Beware posting birthday cards with badges!

paulkeeb

I've just been to collect a birthday card for my daughter after a "not enough postage paid" card was put through my door. The amount underpaid was 8p and the admin fee £1. I was puzzled as the card had a first class stamp, the envelope was less than A5 in size and the weight felt well within the maximum allowed. The assistant without a word took the card and showed how it wouldn't fit through the incredibly narrow slot on their measuring thing (I got the feeling she had done this many times before). Reason? The card had a badge attached which made it ever-so-slightly wider.

So, be careful with cards with badges. Royal Mail must be making a fortune since they introduced the new size criteria.

maggie111

I know, it's scandalous!! I bought a card that had a raised bit on it, like a stuck on addition... Had to pay for that to be sent as a packet!!!!

Bleedin' joke.

butler_helen

what's the price difference?

Hermia

I notice that some card companies now have information on the back of the card about whether it is large letter size etc.

Ms_Chocaholic

First class is 39p
Large letter is 61p

so 22p extra to send those with badges

Unsure why Maggie had to send a card as a packet, that must've been one hell of a raised bit on it, as items can go as a large letter if they are under 25mm thickness (around an inch)

Hermia

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

Unsure why Maggie had to send a card as a packet, that must've been one hell of a raised bit on it, as items can go as a large letter if they are under 25mm thickness (around an inch)

That's what I thought 'cause you can fit a DVD in the large letter slot.

andyrules

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

First class is 39p
Large letter is 61p

so 22p extra to send those with badges

Unsure why Maggie had to send a card as a packet, that must've been one hell of a raised bit on it, as items can go as a large letter if they are under 25mm thickness (around an inch)

I posted about this some time ago.

I also was treated to a trek across town at 7am (weird opening hours!) and paid the £1 plus extra. Was told mine was probably packet - it wasn't huge.

Moral - I don't buy cards with badges and hope no-one sends me one again!!

chuckley

last i check the new weight/size thing came in around late 06 early 07?!

its now mid 09 and people just noticed?! oooook...

soolin

Yep it came in on 21st August 2006 so I'm not quite sure how it has escaped peoples notice for this long.

http://www.pricinginproportion.co.uk/

andyrules

soolin wrote: »

Yep it came in on 21st August 2006 so I'm not quite sure how it has escaped peoples notice for this long.

http://www.pricinginproportion.co.uk/

But the point is - as the recipient you have no control and all the inconvenience!!

maggie111

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

First class is 39p
Large letter is 61p

so 22p extra to send those with badges

Unsure why Maggie had to send a card as a packet, that must've been one hell of a raised bit on it, as items can go as a large letter if they are under 25mm thickness (around an inch)

It honestly really didn't have a huge sticky out bit - it was a bog standard bit of raised detailing - increased the width by about a foam pad? (If that makes sense?)

The rules had just been changed, I bought the card at the PO and got a stamp there to send it (in a rush!) and the over-eager lady showed me the sizing sheet (with little slots) and showed that it didn't go through.

Personally, with a slight push it would have been fine, and if I'd put a stamp and stuck it in the postbox I'm positive it wouldn't have raised extra charges. Some jobsworths should be avoided!