Royal Mail discount

[PlaneMan]

Today I had to send a form back to the DWP (hence the need to get a copy of my autism report). As usual I sent it signed for,  1st class this time as it needs to be there before the middle of next week. Envelope weighed and the bloke said £1.32. I thought that was cheap for a large envelope so asked him to check and and that’s what it was. Turned out as the envelope was a prepaid one I had a 79p discount. I’ve never seen this before and can’t find any information on it.

Topic

[Dave Rice]

Was it specifically for the DWP? If so they would have arranged the discount.

[PlaneMan]

Yes Dave.

Don’t tell me the DWP have actually done something right for once!!

[dwynnehugh]

Probably what is happening is that companies with large postal mail outputs use a franking machine in their post rooms (many small companies / solicitors have these as well).  You hire the machines which then allows you to send mail at a cheaper rate for you – no collections, no franking etc. etc just dump all outgoing mail at the nearest PO.

For a company sending out very large numbers of letters etc. it works out much cheaper – seems if you also enclose a ‘SAE’ that’s cheaper too. You ‘feed the machine’ with shekels at regular intervals!!

The more you meet people the more you understand why Noah took animals instead of humans

[johnbarry]

I have had the same, I once sent it 1st class recorded and the DWP freepost was deducted from the total cost.

 

Cheers
John

[Bob Williams]

Interesting: something useful to remember when dealing with DWP, thanks guys!

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[Dave Rice]

D2 – This is where my RM and working on a PO counter experience comes in ?

Once you frank an envelope you’ve paid the postage (there’s a counter in the machine and various methods of reading / paying / prepaying) . Not good when you want to slip a pre-paid envelope into your junk mail given the hit rate is 1% or less.

The service is called Freepost or Business Reply.

• Only pay for the replies you receive
• Opt for replies by 1st or 2nd Class
• Pre-printed

Businesses can print their own envelopes once the contract is agreed – it’s all barcode based. The cost of the postage is all based on volume.

So Nolan and John have only had to pay for the added services they require, the bump to 1st and track and trace.

[Bob Williams]

Even more interesting, from the Forumite with working experience of the mysterious ways of Royal Mail!

When the Thought Police arrive at your door, think -
I'm out.

[Spedley]

Yeah, I’m a postie and we sort all the ‘business replies’ seperately.  They are then checked for weight and counted, then delievered in the usual way but charged for on account.
I don’t do that job but I believe items are charged based on the label, e.g. 1st or 2nd class and if there is a recorded delivery sticker without extra postage prepaid it will be charged to the company as though postage was not paid.

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[PlaneMan]

Thanks for the info folks, kind of what I figured, just never seen it before.

[Author]

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