Question Regarding Postal Charges Before Taking Action

Customer K · Post by **Customer K** » 12 Apr 2016, 19:17

Hi Royal Mail Chat

I went to the post office earlier (won't say which one lol) and posted 2 sunglasses which fit inside a small Jiffy bag like most items that go through eBay. I wanted recorded 2nd class and he said it has to go as a small parcel which is up to 2KG. This concerned me as even if I sent 1, he would have charged me same as sending possibly 10 or more considering 2 KG.

When I used to sell on eBay, even after the classification of letter, small packet and small parcel came into effect, I have not seen these kind of charges, even factoring in increases in postage.

So, he charges me Signed for 2nd Class Small Parcel £3.95 and then it says PrePaid Amount then shows minus -£3.48. Then shows Total Cost of Services £0.47

I then look at the receipt and it shows £3.95 and then minus for -£3.48 PrePaid RM Stamps and then shows Total Due To Post Office £0.47. It then shows Cash FROM CUSTOMER £0.47 but he has charged me £3.95.

Has the guy in the post office committed fraud? I understand he has over charged me because if everything costs this much then no one could ship out even a £4 item with Royal Mail, even with second class and there are sellers selling below that price who still manage. Note, I recently moved and first time going here, and first time selling these items but I have sold heavier items that fit in same envelope and cost much less. Anyone who can genuinely help here will be much appreciated.

Also note, he has put 0.520 KG and no way is both these items half a kilogram. He wouldn't even weight it and said it is up to 2 KG.

IcanthelpthewayIam · Post by **IcanthelpthewayIam** » 12 Apr 2016, 20:54

If the item exceeded any one of the following, either a weight of 750g, Length 35.3cm,Width 25cm or Height 2.5cm then it would have gone as a small parcel and you would have been charged £3.95, i would bet that two pairs of sunglasses plus a padded envelope would have been thicker than 2.5cm and thus you were correctly charged £3.95 which is the price for a small parcel signed for under 2kg

as for the bit about different charges, thats a fairly simple explanation, he probably printed the £3.48 one by mistake earlier and just used that sticker plus another for the balance of £0.47, its a bit lazy rather than voiding the previous transaction etc but nothing wrong with doing it really,

as for the wrong weight, again nothing really wrong again just being lazy as anything under 2kg is allowed, but if you were to put a claim in for a missing item then it could get queried if the receipt showed half a kilo when the item you are claiming for was at most 100g etc,

if anything just worth making sure he puts the correct weight in the future other than that nothing wrong with what he has done, certainly no fraud

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 13 Apr 2016, 00:10

I will back up what zx135 says above, but also the pre-paid stamps thing is sometimes used by clerks to use up old stamps that are otherwise hard to sell or return to RM.

Customer K · Post by **Customer K** » 13 Apr 2016, 02:06

Hi @Snaggletooth and @zx135

Thanks for your prompt replies. Glad asked here before jumping the gun and calling up RM and spending hours waiting on the phone or going back to the post office. Using old stamps makes sense and probably a good idea to reduce old unused stamps. At least this saves me having to deal with this tomorrow. The 2.5 cm height, if went over would have been negligible. Should have asked him to check with that letter box device they have. Overall not satisfied with that person at the Post Office tbf. He was even pushing for me to go with Special Delivery. Thanks for your help people.

As a note, if that was my only experience with a post office, I would only use Hermes going forward.

Post by **Snaggletooth** » 13 Apr 2016, 11:57

According to the weights and measures act, the clerk has to use the official Perspex guide to check the height and length of everything. If he didn't then that is a matter for complaint. However, the same act also means that the clerk has no leeway, it's either over or under the limit, and fudging it is counter productive as it could mean that your buyer is charged the difference plus a processing fee.

The 2.5cm limit was built around a person sending a DVD plus allowance for packaging, I would expect the average glasses case to exceed this. If in doubt, most larger Post Offices have an official plastic measuring frame on the public side so you can measure it yourself (look at the self service machines, if present).