Real-life MMD: Should I keep paying postage shortfalls?

jackyann

Well, there's some good ideas on here: I'm sure the best is to tasilor it to the individual. Robust solutions for younger, maybe rather lazy friends with a good sense of humour; the anxious "oh, I hope you didn't have to pay excess on mine" for those who might not realise; and either say nothing, or get a sympathetic relative to check on those who may be confused (I had 3 cards from one elderly aunt this xmas, all however, correctly stamped!)
I know a few people who are perfectly sensible about most things, who get completely confused by postage costs (rather like rail fares!)

Darren_lane_2

Add up the amount you collected from the cards. Any cash in them?
If more than the amount you spent on postage fees. Don't say anything.
If less, just don't collect them anymore.
If people ask if you got the card, say no.

custardy

caci wrote: »

Just after the new rules came in, I posted birthday cards, with badges, to my niece and nephew. The cards were the same size, and thickness, posted to the same address, on the same day.
One was delivered, the other not. My brother realised the item with excess postage to pay was from me, so didn't collect it from the post office.
After a couple of week, the card was returned to me, by Royal Mail, FIRST CLASS

really? they upgraded the postage on the item just to return it to you?

fivenecks007

i sent 2 christmas cards to my daughters 1st class post and got charged extra postage and also received one small card from a friend and i had to pay the extra charge i think this is to much now from royal mail so i will not be sending any cards etc unless i really have to . they have lost my custom.......emailing a card in the future.....

custardy

fivenecks007 wrote: »

i sent 2 christmas cards to my daughters 1st class post and got charged extra postage and also received one small card from a friend and i had to pay the extra charge i think this is too much now from royal mail so i will not be sending any cards etc unless i really have to . they have lost my custom.......emailing a card in the future.....

yes its ridiculous
every business should fear losing people who refuse to pay the price for something......
your daughters got charged, because you didnt pay enough postage.

zipman23

I'm pretty sure you can order a letter template from your local post office or online from Royal Mail website. They make great presents

Failing that, send them a copy of this to stick on the fridge to remind them...

http://www.royalmail.com/royal-mail-you/size-weight-formats-mail

Granada210

In my area we have to go the sorting office not the post office and they can be quite nasty in there and won't let you even look at the envelope first to see if you want it. They make you pay first. I think the whole large letter thing is a rip off. I actually wrote to the Chairman of Clinton Cards once and asked why they made xmas cards in boxes just a fraction of normal size because people just didn't understand large letters. I suggested they put a big sticker on the boxes telling people they were large letter because lets face it, who actually looks on the back of a card to see the small print. Unfortunately he was not in the slightest bit interested

clairmelville

It's just pure lazyness if a parcel does not have sufficient postage, but any big-ish card should have more than a first of second class stamp on it. The person sending has simply not bothered to go to the post office.
Politely tell them as I do every time. Something like "I got your parcel, thank you for the gift but you know I had to pay extra postage on it as there was not enough postage, it's more expensive overall and you don't get to find out what it is until after you have paid for it."
Simple, but worked for me.

staffsarge

I have been really irritated to find that an letter I sent had been surcharged for 19p plus £1 because Royal Mail found it to be a "Large Letter". I have a gauge specifically to measure my post and the envelope passed through with a very slight tug. According to Royal Mail the envelope has to "pass freely" through the aperture (although I can't find this anywhere in their literature). The bottom line is that however it passes through, if it does so it is by definition less than 5mm. If it is greater than 5mm no power in the Universe could make it pass through. With this attitude it's just another reason why the Royal Mail will ultimately self-destruct.

jenblackrod

I have never paid these on a point of principle. The P.O. ended up delivering anyway after I left it so long.:T