Manual billing – protecting RM revenue
We’re just four weeks away from the General Election on 8 June and overseas postal votes are an important area where we have to get things right.
Each overseas postal vote will be returning into our network using an international prepaid envelope.
These envelopes need to be billed manually.
It is damaging to Royal Mail’s reputation if customers inform us they have not been billed for the correct volume of mail or the correct price per item.
We learned some important lessons during the 2016 European referendum.
During this election season, we have to bill correctly at the right rate.
Getting it right
Local authorities are governed by strict election rules. They must not under or over claim election expenses. They know how many returned overseas votes they have received and expect to be billed for the actual amount.
Correcting billing last year caused a great deal of work for us, as well as unnecessary angst for our customers.
Let’s make sure we get it right first time and provide accurate billing.
How you can help
All manual items must be charged at 90p per item. Read the IBRS Import to find out more information on the process for billing manual items.
The EPD 4.6 International Business Response (IBR) process document has also been produced to help explain the process.
Key actions
The international prepaid envelopes are suitable for automation. MEARS will read the address and return the postcode to the machines.
The machines will sort these items to the destination selection on the machine. MEARS will not recognise these as response service items. Please note:
- International prepaid envelopes will not be billed
MEARS will not be able to treat the international prepaid envelopes as unbillable RS items and sort to the manual billing stackers
With four weeks to go until the election, let’s all make sure we get the billing right for Royal Mail and our customers.