General Secretary Dave Ward on the universal service obligation.

[Woody Guthrie]

But you do understand the logical fallacy that everywhere must be the same because again using logic we wouldn't be anywhere near 75+% on 1st class Q&S?

So you can beg to differ if you want but it doesn't change those numbers which are independently verified.

[pieoftheday]

But you do understand the logical fallacy that everywhere must be the same because again using logic we wouldn't be anywhere near 75+% on 1st class Q&S?

So you can beg to differ if you want but it doesn't change those numbers which are independently verified.

Do you mean like ofcom are independent and should be taking RM to task for their dismal failure

[scotchy1962]

But you do understand the logical fallacy that everywhere must be the same because again using logic we wouldn't be anywhere near 75+% on 1st class Q&S?

So you can beg to differ if you want but it doesn't change those numbers which are independently verified.

Woody i would have thought after the last few years that even you must realise theirs a lot of porkies going on within RM,. all done in the name of the death of the 6 day USO.
Independently verified wouldn't mean it's any less porkies than the rest, they probably can't afford to have the real figures out there for all to see.
I am not saying everywhere is the same, but i am saying that the numbers supplied are almost certainly untrue and will stay that way until they get what they want.

[toonshola]

Separate from the recent review announced by Ofcom, what happened to the rumour of Saturday letters being stopped from 2nd October? Was all over this site and other social media platforms buts it’s all gone silent now? Anyone heard anything?

[enskied]

But you do understand the logical fallacy that everywhere must be the same because again using logic we wouldn't be anywhere near 75+% on 1st class Q&S?

So you can beg to differ if you want but it doesn't change those numbers which are independently verified.

We are nowhere near 75%+
Yes we get a daily huddle telling us we hit at 94/95 and even 96 % .

That's only tracked parcels ,collections, and local collects. No figures for the mail when asked directly, whilst pointing at our frames.
The union are so absent from offices, they pretend to be as clueless as OFCOM.

[enskied]

Who is this independent observer?

It's not OFCOM, not Royal mail, not our union.

So who are you relying on for your independent facts Woody

[postslippete]

Royal Mail wanted a barcode on every letter and it got knocked back by Ofcom they also tried to get out of specials by 1pm and that got knocked back too.

Where is this information? Special deliveries have always been one of Royal Mail's staple services and that is why they introduced the 9am Specials and the Saturday guaranteed service. Also, Ofcom say that they are keen on improving the efficiency of the postal service so why would they knock back any suggestion by Royal Mail to have a barcode on every letter? I'm not saying you're wrong but delivery methods do seem to be changing.

The new stamps are now barcoded mainly to prevent fraud but it was also suggested that it would make it easier to locate mail and reduce the risk of letters getting lost in transit. I believe we will be more scanning more letters in future particularly as we already have a Tracked letter service and if 1st class postage keeps going up the way it has been then more customers may opt for this service. Obviously the company might need to look at modifying their prices though - a 1st class letter is £1.10 whilst a Tracked letter is around £3

[enskied]

This was the Wistl method. Finger scans evey letter.
I wonder who is advising them perhaps a major shareholder in a failed letter delivery market.

[theotherone]

Royal Mail wanted a barcode on every letter and it got knocked back by Ofcom they also tried to get out of specials by 1pm and that got knocked back too.

Where is this information? Special deliveries have always been one of Royal Mail's staple services and that is why they introduced the 9am Specials and the Saturday guaranteed service. Also, Ofcom say that they are keen on improving the efficiency of the postal service so why would they knock back any suggestion by Royal Mail to have a barcode on every letter? I'm not saying you're wrong but delivery methods do seem to be changing.

The new stamps are now barcoded mainly to prevent fraud but it was also suggested that it would make it easier to locate mail and reduce the risk of letters getting lost in transit. I believe we will be more scanning more letters in future particularly as we already have a Tracked letter service and if 1st class postage keeps going up the way it has been then more customers may opt for this service. Obviously the company might need to look at modifying their prices though - a 1st class letter is £1.10 whilst a Tracked letter is around £3

I will try and find more detailed answers but both are true but for the time being:
https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/co ... 87705.html

Edit tracking to USO:
Ofcom consultation on review of postal regulation
Ofcom has today published a consultation on its review of the regulatory framework for post: Stronger protections for parcel customers - Ofcom.
Ofcom undertakes these consultations from time to time, and will consider the views of stakeholders – including Royal Mail – before setting out its final decisions.
Ofcom’s proposals on postal regulation and Royal Mail efficiency
Ofcom is proposing to broadly maintain the current regulatory framework. However, Ofcom has noted that it 'continues to be concerned about Royal Mail’s efficiency performance'. As such, it is consulting on a proposal that would require us to set out a longer-term efficiency ambition, and report publicly against progress.
Ofcom has stated that the current system is generally working well for people and businesses who use postal services, and we support Ofcom’s proposal not to extend Access regulation.
However we are disappointed that Ofcom has not taken this opportunity to allow Royal Mail to offer tracking on USO services.
Consumers increasingly demand more visibility over their deliveries. We have requested the ability to offer tracking on USO services so that we can deliver better outcomes for all customers, in line with Ofcom’s stated goals. Tracking gives customers more control and the information they need to complain in the event that things do go wrong.
The postal sector and consumer needs are changing at an unprecedented rate, and it is important that the regulatory system enables us to adapt at pace.
Extending some complaints handling procedures to other parcel operators
Ofcom has also proposed to issue guidance to all parcel firms regarding their complaints handling procedures, including setting out who to contact, how the complaints process works and how long the complaint will take to resolve. As the Universal Service Provider, Royal Mail’s USO services are already subject to this type of guidance and we recognise Ofcom’s efforts to level the playing field amongst all parcel operators.
Royal Mail will actively participate in the consultation process, including providing a detailed, evidence-based submission to Ofcom. The clearly defined scope of this consultation means that it will not consider whether any changes are required to the minimum requirements of the Universal Service.
We will update you all further when Ofcom’s final decisions have been published.
We expect this to be in Summer 2022.

Edit 2
RM asked ofcom for a change to the SD delivery times in May 2021 and rejected it as part of the 22/23 reg framework as ofcom did not agree with the justification from RM to change the times.

"Special Delivery 12. On Special Delivery, the current 1pm specification is an outdated ‘one-size-fits all’ approach. We need delivery times that are convenient for both customers and SMEs. We propose two delivery times – by 1pm and by 6pm. This would remove £[]m in costs by avoiding costly inefficient diversions resulting from the current 1pm option, which many customers simply do not want, as the recipient is unlikely to be in. "

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/ ... tement.pdf

[Acca Dacca]

My office never failed a letter during COVID and for the past year I don’t think we have went a week without failing full frames of mail

[postslippete]

I will try and find more detailed answers but both are true but for the time being:
https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/co ... 87705.html


https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/ ... tement.pdf

Cheers

I do think something radical needs to be done to prevent RM failing letters but RM are giving up on them due to regulation. Small wonder they want to focus purely on the parcels

[k979aaa]

I will try and find more detailed answers but both are true but for the time being:
https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/co ... 87705.html


https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/ ... tement.pdf

Cheers

I do think something radical needs to be done to prevent RM failing letters but RM are giving up on them due to regulation. Small wonder they want to focus purely on the parcels

The regulation should be changed ie Why are we forced to deliver competitors mail for an access price they could if they wish deliver their own mail/s**t this is the root of the problem ie subsidisation of private entities.

[stevejm]

I will try and find more detailed answers but both are true but for the time being:
https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/co ... 87705.html


https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/ ... tement.pdf

Cheers

I do think something radical needs to be done to prevent RM failing letters but RM are giving up on them due to regulation. Small wonder they want to focus purely on the parcels

The regulation should be changed ie Why are we forced to deliver competitors mail for an access price they could if they wish deliver their own mail/s**t this is the root of the problem ie subsidisation of private entities.

Sometimes mass amounts of low profit items help cover the overheads. Then the regular mail and parcels produce the profits.

[postslippete]

The regulation should be changed ie Why are we forced to deliver competitors mail for an access price they could if they wish deliver their own mail/s**t this is the root of the problem ie subsidisation of private entities.

True. One of the reasons behind getting rid of Royal Mail's monopoly of letters at the time was to give customers more choice and to improve the service. But if anything it has made it worse as all these downstream access providers do is pick up sorted mail and give it to us after taking their cut. As letter traffic has declined so has our overall profit on letters. The only way we can make profits on letters now are the things that are not good for customers such as increasing the postage, making duties bigger, and of course, not delivering the mail and running down the USO.

[qwerty2]

Government have said no again
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=111333&p=1074028