SIR – Following the result of using the Royal Mail recorded delivery service, I have a cunning plan to save people money during the credit crunch. I sent a very important cheque for my tax return to the tax man by Royal Mail recorded delivery. I went
SIR - Following the result of using the Royal Mail recorded delivery service, I have a cunning plan to save people money during the credit crunch.
I sent a very important cheque for my tax return to the tax man by Royal Mail recorded delivery.
I went online each day to check the progress of the letter.
After six days the letter had not 'arrived', but my bank statement showed the cheque had been cashed!
I continued to check the progress of the letter, but after 21 days, according to the Royal Mail computer, it still had not been delivered.
I phoned the Royal Mail and was told that large numbers of letters to places like the tax return office were checked only with a list of the recorded letters, so that it only requires one signature for the lot.
My letter was still reported as undelivered, so I sent a letter of complaint and received an apology and a book of six first class stamps.
So here is my cunning plan:
Buy 50 cheap envelopes and send them (empty) to HMRC Accounts Office BD9 88AA by second class recorded delivery. This will cost about £50, including the envelopes.
Wait 21 days and fill in a complaint form at your local post office for each non-recorded delivery (they won't be recorded).
You will receive 50 apologies and 50 books of six first class stamps, valued at £108.
That's a profit of around £58.
What can possibly go wrong?
Cheers.
Bruce Piggott (electronic engineer retired), WGC.
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