Royal Mail refuses to deliver Christmas card

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http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/new ... ticle.html

Christmas cheer seems to have missed the post after Royal Mail stopped a card from being delivered to a Lincoln pensioner, despite being within the guidelines.

Philip Hutchings (72) was told he had to collect an item from the city's Firth Road sorting office because there was money owing on the delivery cost.

It had been posted with a second class stamp.

But when he got there, the "package" turned out to be a 164mm by 164mm square Christmas card.

Royal Mail's delivery remit covers small letters up to 165mm.

Despite this, the postage company said an extra 15p needed to be paid for the card, plus a £1 handling fee.

Mr Hutchings, of Riseholme Road, Lincoln, said he was flummoxed.

"It was just a regular Christmas card which is the same size as lots of others and there will loads of people who might get snared in the same trap," he said.

"It seems to me that it is Royal Mail just being officious and they stand to make a fortune in handling fees if all the other cards the same size are given a charge."

After traipsing down to the sorting office, Mr Hutchings was told the letter was "borderline" and given it without a charge.

The card was from Help the Aged.

"Luckily I am able enough to have gone down to the office to pick it up, but there would be many elderly people who might not have the same luxury," said Mr Hutchings.