Royal Mail

Conveyancing Month!

CONTENTS

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The UK’s first monthly on-line journal dedicated to conveyancers!

News...

Explanatory note

Explanatory note

Explanatory note

Explanatory note

Text Box: Paper Addicts Beware! Never mind the quality, feel the width! Practitioners are probably already aware that the cost of first and second class postage is due to increase from the 3rd of April. From that date onwards, the cost of posting a standard first class letter will rise to either 32p, (postage stamp) or 31p (franked). However, from August onwards, when their “Pricing in Proportion” strategy takes effect, Royal Mail will use the envelope dimensions - particularly thickness - as a basis for charging, and not merely weight as at present. At first glance, the Royal Mail’s proposed changes to their charging structure don’t seem too bad, and there are certainly some quid pro quos. For instance, the weight limit on a standard first class letter will increase from the present 60gms, to 100gms, and the cost will remain the same - 32p. And, provided it’s not more than 25mm thick, the new arrangements will provide you with a significant saving on packages weighing in between 150gms and 250gms - perhaps as much as`34p at the heavier end of the scale. However, in terms of B5 envelopes (the standard size for sending A4 documents) and packages more than 25mm thick (that’s only a quarter of a centimetre) the prospects are a good deal gloomier. Under the new regime, any B5 envelope, what ever it’s weight, will cost at least 44p, and if it’s more than 25mm thick (a draft lease and copy say), the cost shoots up to at least £1. If the weight is anywhere between 100 - 250gms, then the cost will increase again to £1.27, an increase of between 28p and 59p over the current tariff, depending on precise weight. To be fair to the Royal Mail, there are savings to be had under the new regime, particularly by those who send out A4 size magazines and brochures by post, or items that weigh more than 750gms. We suspect, however, that the vast majority of business post falls outside these parameters, and will be caught by the new pricing structure. Practitioners can learn more by downloading the Royal Mail’s brochure.