Royal Mail - Are they ripping us off?

mandybear

At work today I received a card saying that they can't deliver my item because there's a fee to pay - apparently the sender underpaid the postage.

This would be annoying but Ok, these things happen - except last week I had a card saying I had underpaid the postage and had to pay the difference and the fee.

The question is - do they always charge both parties and nobody notices?

This happened to me last year as well and I emailed Royal Mail and they insist that only one party gets charged but now I'm not so sure :mad:

maninthestreet

For the request to pay, as a sender, last week, contact the receiver and ask if they were also asked to pay by the RM.

dangeroussports

Mandybear,

You could be right. Royal Mail could well be charging both parties and commiting massive fraud. You should report this matter to either thet Dti or criminal department of the Trading standards.

If its true that the backbone of British mailing system is double charging -commiting theft, then this is a case for Dti. Go national if you have to.

Either that or you could ask your postman.

Becles

Could it be that the recepient of your letter has refused to pay the fee, so they have sent it back to you to pay?

Ems*Honie

We had the last week, the sender refunded me the cost and I collected it. ?They didn't get charged at their end.

However I haven't send many parcels since last summer, having just sent a few, didn't the price jump up!!

arthur_dent_2

Royal Mail are legal thieves, have you seen what they charge?

Please, please cause as much problems as you can for them.

smcaul

arthur_dent wrote: »

Royal Mail are legal thieves, have you seen what they charge?

Really? Please show me where else you can get the services they offer for the same price? Or, even better, you set up a business offering next day delivery (usually by mid day I might add) for a letter for under 40pence and I will gladly give you my business which is about 4 items a week, then lets see how long you stay in business.

firespire

Maybe if the senders name is on the package or the receiver refuses to pay they ask the sender to pay.

firespire

arthur_dent wrote: »

Royal Mail are legal thieves, have you seen what they charge?

Yes usually less than the competition.

arthur_dent wrote: »

Please, please cause as much problems as you can for them.

Great idea lets all deliberately underpay postage that will cause nightmares for them, make their cost go higher and make us all illegal postage service thieves (although not saying the OPs case was any more than an error not someone trying on).

mandybear

I can't really work out how they decide who to charge!

The new system for postage prices is crazy as well. I sort and frank post on an almost daily basis so I am used to making sure things are the correct size, weight etc. but the letter I got the underpayment for last week was just a birthday card which was franked with normal first class - surely that can't be classed as a large lettter??

firespire

mandybear wrote: »

but the letter I got the underpayment for last week was just a birthday card which was franked with normal first class - surely that can't be classed as a large lettter??

Was it over a certain thickness ie. had a badge or some sticking out decoration?