CHRISTMAS WARNING! (Royal Mail)

Member Name: nikkisly

Product:	Royal Mail
Date:	04/12/01 (276 review reads)
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This isn't going to be a normal opinion from me. I'm just incensed and wanted to warn everyone in Dooyooland about an experience I had today.

I posted three packages airmail to the U.S.A. The first two were Christmas cards containing a letter and cost £1 each to send.

Package number three was a calendar. The postmaster weighed it then asked "Is there a letter inside?". There was - an identical Christmas card and letter to the ones I had just posted for £1 each.

The cost of posting my calendar to the U.S.A. was a whopping £7.17!!! However, had it not contained a letter, it would have cost £3.

I commented to the postmaster that I shouldn't have been so honest and admitted that the package contained a letter. He pointed out that ALL packages were opened and, if a letter was found, then excess postage was charged from the recipient.

I checked this with two local post offices and Royal Mail by telephone this afternoon and, unbelievably, it appears this is correct.

The moral of the story - if sending gifts overseas, don't include a letter in the package but send it separately. Not knowing this has cost me £4.17 but would have been even more expensive had the recipient been asked to pay excess postage on receipt.

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