Royal Mail's lost post payouts to be halved

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/384833 ... -be-halved" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

ROYAL Mail is planning to slash compensation payments for lost letters and parcels – despite a rise in the number of customer complaints.

By: Geraint JonesPublished: Sun, March 17, 2013

Royal Mail plans to slash payouts for lost or damaged mail

The national carrier wants to cut the maximum payout for lost or damaged mail by more than half, from £46 to £20.

Yet figures for the last financial year show there were 7,000 more complaints about the unsatisfactory delivery of mail, including lost letters, than in the previous 12 months.

Countries including Germany, the Netherlands and the US offer no compensation at all for untracked mail
Despite the increase in complaints, the amount Royal Mail paid in compensation actually fell £200,000 from £6.8million to £6.6million.

Nearly 3.75 million complaints were lodged against the service over the last three years, and compensation totalling £20,421,848 was paid out between 2009 and 2012.

Complaints over lost and mis-delivered mail totalled 927,637 last year – a rise of 7,331 over 2010/11.

The increase came despite a 25 per cent fall in the number of letters and parcels delivered by Royal Mail in the five years to 2011 as customers move to emails, texts and social networks or use rival delivery firms.

The proposals to cut compensation come hard on the heels of big hikes in the price of stamps last year, with first class up from 46p to 60p and second class from 36p to 50p.

The cut would offset a planned increase in maximum compensation for items sent by the significantly more expensive recorded delivery service, up from £46 to £50.

Royal Mail, which has launched a consultation into the proposed changes, said it would bring its compensation in line with other postal companies.

It said countries including Germany, the Netherlands and the US offer no compensation at all for untracked mail.

The company is trying to make itself more competitive and profitable in advance of a possible sale or stock market flotation.

But it is beset by problems of service, not least the rate of theft of mail by postmen, which sees one postman being sacked every working day.

Recent examples include postman Martyn Platts, 50, who stole perfume, DVDs and jewellery from thousands of parcels he failed to deliver over five years. He was jailed for a year at Sheffield Crown Court earlier this month.

Royal Mail driver Paul Doughty, 57, also faces jail after admitting stealing letters and parcels worth £219,000.

Doughty, 57, was supposed to take mail bags to depots around Warrington, Cheshire, but regularly dropped them off at his home in Liverpool instead, heard Warrington Crown Court. He is due to be sentenced in May.

Royal Mail says it has a zero tolerance to theft by its staff.

More than 1,700 were prosecuted and dismissed between 20007 and 2011.

[mandelsons_toenail]

The increase came despite a 25 per cent fall in the number of letters and parcels delivered by Royal Mail in the five years to 2011 as customers move to emails, texts and social networks or use rival delivery

Are they having a f***ing laugh?

We have more than ever , tracked items through the roof, d2d etc pure fantasy from these clowns

[Judgee]

The increase came despite a 25 per cent fall in the number of letters and parcels delivered by Royal Mail in the five years to 2011 as customers move to emails, texts and social networks or use rival delivery

Are they having a f***ing laugh?

We have more than ever , tracked items through the roof, d2d etc pure fantasy from these clowns

Yup they are still banging the same old drum. I guess they think if they say it enough people will finally start believing it!

Now if they kept on harping about parcels being up by 25% at least they would be coming up with something more realistic but then they would have no arguements for cutting walks/hours so I guess that will never happen!

[DirtyHarry]

The increase came despite a 25 per cent fall in the number of letters and parcels delivered by Royal Mail in the five years to 2011 as customers move to emails, texts and social networks or use rival delivery

Are they having a f***ing laugh?

We have more than ever , tracked items through the roof, d2d etc pure fantasy from these clowns

Two words sum up the creeps we slave for. Lying B'stards.

[mark_e]

Word.They should compile their findings based upon the guys who do the delivery work.

[youwot!!!!!]

"ROYAL Mail is planning to slash compensation payments for lost letters and parcels – despite a rise in the number of customer complaints."

not so much "despite" more like "because"