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Mail Centre rationalisation programme V.8
Royal Mail is currently progressing with an ongoing programme of Mail Centre modernisation reviews which involve the closure of some of its smaller Mail Centres, consolidation of larger and more modern Mail Centres as well as the opening of some new Mail Centres. We are pleased to be able to share the information following the latest consultation period with regard to the mail centre modernisation programme.
2011
- Mail for HP Postcode area currently circulating Hemel Hempstead Mail Centre is to be circulated to Home Counties North (new site) from 8th August 2011.
- Mail for SG Postcode area currently circulating to Stevenage Mail Centre is to be circulated to Home Counties North (new site) from 8th August 2011
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Mail for AL EN, LU & WD Postcode areas currently circulating to Watford Mail Centre is to be circulated to Home Counties North (new site) from 5th September 2011.
2012 onwards
- Mail for W2-14 (W1-14 for Access 70) Postcode areas currently circulated to London Central Mail Centre is to be circulated to Greenford from January 2012 (postponed from 25th July 2011).
- Mail for N Postcode currently circulated to London East Mail Centre to be circulated to London Central from February 2012 (postponed from 15th August 2011)
- The closure of York and Bradford Mail Centres and the transfer of the work to Leeds MC in 2012/13
- The closure of Darlington and Teesside and the transfer of work to Tyneside in 2012/13
- The closure of Doncaster in 2012/13 and Hull in 2014/15 and the transfer of work to Sheffield
- The closure of Southend and the transfer of the work to Chelmsford in 2011 /12
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The closure of Dartford, Canterbury, Maidstone and Tonbridge and the transfer of work to a new Kent Mail Centre in 2012
No further updates are yet agreed.
Please contact your Access Account Director for any further information.
New service - Access Packets 2-5kg
We informed you in February of our intention to introduce the facility to post heavier Packet items up to 5kg via your Access 120 service. We are now pleased to confirm that this weight extension will launch from the 1st August 2011 and allows customers to hand over heavier Packet items when using the Access 120 and the Access 1400 Services.
Customers wishing to use the extended weights on their Access 120 and Access 1400 Services are required to sign the new Access Packets 2-5kg Agreement before the extended weights and applicable prices can be added to your Access account.
Full details can be found in the following documents attached:
Access Packets 2-5kg Agreement v1
UGA15 details the changes to the User Guide to support the launch of Access packets 2-5kg
Access Agreement - Mixed Weight Schedule v2
This version allows for handover of the new extended weights
This version details the use of ALPS for both Access 120 and Access 1400 Services
C9 NOTICE: VAT on Access Services
We are not yet in a position where we can inform you of which Access services, if any, may incur VAT from April 2012 but we would like to share our current view with you.
As you may be aware, HMRC guidelines show that generally Royal Mail postal services that are part of the Universal Service Obligation (USO) or price regulated are exempt from VAT. A recent Ofcom consultation on proposals for the future regulatory framework for Access services suggests a proposal to remove the price regulation on Access Packets (including A3 Packets) and Access Premium. Should Ofcom decide to do this, our current view is that it is likely that these services will become subject to HMRC’s current rulings on 20% VAT with effect from April 2012.
However, until Ofcom publishes its decision on the future of the regulatory framework for Access, Royal Mail is not in a position to inform its customers which Access services, if any, will be subject to VAT and the date on which VAT becomes effective.
For professional advice on VAT, talk to your Finance department, Accountant or Tax Advisor.
Delivery to Neighbour
On 27th October we were pleased to share details of our ‘Delivery to Neighbour’ trial which is part of an on-going programme to make deliveries more convenient for our customers.
For more information on this trial please view the attached communication or follow this link.
Deliver to a neighbour trial.pdf
DSA - Christmas & New Year arrangements 2011
All operations are closed from Sunday 25th December 2011 to Tuesday 27th December 2011. Normal services resume from Wednesday 28th December 2011 to Saturday 31st December 2011.
Operations close again Sunday 1st January 2012 to Monday 2nd December 2012, remaining closed for Tuesday 3rd January 2012 in Scotland.
Normal operations throughout UK will resume on Wednesday 4th January 2012
A full list of daily operational services for both Standard and Premium over the Christmas period are available to download below.
Intelligent Barcode - join now
Enterprise Intelligent Bargode gives you:
- Web-based reports which you can monitor against performance
- Insights into direct mail that promote integration with your digital channels
- Rapid identification of returns leading to greater efficiency at your call centres
- Improved customer experience
Join our early adopter scheme from April 2012 and you'll be part of a year-long programme that not only lets you take advantage of our current barcode price, but also offers:
- An opportunity to shape the way we report information and develop analytical tools
- First access to new information
If you are a business mailer sending more than 25,000 items per day on any one of our mail services, you can be part of the Entrprise Intelligent Barcode early adopter scheme. The entry into the early adopter scheme is now closed.
Decision on Zonal costing methodology
On 29th October 2010 Royal Mail Wholesale invited our customers to input to the Zonal Costing Methodology consultation paper (please see our Archive News section here). The consultation ran until mid-December 2010.
Royal Mail Wholesale's conclusions and decision, following the consultation, are outlined in the document available to download below.
Zonal costing methodology paper Decision Doc 4 3 11.pdf
Access Prices 2011/12
2011/2012 Access prices are available on the following links. The original notification of indicative Access prices, including additional background information, can be found in our News Archive section here.
Advertising Mail discounts and service enhancements
We have enhanced our Royal Mail Advertising Mail® service to give you more choice in terms of the type of items that you can send and when you send them. With effect from the 9th May 2011, the service was extended to include Large Letters and Saturday deliveries and we increased the price discount to 2.0p per item. Full details of this change can be found here.
Long Run Incremental Cost Discussion Document
The discussion document below seeks to raise awareness of the development of long run incremental cost (LRIC) estimates for the postal sector. It does not speculate on what might be the regulatory framework from 2012 as that will be taken forward by Postcomm in Spring 2011, but LRIC estimates might inform or be part of that framework. Hence our document seeks to take the subject of LRIC forward and has been discussed with Postcomm.
In the document, we explain what LRIC is and the reasoning behind its development by Royal Mail. We also provided an overview of the main components that are involved in Top Down LRIC model estimation and highlight some areas of consideration that are specific to the postal sector.
We invite discussion and comment on this document by 11 February 2011
RM LRIC discussion document.pdf
Improving the Customer Experience
On 25 February 2011, Royal Mail Wholesale sent customers our report on the Improving the Customer Experience (ICE) programme. The report and covering letter to customers can be found in the links below.
Improving the Customer Experience Report - Customer Covering Letter.pdf
Improving the Customer Experience - A Response to Customer Feedback.pdf
Agency Contracts amendment
On the 4th January 2011, we issued a consultation document to all our Agency Operators on a proposal to introduce a minimum spend requirement for Agency Customers of the Access Agency Agreements (please see below for more information). The consultation period closed on 31st January 2011 and we would like to thank you for your feedback. Further to the feedback, we have made a small adjustment to our original proposal and explain the reasons for this in our final decision document attached
Decision_Agency Contracts_15 2 11.pdf
C9 Access Agreement Notice: Segregation by format
From 17th January 2011, Royal Mail Wholesale is introducing an alternative practice to the presentation requirements for handing over mailing items under a Condition 9 Access Agreement: subject to signing a supplementary agreement to their current Access Agreement with Royal Mail, our customers will be able to hand over mailing items by segregating mail bags and trays into Yorks according to mailing item format (Letters, Large Letters and Packets).
This is an alternative to the current requirement to hand over by discrete customer account number (an option that remains available) and is one of the first improvements under our Improving the Customer Experience Programme.
Please see the attached notice for more details.
The Segregation by format user guide proposed amends and the segregation by format agreement can be found in the Agreements>Ancillary Agreements section of the website.
Segregation by format notice 6.12.10.pdf
Royal Mail Wholesale announces indicative Access prices
On 3rd Feb 2011 Royal Mail Wholesale announced indicative Access prices that are intended to be introduced from May 2011. Full details of this proposal can be found in the links below (see Pricing page for Final Access pricing).
Notification of proposed 2011/12 Access prices
Amendment to Agency Contracts Proposal 04-01-2011
We have an increasing number of agency customers that have opened credit accounts with us which are either not being used or are being used infrequently and for relatively low posting volumes. Like you, whilst we welcome the prospect of new business, we are mindful that the requirements of the Access Agreement incur some fixed costs for the setting up of a new account, for us as well as for you, and we would hope that consideration is given to these before taking on a new customer. The current situation, as described here, indicates otherwise. Since there are no specific terms in the current Agency Agreements to ensure that this is the case, we would like to consult with you, as Agency Operators, on a proposal to amend the Agency Operator Agreement.
Customers are invited to comment on any aspect of this consultation document by the 31st January 2011. We will review your feedback and confirm our final proposal, subject to the feedback received, by 7th February 2011.
Consultation_Agency Contracts_4.01.11.pdf
Tray Dolly Implementation Update 10-12-2010
We have been working for some time with our customers on developing a more secure container for handover of DSA mail in trays and are pleased to announce that we have finally agreed on the Tray Dolly from Loadhog Ltd.
Attached below is the recent communication sent to our customers to update them on progress and next steps.
VAT Customer Communication
Royal Mail Wholesale applies VAT in line with UK law. Most of our services are currently covered by the postal services VAT exemption.
For these services VAT is not added to our prices. As part of the Budget the Government has announced its intention to make certain changes to VAT that impact upon the component parts of Royal Mail Group differently.
The mailing products (1) offered by Royal Mail Wholesale will remain VAT exempt.
A limited number of Royal Mail Wholesale’s non-mail related products (2) are currently subject to VAT; this will remain unchanged.
The proposed VAT changes will have a minimal impact on Royal Mail Wholesale, but if you have any questions please approach your normal business contact.
(1) Including POL Collect and International Extraction.
(2) Including container related charges; annual maintenance fees and hire.
DSA Christmas Arrangements 2010
All operations are closed from Saturday 25th to Tuesday 28th December. Normal services resume from Wednesday 29th to Friday 31st December. Operations close again Saturday 1st, Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd January, remaining closed for Tuesday 4th January in Scotland. Normal operations throughout UK will resume on Wednesday 5thJanuary.
A full list of daily operational services for both Standard and Premium over the Christmas period are available to download below.
Christmas arrangements PREMIUM2010V2.pdf
Christmas arrangements Standard2010v2.pdf
Zonal Costing Methodology consultation 29-10-10
Royal Mail Wholesale invites our customers to input into the Zonal Costing Methodology consultation paper.
In this consultation we propose a revision to the costing methodology, using estimates of postcode sector costs that would retain the current definition of zones.
We are also looking at a further option that would involve redefining the zones on the basis of estimated postcode sector costs better to reflect costs. Prior to April 2012 this option might need to be explored further to ensure that the zones are fit for purpose beyond 2012.
We seek our customers’ views, and those of other interested parties, to the consultation questions in the attached document below.
Quality of Service Measurement for the Access Market
Royal Mail Wholesale is inviting feedback on a proposal to introduce an independent measure of quality of service prior to handover to Royal Mail.
The purpose of the attached document is to provide Royal Mail Wholesale (RMW) customers, and other interested parties, with the opportunity to comment on our proposals to introduce, from April 2011, an independent measure of quality of service (QofS) prior to handover to Royal Mail. This will enable an end-to-end, independent measurement of Access mail for the first time.
Customers and other interested parties are asked to let us have their feedback on our proposal detailed in the attached document by 16th December 2010.
QofS Quality of Service Measurement for the Access Market .Pdf
Access Database 2010 is now available for download.
As previously explained, you need to download an updated version of the Access Database and make the necessary changes to your systems and software by 27th September 2010.
The updated Access Database (version 2010) is available to download on this site.
The Access Database 2010 comes into force on 27th September 2010 and you must use it from this date to continue receiving Access prices.
The Customer Final Label database is also available for download now and must be used for all Access Database 2010 postings.
For information: If, during the change over period from Access Database 2009 to Access Database 2010, you need to handover mail whereby some postings have been prepared using Database 2009 and others using Database 2010, please be aware that there are a limited number of Standard Selection Codes (SSCs) that are present in both Databases. We have made changes to our upload processes to accommodate these duplicates in order to minimise the impact at handove
Please contact your Access Account Manager if you anticipate any issues with the implementation of the new Database
WMS Communication
Allocation of Postcode Sectors
Allocation of postcode sectors and assumed access zonal prices based on the new 2010 four zone structure. Downloads below:
Process for Allocating Postcode Sectors to GZones
Archived Documents
