Don't use first-class stamps on Saturdays because second-cla

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Don't use first-class stamps on Saturdays because second-class gets there just as quickly


Sending a letter by first-class post on a Saturday is a waste of money because a second-class letter gets there just as quickly, it was revealed yesterday.

A little-known change to the postal system means the Royal Mail is overcharging customers by millions of pounds a year.

First-class mail posted on Saturday used to be delivered on Monday, while second-class mail took a day longer. This is because the less-urgent second-class post was processed on Monday.
Weekend post: A change in the postal system means first-class letters posted on a Saturday get processed at the same time as second class

Weekend post: A change in the postal system means first-class letters posted on a Saturday get processed at the same time as second class

But since July, letters posted on Saturday are processed at the same time and both classes are delivered on Monday.

The Royal Mail said the move would streamline its weekend deliveries. Industry experts estimate around seven million letters with stamps are posted on Saturdays, of which three million are first class.

This would result in an estimated overpayment of £4million since July, and an estimated £10million over the course of the year.

A first-class letter weighing up to 100g costs 46p, compared with 36p to send it second-class.

A spokesman for the Forum of Private Business said: ‘Whether by error or design, Royal Mail customers have been cheated.’

Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said: ‘These are serious allegations, not least because of the potential legal ramifications.’

Legal experts said there could be scope for customers to sue the Royal Mail.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: ‘To help reduce losses, Royal Mail is no longer running a dedicated transport network for the small proportion of second-class mail posted on a Saturday.’

While around 62million letters are sent on weekdays, mostly bulk business mail, that drops to around 30million on Saturday – which means there is plenty of spare capacity at the weekend to process second class letters.

Industry experts estimate around seven million letters with stamps are posted Saturdays, of which three million were first class. A spokesman for the Forum of Private Business said: ‘Whether by error or design, Royal Mail customers have been cheated. Many firms are likely to have paid unnecessarily higher postal prices.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z1cMbbBo00" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[woofwoof]

bring back the short saturday stop all 2nd class

[Lounge Lizard]

"Legal experts said there could be scope for customers to sue the Royal Mail." - How ?
RM's delivery of First Class mail is to the same standard as before.
RM's delivery of Second Class mail is to the same standard as before except that it exceeds expectations when posted at the end of the week.
What's the problem ?

[brothermagrew]

How does a second class stamp on a letter then fair when the envelope has the correct postcode endorsed on it