Handing in PPI SD/ISF/Airsure @ Post Office...

[pepsi_max2k]

Hey all, maybe one for the PO workers. I drop off PPI mail at a post office. Usually one, but every now and then it's staffed by temps, or I have to take it elsewhere. And every time I try to drop off SD/ISF/Airsure, and they scan it, they're convinced they need to bag it with their mail, and I've been specifically told by RM it needs to be bagged on it's own with my own tags (as with all my other PPI), which makes perfect sense to me, but not to any new PO staff. Que a lenghy conversation whilst I try to convince them to bag it seperately, with them convinced it'll mess up their tallys of priority mail if doesn't go in with the rest of their recorded mail.

Anyone got a useful explanation I can give the PO staff the next time the same issue arrises? TBH it's confusing me, seems if they scan it in it's "their" mail as much as mine, and either their bags or mine are gonna show up short if checked. Only solution I can think of is them not scanning it at all, which is what's happened the last two times it's been questioned.

Thanks.

[POSTMAN]

Will move this to the PO forum.

[claire1.9]

We have to scan it in so that it shows up on the system, and when we run off the priority mails when royal mail collects them it is all on one list so there is no need to keep your parcel separate from the rest of the priority mail.

[claire1.9]

One last thing if they are not scanned on to the system you have no reciept for the transactions, therefore no come back if you track or confirm delivery or put in a compensation claim if you need to.

[subbie]

Hi Claire

I was wondering why you use the PPI service at all. If you do not mind me asking what volumes of mail do you send each day on average?

I only ask as A) large volume users of PPI mail normally have a Royal Mail collection so the issues you describe do not occur, and B) there may well be another way to assist you.

Subbie

[pepsi_max2k]

>>there is no need to keep your parcel separate from the rest of the priority mail.

Other than it getting mixed up with all the regular mail, seperated from my PPI mail (leaving no way for anyone to know whether it's been paid for), and leaving me with a pottential £20 rebag fee? There's gotta be an answer that explains it :( RM tell me to bag it with mine, PO say to bag it with theirs, both make sense. Almost makes me wanna bag mine up then stick my bag of mail inside their bag of mail. Solves both problems :) That or just rely on them stamping the booklets and not scanning them in, which the booklets themselves specifically saying they should get scanned in.

>> I was wondering why you use the PPI service at all. If you do not mind me asking what volumes of mail do you send each day on average?

Hey, I'm the one using PPI ;) I send roughly 40 LGs / packets a day (UK and Int), Mon to Sat, though it's 100+ on a Monday. Over 300 items a week, averaging around £1000 pm. PPI (packetpost) is the cheapest and most suitable option I could find. I don't currently get it collected due to having a bit of a strict time at which I can get the things packed, and RM don't seem to be able to guarantee timed collections unless you pay them quite a bit :) They also wouldn't collect on Saturday (again, without a lot of money going their way).

[The BFO]

Anyone got a useful explanation I can give the PO staff the next time the same issue arrises? TBH it's confusing me, seems if they scan it in it's "their" mail as much as mine, and either their bags or mine are gonna show up short if checked. Only solution I can think of is them not scanning it at all, which is what's happened the last two times it's been questioned. Thanks.

I suggest you ask them if they are using Horizon Online. If they are then they need to refer to:

Help>Help Home>Postal Services F2>Inland Operational Instructions F8>Bulk (PPI) Mail Service Information F4 – Pages 1-9 Page Down as required.

If they are not yet using Horizon Online they need:

Counter Operations Manual>Inland Mails>Section 13.

The above is all a bit long winded, and beyond repeating here, but essentially they should scan the items as Bulk Prepaid, but then as you correctly say, keep them separate with your posting documentation.

As a 30 year, 15 Crown Office bod, including 2 “Flagship Offices” (dreadful internal term dreamed up by the incompetents that run this business) I can say this transaction is very rare – hence your problem.

[pepsi_max2k]

Wow. Thanks very much for that. I knew there had to be an official explanation somewhere :) Strange to think it's so rare though, I'd have thought there were loads of people using PPI and dropping off at post ofices.