RM reminder about changes to some services (business news)

soolin

I don't fully understand all the imminent changes - but have been reassured by RM that my business account is unaffected , but just in case this is the latest update:

Here are some key pieces of information you need to be aware of. Not all of these changes will apply to every customer.

International Tracked & Signed service to Canada is moving to the International
Signed service
From 23 March 2020, we are substituting our International Tracked & Signed service to Canada with the International Signed service. Customers wishing to see end to end tracking can use our International Tracked service and those wishing to use a signed for service can opt for our International Signed service. We are making this change due to an insufficient level of tracking by our Canadian partners on the International Tracked & Signed service.

STL/BPL Letter and Large Letter changes
In 2017 we introduced a new billing platform to automate billing. If you’re still using product codes STL and BPL on your Online Business Accounting (OBA) Sales Order for Letters and Large Letters you should now use barcoded envelopes and the new account product codes UNA/UNB and UNG/UNH respectively. From 1 April 2020, the STL and BPL product codes should cease to be used via OBA Sales Orders for letter and large letter postings. STL/BPL will continue to be available for use via shipping solutions, and parcel postings via OBA Sales Orders upon request.

Response Service changes
The maximum thickness for Business Reply Standard, Freepost Standard and Freepost NAME large letters will change from 50mm to 25mm with effect from 5 October 2020.

Making it clearer which payment channels qualify for a free weekday business collection
From 23 March 2020, we’re making it clearer which postage payment channels you must use to qualify for a free weekday business collection.

If you pay for postage via an Online Business Account or a Franking machine and spend the required amount, you may qualify for a free weekday business collection.

To find out more, including information on the minimum spend requirements, go to royalmail.com/termschanges.

To find out more
For more information about these changes, please visit royalmail.com/termschanges or you can email business.customer.service@royalmail.com.

Thanks for choosing Royal Mail. We’ll continue to send you further details of any changes to our terms and conditions as they arise.

Yours sincerely,

soolin

Just looking at the services it would appear that this means that for large letters all business options will now show delivery confirmation in line with parcels. However, those sellers without a business account will still not have that.

ballisticbrian

UNH / G doesn't have the tracking and to be honest when selling cheap widgets, you probably wouldn't want that for the extra cost. However it will stop people having an average weights sack of 100g items UNH and sticking all the extra heavy ones that don't average out in a BPL sack. Allegedly.

soolin

ballisticbrian said:

UNH / G doesn't have the tracking and to be honest when selling cheap widgets, you probably wouldn't want that for the extra cost. However it will stop people having an average weights sack of 100g items UNH and sticking all the extra heavy ones that don't average out in a BPL sack. Allegedly.

I get horribly confused about all this, in fact I have now contacted them twice to make sure that I am unaffected.
I use CRL24 or CRL48 for all my large letters and that is an averaged weight and as long as I keep it all under 100g per item I pay 87p for a large letter 2nd class with delivery conformation.

However whilst reassuring me I am unaffected it did occur to me that my standard letters can no longer be sent via my account as I use BPL for them- so I'll have to buy a stock of plain stamps for the rare occasions I send something letter post. I don't think I have any other reasonably priced alternative.

I really do wish they would make these business rates easier to understand and compare