Following the recent news of a proposed shake-up at the Royal Mail, ParcelsPlease explain just what this means for customers.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the UK’s postal regulator, OfCom was considering giving the Royal Mail the power to choose and set its own rates on its postal services, including setting the price of sending First Class letters and the cost of sending basic parcels. The proposed changes, which were set out in a seven-year regulatory framework document, which is currently out for public consultation, also includes plans for the Royal Mail to set prices of First Class letters, large letters and even parcels.

A spokesperson for ParcelsPlease comments: “The proposed changes at the Royal Mail, have been suggested by the new postal regulator, OfCom, which took over responsibility of the UK postal service from its predecessor, PostComm earlier this month. While some of the changes will apply to both First and Second class mail, Royal Mail business mail, such as metered, franked , bulk mail or pre-printed envelopes will also be subject to a possible price change as well.”

OfCom’s proposals for the Royal Mail are currently undergoing public consultation, which will close on the 5th of January 2012, and if approved, this new framework will come into play sometime in the spring of the same year. While the final decision on this change has yet to be made, Royal Mail customers will no doubt be concerned about how a price rise on stamps and other postage costs will affect them.

The spokesperson for ParcelsPlease continues: “If approved, these proposed changes to the way that Royal Mail sets the prices for their products and services, will come into force early next year, and while the prices aren’t guaranteed to rise, many insiders in the UK postal industry agree that the cost of posting mail, including First Class letters and parcels is due to increase in the next year. However, it’s important for consumers to realise the sending large letters and parcels doesn’t have to cost the earth, and at ParcelsPlease we specialise in parcel delivery to the UK, and also to countries all over the world.”

Via EPR Network
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