Charged to pick up my own post

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/sheppey/Cha ... ticle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BUSINESSES have been hit with a massive price hike to cover the cost of collecting their own post.

The free "early collect" service allows companies to pick up mail from Sittingbourne's sorting office from 7am.

However, people collecting post have received notices saying they will be charged at least £222.50 per month, or £2,670pa.

Andrew Oliver, who runs financial advisory company Andrew Oliver and Co Ltd in Bobbing, has now stopped using the service.

Mr Oliver said: "We rely on the post.

"The government said it was going to help small businesses, but now a government subsidised company – Royal Mail – is going to charge us to collect our post."

Mr Oliver asked to speak to the sorting office manager but was advised to call an 0845 number. When he did, he was told charges were applied at the discretion of the branch manager and was referred back to him.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: "The charges have been in place for a number of years but they were not being applied in Sittingbourne."

Mr Oliver said the early collection service was popular at the Central Avenue office.

Secretary of the Swale National Farmers' Union (NFU), Jeff Holroyd has been collecting mail early for 14 years.

Mr Holroyd, based in Tunstall, said: "As we're in a rural area we rarely receive post before midday. We'll have to go and get it at 8.30am now instead."

MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Gordon Henderson said the introduction of the fee was outrageous and promised to write to the Royal Mail.

Mr Henderson said: "I am concerned that once again the post office is placing burdens on local businesses.

"First the Royal Mail reduced the number of deliveries during the day, which is why firms started collecting their own post. Now they are removing this self-help mechanism."

Councillor John Wright, Swale's portfolio holder for regeneration, described the introduction of the fee as "very disappointing", adding: "I would recommend business owners write to the Sittingbourne branch manager to say this isn't helping them one iota."

The Royal Mail spokesman said collection after 8.30am is free and the early collection charge was to cover the cost of sorting the post early.

"Under the terms of our licence, we must ensure we treat customers equally and charge a uniform price for services used," he added.

[Wiggins79]

Not to worry: privatising the Royal Mail will solve all these issues. I'm sure they'll be happy for everyone to have everything for free at no charge whatsoever.

[not me]

http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/sheppey/Cha ... ticle.html

BUSINESSES have been hit with a massive price hike to cover the cost of collecting their own post.

The free "early collect" service allows companies to pick up mail from Sittingbourne's sorting office from 7am.

However, people collecting post have received notices saying they will be charged at least £222.50 per month, or £2,670pa.

Andrew Oliver, who runs financial advisory company Andrew Oliver and Co Ltd in Bobbing, has now stopped using the service.

Mr Oliver said: "We rely on the post.

"The government said it was going to help small businesses, but now a government subsidised company – Royal Mail – is going to charge us to collect our post."

Mr Oliver asked to speak to the sorting office manager but was advised to call an 0845 number. When he did, he was told charges were applied at the discretion of the branch manager and was referred back to him.

A spokesman for Royal Mail said: "The charges have been in place for a number of years but they were not being applied in Sittingbourne."
so you have had 14 years for free
Mr Oliver said the early collection service was popular at the Central Avenue office.

Secretary of the Swale National Farmers' Union (NFU), Jeff Holroyd has been collecting mail early for 14 years.

Mr Holroyd, based in Tunstall, said: "As we're in a rural area we rarely receive post before midday. We'll have to go and get it at 8.30am now instead." midday? plenty would be happy with that!

MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Gordon Henderson said the introduction of the fee was outrageous and promised to write to the Royal Mail.

Mr Henderson said: "I am concerned that once again the post office is placing burdens on local businesses. that the businesses who didnt need RM? why is it "once again"?

"First the Royal Mail reduced the number of deliveries during the day, which is why firms started collecting their own post. Now they are removing this self-help mechanism." jeez,still whining about dropping 2 deliveries?

Councillor John Wright, Swale's portfolio holder for regeneration, described the introduction of the fee as "very disappointing", adding: "I would recommend business owners write to the Sittingbourne branch manager to say this isn't helping them one iota." well i suppose all those letters help with revenue

The Royal Mail spokesman said collection after 8.30am is free and the early collection charge was to cover the cost of sorting the post early.

"Under the terms of our licence, we must ensure we treat customers equally and charge a uniform price for services used," he added.

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[hubbahubba]

dont know if its connected,but there is a story on watchdog next week,about having to pay for you own mail,could be linked to this,but could just be a story about surcharges-the preview was very vague...?

[smokerjim]

In a previous job I had to tip at the Church Marshes tip in Shittingbourne, and soon after I started at RM I spent a week in the DO, and tbh, anyone living in Shittingbourne gets everything they deserve - it really is a crap hole - and you'd think all these whiners would have something else to whine about ( other than being made to pay the same as every other early mail collector in the nation ), once again, it's a non-story puffed up into something by a nevergonnabe journalist.

[POSTMAN]

dont know if its connected,but there is a story on watchdog next week,about having to pay for you own mail,could be linked to this,but could just be a story about surcharges-the preview was very vague...?

I saw that something was mentioned about new scales and weighing,i've asked the PO guys in their froum.

[coxie]

I actually agree with it, why should they be able to collect it at 7am when hardly any sorting has been done and people would have to be pulled off to sort it for them. After 8:30 once the sorting shifts are done then fine collect it, but if they want special treatment and their mail sorted early then pay for it. If we wanted their business to open early and do something for us I am sure they would charge us.