CARLISLE MAN HOLDS LETTER HOSTAGE UNTIL RM PAYS RANSOM

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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A Carlisle man is holding the Royal Mail to ransom in protest over its charges.

Donald Huddart had to pay additional postage plus a £1 handling fee in order to retrieve a birthday card from his mum.

He didn’t mind being asked to make up the difference on the stamp price. But Donald, of Lawson Street, did object to being penalised for the mistake.

So when post bound for Lawson Street in Aspatria arrived through his Carlisle letterbox he took the opportunity to return the favour.

He told Royal Mail the letter would only be re-directed if he was paid a £1 handling fee for his trouble. Staff at the Carlisle sorting office didn’t want to do business Donald’s way and yesterday the situation remained at a standoff.

Donald, 54, told the News & Star: “It could be £1 or it could be £100 – it’s not the money, it’s the principle.

“I understand it’s a business and they have to make money but I think this is the wrong way to do it. They won’t give me my mail unless I pay a penalty so why can’t I do the same to them?”

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused due to the wrong delivery of an item to Mr Huddart. We will remind delivery staff to ensure that items are delivered to the correct address.

“Underpaid postage amounts to millions of pounds of lost revenue to Royal Mail each year.

“The £1 charge is to cover additional costs of handling underpaid mail.”

She added that arrangements would be made to collect the letter from Mr Huddart.

[belle smith]

He has a point. Give that man his Pound!

[johnsouthwales]

lollllllllllllllllllll

[johnsouthwales]

should have charged RM storage costs too. trouble is, could he have been done for interfering with mail. he hasn't stolen it as it was given to him. witholding mail. but a good point tho lollllll

[ar26]

well If he can be done for with holding the mail how do we get away with it. Seems fair to me if we expect him to pay a £1 handling charge then whats good for the goose is good for the gander,
Well done

[bogstandard]

sound as though he's only charging a handling fee.
perhaps he should charge more.