Royal Mail

jaz_2

anniecave wrote: »

3 first class stamps would equal 1.08 - more than enough to pay 1.06

It really frustrates me when I'm waiting in line at the post office to do a special delivery and there are people there buying a single first or second class stamp - why not just buy books of six first and/or second class stamps, then you'll always have some in when you need them!

I use one, maybe two first class stamps in a year so I buy them when I need them.

If it makes you feel any better that person in front of you buying one stamp isn't taking up any more of your precious time than someone buying a book of six. Not much troubling you, is there? :rolleyes2

mazza111

Little Tinker, my sympathies, as custardly said, u can pay this fee online and the item will be sent out to you. If it's important, it will have a return address on it, so if u are unable to pay it will be returned to them. They will know you haven't received it. Another option, although not an official one, is to ask your postie to collect it for you, give him the money and most posties would be more than happy to oblige. Although please remember this is something i've been asked to do as a postie and not an official royal mail thing to do.

mazza111

jaz wrote: »

I use one, maybe two first class stamps in a year so I buy them when I need them.

If it makes you feel any better that person in front of you buying one stamp isn't taking up any more of your precious time than someone buying a book of six. Not much troubling you, is there? :rolleyes2

Think she meant those ppl should go to any shop and buy books of stamps :rotfl:They are probably just as frustrated with you sending special deliveries when they are only waiting for a 2nd class stamp

mean_momma

LittleTinker wrote: »

Absolute disgraceful customer service.

My partner has telephoned their 0845 number for customer services to make a complaint about a card we recieved saying that they will not deliver our letter until we pay £1.06 as the postage was short by.........6p!

Now....I know all these 6p's add up, and Im quite happy to pay 6p but to charge £1 "handling fee" is a bit much! ...........We dont pay for 0845 numbers either..........

Absolutely disgraceful Royal Mail......no wonder youre in trouble!

We received a card with a demand for approx £18 for a jiffy envelope from the U.S.
Above the Payment Due box were two boxes to be ticked. The boxes were 'sender didn't pay full postage, and 'there's a custom charge', duly ticked.. No box marked 'Royal Mail flat rate handling charge of £8 regardless of duty'. In our case, the Royal Mail's rake off almost matched £10 VAT due.. .

The postal worker at the collection office was sympathetic, having recently refused to accept a parcel of shirts from his home country himself, on the grounds of a huge duty charge. He gave me a landline number of customs & excise to query why what I thought was the VAT was more than 15%.

The customs lady was sympathetic,explaining the extortionate RM 'handling charge', giving me the landline number for the RM head office. The customs dept had apparently been on the receiving end of loads of complaints about the conveniently long delays in answering the 0845 number.

The lady at R M customer services had obviously heard it all before, and read me out the contents of an explanatory letter, which I have requested that she post to me. With luck, this letter will arrive, unlike the one containing a cheque that I posted first class a month ago and that has disappeared without trace!

custardy

mean_momma wrote: »

We received a card with a demand for approx £18 for a jiffy envelope from the U.S.
Above the Payment Due box were two boxes to be ticked. The boxes were 'sender didn't pay full postage, and 'there's a custom charge', duly ticked.. No box marked 'Royal Mail flat rate handling charge of £8 regardless of duty'. In our case, the Royal Mail's rake off almost matched £10 VAT due.. .

The postal worker at the collection office was sympathetic, having recently refused to accept a parcel of shirts from his home country himself, on the grounds of a huge duty charge. He gave me a landline number of customs & excise to query why what I thought was the VAT was more than 15%.

The customs lady was sympathetic,explaining the extortionate RM 'handling charge', giving me the landline number for the RM head office. The customs dept had apparently been on the receiving end of loads of complaints about the conveniently long delays in answering the 0845 number.

The lady at R M customer services had obviously heard it all before, and read me out the contents of an explanatory letter, which I have requested that she post to me. With luck, this letter will arrive, unlike the one containing a cheque that I posted first class a month ago and that has disappeared without trace!

did you not ask this bastion of sympathy why they(HMRC) dont collect the duty themselves?

mean_momma

The RM lady explained that the RM spot items that might incur duty, pay the VAT, and for this service, they get £8 per package. Sounds like a good rate of commission to me, although, with lots of people now apparently refusing to accept the packages, perhaps it has backfired.

Lots of bsuiness complain of a growing obligation to collect taxes for the Government, but they don't get to extract a further 'handling charge' for the VAT that they collect.

I feel sorry for anyone ordering from the 'States. With the dollar is so high compared to the pound, this puts the £ value of the goods much higher than previously, and therefore the duty also.. Then they have an extra £8 slapped on. Not worth it in many cases - no wonder things are being returned to sender, duty plus RM charge unpaid.

custardy

mean_momma wrote: »

The RM lady explained that the RM spot items that might incur duty, pay the VAT, and for this service, they get £8 per package. Sounds like a good rate of commission to me, although, with lots of people now apparently refusing to accept the packages, perhaps it has backfired.

RM present packages to customs.customs decide if any duty is applicable.as ive said why not contact HMRC and ask why they didnt let you pay directly.could this :eek: be saving them admin costs?
Lots of bsuiness complain of a growing obligation to collect taxes for the Government, but they don't get to extract a further 'handling charge' for the VAT that they collect. this is a physical process,not just 'collecting' by adding £x amount

I feel sorry for anyone ordering from the 'States. With the dollar is so high compared to the pound, this puts the £ value of the goods much higher than previously, and therefore the duty also.. Then they have an extra £8 slapped on. Not worth it in many cases - no wonder things are being returned to sender, duty plus RM charge unpaid.
well import and present the goods to customs yourself,or use a courier,you have many options. why feel sorry? i was ordering loads when the £ was strong.i didnt think oh poor americans

:rolleyes:

mean_momma

custardy wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Lots of businesses complain of a growing obligation to collect taxes for the Government, but they don't get to extract a further 'handling charge' for the VAT that they collect. this is a physical process,not just 'collecting' by adding £x amount [/QUOTE

Yes, it is a physical process. The hapless customer arrives to collect package, having seen a sole box ticked 'customs charge'. Then the customer physically has to hand over an extra £8 for an extra Royal Mail charge that they knew nothing about.

I don't see shops charging customers to collect their VAT

custardy

right i'll type slower for you
the handlimg of these packages,processing them to customs at mount pleasent,then paying/administering the charges
then tracking these items to the correct delivery office is a physical process
you are being charged for this service. or are you saying none of this requires staff or creates costs?
and i'll say again for you.why dont you ask HMRC why they make no provision for you to pay directly?

serpent13

custardy wrote: »

RM were not allowed to raise their prices as the requested(and continue to request)
again where on the card does it say leave 48 hours?

FOR HEAVENS SAKES - USE YOUR BRAIN.

ON ANY CARD WHICH ROYAL MAIL LEAVE IT SAYS ON THE BACK TO WAIT 48 HOURS BEFORE GOING TO PICK UP OR REQUESTING REDELIVERY.

THAT'S SO THE POSTIES CAN GET IT BACK TO THE SORTING OFFICE.

IT ISN'T ROCKET SCIENCE. WHY DO YOU KEEP ASKING!:mad: