Postage Shortfall.

dc64

Hi. Basically I've just found out that a letter I sent has not been received. I got in touch with the Post Office because I thought it was lost but now I'm thinking I didn't pay enough postage. As the recipient is a Gov body I don't think they would pay the surcharge (and I don't expect them to) What happens to the letter now? There was no return address on the outside.

jk0

I suspect it will come back to you in due course, even if they have to open it to find your address.


Might take several weeks though.

Innewhambo

Generally, if a letter is sent via Royal Mail and there are are not enough funds on the postage to cover the letter (too large/heavy/thick) the recipient is required to pay the difference. A private individual would get a card to collect at the post office and most companies have accounts to cover this. So if they have never received it, I would assume that its been lost by the mailing provider.

teneighty

jk0 wrote: »

I suspect it will come back to you in due course, even if they have to open it to find your address.


Might take several weeks though.

I have done this a couple of times and that is exactly what happens. If the recipient refuses to pay the fee Royal Mail will open the letter if necessary to find the senders address and return it, with even more fees to pay. It does take weeks.

custardy

Innewhambo wrote: »

Generally, if a letter is sent via Royal Mail and there are are not enough funds on the postage to cover the letter (too large/heavy/thick) the recipient is required to pay the difference. A private individual would get a card to collect at the post office and most companies have accounts to cover this. So if they have never received it, I would assume that its been lost by the mailing provider.

most? I would say some.
Many Gov depts no longer pay for underpaid items automatically.

teneighty wrote: »

I have done this a couple of times and that is exactly what happens. If the recipient refuses to pay the fee Royal Mail will open the letter if necessary to find the senders address and return it, with even more fees to pay. It does take weeks.

and rightly so. Here we have the OP with underpaid postage and not bothering with a return address.
It will take weeks as the items are held for 3 weeks before they are returned to the National return centre for processing.