Royal Mail's madness (From Oxford Mail)

Royal Mail's madness

10:30am Thursday 19th April 2012 in Letters

I read with interest Michael Hugh-Jones’s letter about the postal price increases (View Points, April 6).

As he says, from April 30 the cost of a first class stamp will rise from 46p to 60p, that’s 30 per cent more.

Royal Mail was given permission to charge as much as it likes for first class mail and significantly more for other postal services.

Ofcom, the industry regulator, announced major changes to its system of price controls on March 27 after intense lobbying by the postal operator.

On a brighter note, nearer Christmas, Royal Mail is going to let those on “modest means” have stamps at discount prices.

People who receive Pension Credit or Employment Support Allowance will be able to buy up to 36 first or second class stamps at 2011 prices.

Up to five million people will benefit from this but not pensioners, unless they get Pension Credit.

To simplify Royal Mail’s madness they have announced that if any of our sports people should win a gold medal in the Olympics, that they will print and have a stamp for sale for each such event by noon the day after a medal is won, in 500 post offices.

Also, they are going to limit their special issues to only 12 a year, following criticism by collectors as it is getting very expensive for them.

Whatever next? The lifting of all price controls, as if prices aren’t increasing enough?

The only thing that is sure to come down is the rain – and even that is suffering cutbacks.

MICHAEL CLARKE, Lewell Avenue, Old Marston, Oxford

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