Sir, – We are facing further increases in postal costs. Do we get value for money?
A friend recently posted four parcels to me from Tokyo. I received a demand, by email, from An Post for VAT on one of the four items. I promptly paid this online. A week later, I received a demand for VAT on a second item and again paid this promptly. As the first parcel had not arrived, I attempted to track it online. To my surprise, I could see that from a central sorting office in Dublin 12 it had gone to my local sorting office in Blackrock and then back to Dublin 12. I then noticed that there was an error in the house number, although the Eircode was correct. My email address and mobile number were also visible on the details.
I went to my local sorting office to inquire and thankfully received the second parcel. When I questioned the failed delivery of the first item, and two others, I was told that as the house number was incorrect, all three items were en route back to Japan and could not be retrieved. I pointed out that the Eircode was correct and that my mobile number was printed on the front of the parcels. I was told that An Post doesn’t use Eircodes or mobile numbers. This was subsequently confirmed by An Post customer services department. I was given an email address to reclaim the VAT paid.
The cost of developing Eircodes is estimated to be €38 million (News, April 17th, 2020). Most private courier companies use Eircodes and use mobile numbers if delivery is problematic. An Post’s customer charter aims “to provide all customers with quality services at all times”. This appears to exclude the use of Eircodes or mobile numbers. – Yours, etc,
BILL O’NEILL,
Booterstown,
Co Dublin.