Quick Question : PPI postage and post office dropoff

thriftybeatnik

Hi All

I recently signed up for PPI postage and have loved using it. We've recently moved premises and the new post office near us is being a bit weird about the service saying that the PPI contact is between Royal mail and us not the post office.

Now I'm 99% sure that the post office has to take the mail we send. I hate to go in an say 'you have to' so take this mail and I think I'll be able to sort it nicely but can anyone link me to the section that says that PPI postage can be dropped off. I don't really need a collection as the post office is only two blocks away :j

Cheers as always x

theonlywayisup

thriftybeatnik wrote: »

Hi All

I recently signed up for PPI postage and have loved using it. We've recently moved premises and the new post office near us is being a bit weird about the service saying that the PPI contact is between Royal mail and us not the post office.

Now I'm 99% sure that the post office has to take the mail we send. I hate to go in an say 'you have to' so take this mail and I think I'll be able to sort it nicely but can anyone link me to the section that says that PPI postage can be dropped off. I don't really need a collection as the post office is only two blocks away :j

Cheers as always x

You are absolutely correct, if you are a PPI customer your PO has to take the mail from you. I will try and locate it on the webby.

No I am doubting myself. Only thing I could find was for the strikes previously, ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/rm/IA/Mailcentre_NE.pdf I will keep looking. I have a collection, but during the snow (when my collection couldn't get to me), if I could get to my local PO then the collection would be made from there.....

http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/PACKET-POST-PPI-AND-BUSINESS-COLLECTIONS-overview_W0QQugidZ10000000004231007

martindow

I'm not sure if all POs are obliged to accept PPI items. Some sub post offices are small and I think they can refuse if there is no room. Can find any links to back this up

thriftybeatnik

Aye the thing is it's a three man post office with a fair amount of space and they're happy to take payment over the counter

convex_concave

As far as I am aware yes they do have to take it, though it may be worth calling Royal Mail Business account customer services to make sure and you can file a complaint with them regarding the difficult Post Office if necessary. Everytime I've spoken to the customer services they've been extremely helpful and understanding.

thriftybeatnik

Cheers man. They did take the mail today but I think i need to get RM to contact them and clear up any mis-understandings. To be fair if someone was to come into my (imaginary) post office and say 'Hi, everythings paid for, please take this' I'd be sceptical too.

I have been spoiled by living so close to a wonderful substation previously though. The staff in Jesmond, Newcastle post office went out of there way to help us. It was a bit emotional leaving them behind to be honest....
_pale_

convex_concave

thriftybeatnik wrote: »

To be fair if someone was to come into my (imaginary) post office and say 'Hi, everythings paid for, please take this' I'd be sceptical too.

But you would have the PPI documentation that accompanies your packages/letters when you drop everything off at the Post Office? So that would prove it's all been paid for in advance and your personal PPI number should be on all the labels and everything. I definitely would call the customer services and hopefully they can clarify the situation for you and the Post Office you deal with

thriftybeatnik

Cheers man. As I was saying about the last post office they just said' We believe your right' and took the mail without documentation and sorted it for me; It all got there fine I just don't want to be on bad terms with them. Getting RM involved is like 'grassing' or something... perhaps I'm too soft

thriftybeatnik

A quick update on this.

Just headed to the post office; I'm afraid I didn't realise that the sub-postmasters don't get any recompense for passing on the mail so it was a bit argh but they were more than helpful . After 40 minutes I think I managed to sort it I think, in future I have to keep the non-recorded PPI mail bagged separate and then scan the recorded's in one-by-one as pre-paids rather than simply sticking the recorded labels onto a despatch sheet.

After chatting to the RM deliveries postwoman who delivered some things today I am tempted by a collection but having just bought a house the cost is a little high at the moment. I'm going to have to weigh up awkwardness at / supporting the post office vs the collection cost.

pepsi_max2k

Just had PPI (for Packetpost) set up myself and trying to figure all the ins and outs...


From what I can tell (after reading and speaking to account manager), the deal is:

All POs can (and should) accept PPI mail. You just bag it seperately, and they stamp your docket book/receipt/PoPs, and also still scan recorded stuff as normal bulk/pre-paid mail (they don't have to enter the address, there is an option to just scan up to 10 items and print a receipt).

All the sub-POs may be short on space, and *can* refuse to take PPI for that reason only. TBH, if you know when the RM collection is, I don't see why you can't hang around until the van turns up...

Non of the POs get paid for handling PPI, so that'll annoy them even more. Then again, they may already be annoyed at having to handle all your regular mail and stamp it up for you

If they don't know what to do with it, they can ring their own PO helpline, but as I say they just stamp your receipts, scan your recorded, and make sure they don't chuck the recorded stuff in with their other mail as you'll need to bag it seperately with your own tags once it's done.

At least, I think that's about right. I just need to go convince mine to take it I'm hoping the offer of a few rolls of never-to-be-used Airsure and SD lables will help


And seperately.... anyone know if I'm meant to bag weights as well as class and format seperately? Ie. If I put in an order for 10 x 2LG average 180g, and a seperate one for 2 x 2LG 90g, do they need to get bagged seperate?

theonlywayisup

pepsi_max2k wrote: »

And seperately.... anyone know if I'm meant to bag weights as well as class and format seperately? Ie. If I put in an order for 10 x 2LG average 180g, and a seperate one for 2 x 2LG 90g, do they need to get bagged seperate?

Welcome to the world of cheaper postage!

If you spend enough you will get a free RM collection from your premises. I have one each day at 4pm. But I think from memory it is only £500 pa if you don't spend enough. Saves lots of hassle.

As for bag weight. If you log into your OBA, take your first class packets for example. You have 15 packets, combined weight 1kg. So you record 15 packets at 66g. That is how much you will pay. You may find it advantageous to try and keep bags within the bracket weight. Far better to have 15 at 66g than 14 at 101g and 1 odd one. If you see what I mean.

So in your scenario, don't put 10 x 2LG average 180g, and a seperate one for 2 x 2LG 90g, you actually have 12 x 2LG at 165g. So you should try and get a few more in at the lighter weight to take the whole bag under the 150g bracket. Hope that makes sense.

Edit, I don't know what services you have, but if you use airmail make sure you get the following added - OLA (cheapest for Eastern Europe) OF1 - cheapest for Europe and OZ1 - cheapest for Rest of World. With these, you can also add ISF and or Airsure if applicable. Much much cheaper than normal airmail. For normal UK mail, you will need the usual plus SD1 if you don't have it already for Special Delivery, again much cheaper than normal SD prices.