin McAdam, Post Office Ltd, said: “Postal Orders are proving perfect for people who don’t want to give out their bank account details online or over the telephone, or where they cannot use cash.
The new Postal Orders look similar to a cheque and the name of the recipient can be printed on the order, making it more secure. But unlike a cheque the seller doesn’t need to wait for bank clearance allowing them to access the money immediately. For customers without bank accounts or access to plastic or cheques, Postal Orders offer a safe and convenient way to make purchases where they cannot use cash.

Available now at all 14,300 Post Office® branches, the new Postal Orders can now also be processed through bank clearance systems, so retailers can accept them more easily.

The Royal Mail is failing to give customers sufficient information on how to avoid receiving its junk mail deliveries, a consumer watchdog said yesterday.

The accusation follows the suspension of Roger Annies, a postman who told people on his round how they could stop receiving unsolicited letters and fliers.

“It should not be difficult for customers to opt out,” a spokesman for Postwatch said. “They have the choice. At the moment it is a little prohibitive.”

Royal Mail makes large profits from delivering fliers and letters addressed to “The Householder” or “The Occupier” and, although it says it offers all customers the opportunity to choose not to receive such mailshots, which are known as Door to Door items, the service is not publicised.

Postwatch said that the Door to Door opt-out service had changed its address several times and that customers still had to write a letter to make sure that their wishes were carried out, even after they had called a special number.

The service is also not advertised anywhere and no details could be found during a search of the company’s website.

Royal Mail said that the business mail sent through the Door to Door system was vital for the group’s ability to compete with its rivals.