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.