Pre-paid Label Expiry - Options

[Flint]

I included a pre-paid label with a package I sent to a person. The idea was that they could apply the label on the package to return it to me. In hindsight not a good idea.

The label is now out of date by 1 month.

When the person goes to the post office what is the best option, given I would still like the package to be sent insured as originally intended for £50.

[Snaggletooth]

I wouldn’t send a pre-paid label as most of them have terms & conditions that make them invalid in the circumstances you describe. Send good old fashioned stamps or get them to pay and then you pay them back.

[Flint]

I wouldn’t send a pre-paid label as most of them have terms & conditions that make them invalid in the circumstances you describe. Send good old fashioned stamps or get them to pay and then you pay them back.

Thanks for the advice but it's a bit late for that now.

[yellowbelly]

I wouldn’t send a pre-paid label as most of them have terms & conditions that make them invalid in the circumstances you describe. Send good old fashioned stamps or get them to pay and then you pay them back.

Thanks for the advice but it's a bit late for that now.

But you did ask.....Snaggletooth has given what seems like the only option you've got now....

.......get them to pay and then you pay them back.

[Flint]

Thanks for replying.

To me Snaggletooth was advising what should have been done day 1 rather than what can be done now.

So is the only option to pay in full again with no credit allowed for the postage that has not been used.

From what I've read I think there is an option for the package to be sent as second class post with the end receiver (me) paying the cost + surcharge before being allowed collect the parcel. That would not appeal to me if the £50 insurance is not included.

I was not in a position to buy stamps as I live in a foreign country. Is there a way for someone in my position to pre-pay with a more reasonable time period to expiry. How do online companies issue pre-paid return labels?

[Snaggletooth]

Thanks for replying.

To me Snaggletooth was advising what should have been done day 1 rather than what can be done now.

I moved on to advice for the current situation further down the post.

From what I've read I think there is an option for the package to be sent as second class post with the end receiver (me) paying the cost + surcharge before being allowed collect the parcel. That would not appeal to me if the £50 insurance is not included.

There is no service like this. What you describe there is what happens when someone puts something in the mail without paying for it. There are numerous problems with going down that route:

1. Post Office staff are instructed not to accept an mail presented in this way. This means that you cannot use any service which is signed for, tracked etc or make *any* claim for loss or damage.

2. If sent to an overseas address, Royal Mail will return to sender if a return address is available. If it is not available, the parcel is likely to go by surface mail, which takes up to 3 months, depending on where it is going to. And some countries refuse to accept mail without a return address.

How do online companies issue pre-paid return labels?

Royal Mail, and many other postal operators, have a returns service which is available to large account holders. There is even an international version for sending between countries. These services are not available on an ad hoc basis to retail customers.

[Flint]

Thanks Snaggletooth.

So the scenarios are as follows then:

[1]
Sender applies expired label and drops it in the post. Sorting office notices the label is expired and returns it to the sender. There is a return address on the label.
Is there a charge for that return before the sender can acquire the package?

[2]
Sender discusses situation with Post Office. Post Office says label is expired. Your only option is to pay for new postage in full