Was I really foolish to send £500 in the post?

[TrueBlueTerrier]

When I wanted to send NZ$1,000 (£528.29) to buy birthday presents for my two small grandsons in New Zealand, I asked my local post office for advice.

I was told that although some countries do not allow cash to be sent, this did not apply to New Zealand. the post office converted my sterling into NZ currency and advised me to use the International Signed For Service, saying it was very secure.It cost £7.79.

When the envelope arrived the bottom had been slit open and resealed and the money was missing. Royal Mail acknowledges the money has been stolen, but refuses to compensate me because the envelope contained currency which is prohibited from being sent to New Zealand!

J.W., Burwell, Cambs

I am staggered that you would even contemplate sending such a large amount of cash by post to New Zealand, even with Royal Mail's International Signed For Service - where the maximum insurable amount is only £100.

And I'm even more staggered that someone in your post office, who ought to have known better, didn't advise against doing so, regardless of whether or not the New Zealand authorities permit cash to be sent into the country, which (like many others) it doesn't.

The fact is that you were given not only incorrect advice, but bad advice. Royal Mail acknowledges that you were misinformed and has now agreed to refund the missing NZ$1,000 (in sterling at current exchange rates).

I'm pleased for your sake about this outcome but, please, when your grandsons' birthdays come round again, don't even dream of putting cash in an envelope.

You must use a money transfer service, such as the Royal Mail's Moneygram, available in the Post Office, where the money will be in New Zealand within ten minutes. The cost per £500/NZ$1,000 works out around £35. Western Union's money transfer fees are broadly similar.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/articl ... z10vfFT9pJ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[not me]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/jeremy-vine/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

also covered on JV today

[norbert]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/jeremy-vine/

also covered on JV today

started about 1240 & ended at about 1305 ...so you can work out how far in as it starts @ noon nobody on from RM & noone from the CWU either - The Fib Dums want to privatise RM and the BBC seem terrified of upsetting Dave Snooty & Pals which Sky owner Murdoch backed in the Election and still backs to the hilt in his poxy gutter rag " The Sun " & in " The Times " ......The Sun with long words

We've had all this cr** with Hellmail over the years ....if it was from " The Back of Beyond Gazette " they'd put it up in the public domain re Tea Leaves

[baldrick]

So are they saying the money was stolen in the UK?
It could also have been stolen in New Zealand.

[BELIAL]

And the winner is.........Rupert

[POSTMAN]

And the winner is.........Rupert

Well his daughter didn't do too good this week.

[Thunderthighs]

Flippin' Kangaroos! They'll eat anything!!!

Yep, heard this on Radio 2 the other day. What a plonker, sending £500 English Poundss to NZ...

[norbert]

the drip , drip effect .....private = good , public sector = bad & their staff are the new jews and gypsies ....with relentless propaganda in the Tory papers akin to the 1930's ....all been done before with Baroness Barmy & Major .

For example : DGP 1 leaps out of the park bushes in his Mac and nearly frightens Maiden Aunty Joan to death . The local rag does the court report when he's up in front of the beak ...again The Nationals get hold of it as a " novelty story " ....but the nasty implication is still there

[britwrit]

Wow. £250 worth of birthday presents for each kid? That's pretty awesome. Can she adopt me?

[Thunderthighs]

Woman came into the callers office to pay a surcharge.

He comment, "I hope it's a card from my Mam, its my birthday and there should be money in it."

The woman in question was about 40 plus...