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International Postage from the UK

paul'sbrickspaul'sbricks
in General Vote Up0Vote Down
I tried posting a large letter compatible item from the UK to USA today weighing 28g. I've done this a few times and always paid as large letter international, however today I was told that as it didn't contain a " letter " that it would have to go small parcel at an extra 95p

Anyone else had this before ?

Paul

Comments

  • 11 Comments sorted by Votes Date Added
  • HoddieHoddie
    Vote Up0Vote Down
    Yeah it's been brought up before. I can't be certain but I'm pretty sure, after a long search, nothing could be found that identified any restrictions of what could be sent other than size and weight. Certainly some quite large companies send out snacks and sweets using the large letter format - pretty sure they wouldn't risk modelling their business around something they weren't allowed to do. You could ask for the terms and conditions that confirm any restriction they claim.
  • LawrenceLawrence
    Vote Up0Vote Down
    I really don't know what I'm talking about, but I do believe large letter in the UK, is a different thing to the large letter (which isn't called large letter, but I don't know what it is called) for international. So theres no issue for Graze
  • JiriesJiries
    Vote Up0Vote Down
    Another thing that I brought up before is Post Office clerk charged me extra 1 pound each twice for 2 international large letter rates because they said other than paperwork it have to go as small parcel rates which was not stated on their site of what you can put in for Large Letters and other stuff despite being small have to be under small parcel. I have no longer deal with them and I brought stamps and post it in the letter boxes. All buyers had got it without any problem. Going to the post office on the ratio against the orders around 80% to now down to 10% only for big item orders.
  • marshalltoysmarshalltoys
    Vote Up0Vote Down
    I had the same problem with Aus Post. I went to send a International Airmail letter from a different post office then normal since i was in an other town for shopping. They said i can't send it for $2.75 letter because it didn't contain documents. So they wanted to charge me $16.50 for for a Parcel so i didn't pay it (Even $16.50 is over price for a parcel to the US should of been $14.10).

    I looked up Aus Post Postage Guide for international and it said Airmail large letters contain any item if fits thou letter gauge freely.

    I know Aus Post licensees make a commission from Postage.
  • minithingsforlifeminithingsforlife
    Vote Up0Vote Down
    There is no such restriction according to their own website.
    http://www.royalmail.com/personal/help-and-support/tell-me-about-size-and-weight-restrictions

    Believe me there are thousands of people in the UK, sending goods as Large Letter both domestic and International.

    If they suggest this again, ask for a brochure that shows this rule.
  • misbimisbi
    edited July 2015 Vote Up0Vote Down
    That's interesting, I had an argument with our local counter staff last week when I sent two international large letter items by international tracked and signed - one to USA, one to EU.

    I don't usually do 'over-the-counter' as I have an account with Royal Mail, but it suited me for these two items on that day.

    The counter person held up my USA package and pointed to the CN22 customs form which said plastic toy. "It contains plastic, so it cant go large letter" she said. "Rubbish" I replied. "It falls within the UK large letter dimensions, contents don't matter any more, so it's a large letter as defined by the recently revised Royal Mail International Letters Postal Scheme - March 2015, Section 6.3". I continued, "80% of my business goes large letter, so I'm very well informed about the format".

    A debate ensued. Me versus 2 counter staff plus the postmaster. I said "so this EU large letter doesn't have a CN22 customs form. That means it can go large letter then?". What if I buy one of your birthday cards with a badge on to send to USA - are you seriously going to charge parcel rate because it contains a non-paper item?"

    Eventually, they agreed to send the USA large letter as a parcel, but the EU one as a large letter and promised to seek 'official' guidance from above.

    The following day, all the staff were a bit sheepish, avoiding eye contact when I dropped off my usual postal sacks so I resolved to never purchase any service or product from that post office again. Drop off postal sacks and nothing more.

    Yesterday when dropping off, one of the counter staff called me over and said in hushed voice: "about that thing the other day - you were right".

    Moral of the story is stand your ground and make a scene with confidence because they're overcharging and they know it. Quote 'Royal Mail International Letters Postal Scheme - March 2015, Section 6.3" and they'll realise that you know they're overcharging and can prove it. ;)
  • HoddieHoddie
    Vote Up0Vote Down
    Is a CN22 required for a large letter in the UK? Here in Belgium the post office always tell me a customs declaration isn't necessary if the item is going letter rate (up to 30mm thick).
  • misbimisbi
    Vote Up0Vote Down
    Yes, UK sender should complete a customs declaration (CN22 or CN23) for any non-EU destination, with large letter. I presume our standard letter format (up to 5mm) is exactly the same, but have never used that service, so can't say for sure.
  • HoddieHoddie
    Vote Up0Vote Down
    Yes, UK sender should complete a customs declaration (CN22 or CN23) for any non-EU destination, with large letter. I presume our standard letter format (up to 5mm) is exactly the same, but have never used that service, so can't say for sure.
    Yeah on checking seems you do need a CN22 for a large letter in the UK. I've never been able to find an 'official' answer to the same question in Belgium but 3 different post offices tell me you don't. To be honest, it makes sense in a way, because they're shipped as over-sized letters and in most developed countries are almost certainly processed by automated sorting machines on arrival.

    You don't need a customs declaration for regular mail in the UK, regardless of contents.
  • HoddieHoddie
    Vote Up0Vote Down
    That should say "regular international mail in the UK".
  • paul'sbrickspaul'sbricks
    Vote Up0Vote Down
    Following my post yesterday I emailed customer services at Royal Mail and received the following

    Dear Mr Wilkinson



    Thank you for your email regarding an item you recently posted.



    Please be aware that Letters and Large Letters are purely as a size reference and not related to the actual item sent. You should therefore not be charged according to the contents, providing the item meets the size requirements, so I hope you will accept my apologies if this has happened.



    If you wish to claim a refund of your postage, I would advise you to submit a claim which can be done online at www.royalmail.com/p58.



    I hope you find this information useful and if there is anything else we can help with please let us know.



    Regards



    Oliver Mintz Lowe

    Royal Mail Customer Services
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