Crossing out address & forwarding post

miller

In the past I have often forwarded post for people who have moved out or returned the item to sender if it is junk mail by crossing out the address and writing a forwarding address/return address as appropriate.

This article (under "Delivery disservice" at the end) suggests doing the former is now not available?:
https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/comment/article-3939646/DAN-HYDE-need-state-run-care-home-end-care-fees-lottery.html

On the Royal Mail website it suggests the latter is still possible:
https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5156/~/ive-received-someone-elses-mail

(I could not find an appropriate board for this so if mods feel this is better moved elsewhere, fine, but thought eBayers would have some decent knowledge of the postal system.)

miller

Confirmed by Royal Mail to be incorrect.

custardy

Did you know Royal Mail has stopped forwarding your mail free of charge?

A letter to me was accidentally sent to my parents' home in Sussex and the Post Office refused to redeliver it without a new stamp.

Back in London, I got a card on my doormat saying 'postage not paid' and then the local sorting office charged me £2 because the corner of the stamp was slightly damaged.

Our posties do a terrific job but there is no need for Royal Mail to rip us off. Even in tough times, charging £2 because a stamp is crumpled in transit is nothing more than exploitation.

Read the story. It has been forwarded and the stamp looks damaged/re-used.
Although personally,given RMs privatised status. Why are/should they redirecting post for free/at a loss when they offer a paid redirection service?

miller

Reading between the lines it sounds as if his folks went to the Post Office and were given duff advice as there should not have been a need for a stamp anyway.

I have used their paid redirection service as well and I have found it to be excellent, but the article is basically wrong - ad-hoc redirection still exists.

missile

I agree with Custardy:
Why should RM re-direct / return to sender for free?
Do any of the mail / courier companies who undercut RM provide that service for free?

miller

I agree, It's effectively double the work for the same price, but at least the position has been clarified.

in_the_Cotswolds

I asked a member of Royal Mail's Revenue Protection Department the question about forwarded (not redirected) mail he said apparently Royal Mail lost a court case some time ago. They charged someone and they took RM to court and won.