Royal Mail
Royal Mail Group Limited
EXPLANATORY NOTES (THESE NOTES ARE NOT PART OF THE SCHEME)
(1) The Scheme which follows this note was made under section 28 of the Post Office Act 1969 on 11 January 1982 and was originally called the Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Scheme 1982. By virtue of article 41 (1) and (2) of The Postal Services Act 2000 (Commencement No. 4 and Transitional and Saving Provisions) Order 2001 (referred to in these notes as Commencement Order No. 4), this Scheme may be cited as the Successor Postal Services Company Overseas Parcel Post Scheme 2001 and continues in force after 26 March 2001 as if made by the successor postal services company (namely, Royal Mail Group Limited) under section 89 of the Postal Services Act 2000.
(2) The Scheme came into operation on 1 February 1982 when it replaced:
(a) the Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Scheme 1977 (Post Office Scheme 116/1977) and;
(b)all schemes which amended that scheme.
(3) The Scheme as set out below includes the following amendments to it:
(a) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 1) Scheme 1989 P2/1983
(b) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 2) Scheme 1984 4/1984
(c) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 3) Scheme 1985 3/1985
(d) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 4) Scheme 1985 5/1985
(e) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 5) Scheme 1985 6/1985
(f) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 6) Scheme 1986 3/1986
(g) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 7) Scheme 1986 7/1986
(h) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 8) Scheme 1987 1/1987
(i) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 9) Scheme 1987 3/1987
(j) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 10) Scheme 1988 1/1988
(k) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 11) Scheme 1989 OP1/1989
(l) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 12) Scheme 1990 OP1/1990
(m) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 13) Scheme 1991 OP1/1991
(n) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 14) Scheme 1992 OP1/1992
(o) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 15) Scheme 1993 OP1/1993
(p) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 16) Scheme 1994 OP1/1994
(q) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 17) Scheme 1995 OP1/1995
(r) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 18) Scheme 1996 OP1/1996
(s) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 19) Scheme 1997 OP1/1997
(t) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 20) Scheme 1998 OP1/1998
(u) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 21) Scheme 1999 OP1/1999
(v) The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 22) Scheme 2000 0 P1/2000
(w) Consignia plc Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 1) Scheme 2001 OP1/2001
(x) Consignia plc Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 2) Scheme 2001 P4/2001
(y) Consignia plc Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 3) Scheme 2002 P1/2002
(z) Consignia plc Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 4) Scheme 2002 0P2/2002
(aa) Royal Mail Group plc Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 5) Scheme 2003 0 P1/2003
(bb) Royal Mail Group plc Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 6) Scheme 2003 0P2/2003
(cc) Royal Mail Group plc Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 7) Scheme 2003 0P2/2003
(dd) Royal Mail Group plc Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 8) Scheme 2004 0 P1/2004
(ee) Royal Mail Group plc Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 9) Scheme 2005 0 P1/2 005
(ff) Royal Mail Group plc Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 10) Scheme 2006 0 P1/2006
(gg) Royal Mail Group Limited Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 11) Scheme 2007 OP1/2007
(hh) Royal Mail Group Limited Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 12) Scheme 2008 0 P1/2008
(ii) Royal Mail Group Limited Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 13) Scheme 2009 OP1/2009
(jj) Royal Mail Group Limited Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 14) Scheme 2009 OP1/2009
(kk) Royal Mail Group Limited Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 15) Scheme OP1/2010
(ll) Royal Mail Group Limited Overseas Parcel Post (Amendment No. 16) Scheme OP1/2011
(4) Consignia plc, (registered number 4138203) was the subsequent successor postal services company and it changed its name to Royal Mail Group plc on 4 November 2002. Royal Mail Group plc then changed its name to Royal Mail Group Limited on 20 March 2007.
(5) By virtue of article 41 of Commencement Order No. 4:
(a) a reference in the Scheme to the Post Office ® shall be read, where appropriate, as a reference to the successor postal services company;
(b) in paragraph 6(1) of the Scheme, the reference to section 11(1)(a), (b) or (c) of the Post Office Act 1953 shall be read as including a reference to section 85(1) to (4) of the Postal Services Act 2000;
(c) (Deleted);
(d) anything agreed, approved, prescribed or specified for the purposes of the Scheme by the Post Office ® shall be treated as agreed, approved, prescribed or specified by the successor postal services company;
(e) a reference in the Scheme to a scheme made under section 28 of the Post Office Act 1969 shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be read as including a reference to a scheme made, or treated by virtue of this Order as made, under section 89 of the Postal Services Act 2000;
CONTENTS
PART 1
Introduction
2. Commencement and citation.
3. Revocation.
4. Interpretation.
5. Application.
PART 2
Rates of Postage and General Conditions
6. (Deleted).
7. Prohibitions.
8. Packing.
9. Limits of weight and size.
10. Fees for import customs clearance.
11. (Deleted).
12. (Deleted).
13. Treatment of irregular parcels.
14. (Deleted).
15. Charges on delivery in the UK.
16. (Deleted).
17. Withholding of parcels from delivery.
18. Undeliverable parcels.
19. (Deleted).
PART 3
Postal Facilities
20. General.
21. (Deleted).
22. (Deleted).
23. (Deleted)
24. (Deleted).
25. Compensation.
26. (Deleted).
27. (Deleted).
28. Parcels in bond.
29. Requests for proof of delivery.
PART 4
General
30. (Deleted).
31. Remission of postage and fees.
32. Application of Post Office Inland Parcel Post Scheme.
33. Saving.
34. Alteration of rates of postage, postage charges, fees, conditions etc.
35. (Deleted).
SCHEDULES
Schedule 1: (Deleted).
Schedule 2: (Deleted).
Schedule 3: (Deleted).
Schedule 4: (Deleted).
Schedule 5: Application of Post Office Inland Parcel Post Scheme.
Schedule 6: Schemes Revoked.
PART 1
Introduction
1. COMMENCEMENT AND CITATION
1(1) This Scheme shall come into operation on the 1st February 1982 and may be cited as the Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Scheme 1982.
2. REVOCATION
2(2) The schemes mentioned in Schedule 6 are hereby revoked.
3. INTERPRETATION
3(1) In this Scheme, except so far as the contrary is provided or the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings hereby respectively assigned to them:
“the Act” means the Post Office Act 1953 as amended by the Post Office Act 1969 and the British Telecommunications Act 1981;
“antiques” means an object which is over 100 years;
“British postal area” means the United Kingdom Including United Kingdom territorial waters;
“bullion” means uncoined and unmanufactured metal;
“coin” means coin whether or not current in the British postal area or elsewhere, except such as is used or designed for purposes of ornament;
“collectable” means something which has appreciated in value either due to its scarcity or due to it being no longer in production;
“customs duty” includes value added tax;
“Franking equipment” has the meaning set out in the Post Office Scheme for Franking Letters and Parcels 2000 as amended from time to time;
“Franking mark” has the meaning set out in the Post Office Scheme for Franking Letters and Parcels 2000 as amended from time to time;
“incoming” means received at a post office in the British postal area through the post;
“jewellery” means:
(a) gold, silver or platinum or other precious metal in a manufactured state (that is to say, a state in which value is added to the raw material by skilled workmanship), and in this definition are included any coins used or designed for purposes of ornament;
(b) diamonds and precious stones;
(c) watches, the cases of which are entirely or mainly composed of gold, silver or platinum or other precious metal; and
(d) any article of a like nature which, apart from workmanship, has an intrinsic or marketable value;
“letter” includes any communication in the nature of current and personal correspondence;
“officer of the Post Office” means a person engaged in the business of the Post Office ®;
“parcel” means a postal packet which is posted as a parcel in accordance with the provisions of this Scheme or any Scheme amending or replacing the same, or is received at a post office in the British postal area from abroad by parcel post;
“postal arrangement” means an arrangement made by Her Majesty or by the Post Office ® with respect to the conveyance by post of parcels between the British postal area and places outside that area, or between places outside that area, whether through that area or not;
“postal form” means a form issued by or under the authority of the Post Office ®;
“prescribed” means prescribed by the Post Office ®.
Any reference in this Scheme to the provisions of any enactment, regulations or scheme shall be construed, unless the context otherwise requires, as a reference to those provisions as amended, re-enacted or replaced by any subsequent enactment, regulation, or scheme.
3(2) Any reference in any regulations or scheme to the provisions of any scheme revoked by this Scheme shall be construed, unless the context otherwise requires, as a reference to the corresponding provisions of this Scheme.
4. APPLICATION
4(1) This Scheme except where otherwise expressed, applies exclusively to parcels transmitted by post to the British postal area otherwise than under the Post Office Inland Post Scheme 1979.
PART 2
General Conditions
5. (Deleted).
5(1) (Deleted).
5(2) (Deleted).
6. PROHIBITIONS
6(1) Save as the Post Office ® may either generally or in any particular case allow, there shall not be conveyed or delivered by post any parcel of a description referred to in section 11(1)(a), (b), (c) or (d) of the Act.
6(2) Subject to the powers of the Post Office ® under paragraph 6(2)(a) below, there shall not be posted or conveyed or delivered by post any parcel:
6(2)(a) Containing:
6(2)(a)(i) controlled drugs. Those discovered in transit will be stopped and handed to Customs or the Police who may take legal action against the sender and/or recipient. Examples; cocaine, cannabis resin, LSD, leaves from the Catha Edulis plant, narcotics, morphine, opium and psychotropic substances etc;
6(2)(a)(ii) any living creatures, other than bees, destroyers of noxious pests other insects sent to or from officially recognised institutions, leeches, silk worms and certain parasites as specified by Royal Mail Group Ltd;
6(2)(a)(iii) anything which by the law of the country or place in which the parcel is posted or to which it is addressed or of any country or place through which it may pass, it is unlawful respectively to send, import or convey by parcel post;
6(2)(a)(iv) any imitation of a bank note within the meaning of section 38 of the Criminal Justice Act 1925;
6(2)(a)(v) explosives;
6(2)(a)(vi)gases compressed, liquefied or dissolved under pressure;
6(2)(a)(vii) flammable liquids;
6(2)(a)(viii)flammable solids; self-reactive substances, solid desensitized explosives, substances liable to spontaneous combustion, substances which in contact with water, emit flammable gases;
6(2)(a)(ix) oxidising substances and organic peroxides;
6(2)(a)(x) toxic and infectious substances;
6(2)(a)(xi) radioactive material;
6(2)(a)(xii) corrosive substances;
6(2)(a)(xiii) miscellaneous dangerous substances and articles. Substances that present dangers not covered elsewhere;
6(2)(a)(xiv) all arms, their component parts classified as munitions of war and ammunition of any kind:
6(2)(a)(xv) tickets and related advertisements for illegal lotteries;
6(2)(a)(xvi) foul or disgusting material;
6(2)(a)(xvii) indecent, obscene or offensive communications, prints, photographs, books or other articles, and packets bearing grossly offensive, indecent or obscene works, marks or design. Those discovered in transit will be stopped and handed to Customs or the Police who may take legal action against the sender and/or the recipient;
6(2)(a)(xviii) goods made in foreign prisons, except those imported for a non-commercial purpose, of a kind not manufactured in the United Kingdom, or those in transit;
6(2)(a)(xix) alcoholic beverages where the content is greater than 70%;
6(2)(a)(xx) batteries - only dry batteries (for example AA or AAA) in good condition and in their original sealed retail packaging may be despatched. (Batteries from laptops, cameras, mobile phones and similar electronic goods must be removed from the main body of the item and packaged separately but form part of the same parcel/consignment) and crackers posted to addresses where the banger has not been removed;
6(2)(a)(xxi) Christmas crackers, where they are not in their made up form and posted in the retail packaging;
6(2)(a)(xxii) postage stamps unless franked or no longer usable for postage purposes and counterfeit currency;
6(2)(a)(xiii) diagnostic specimens;
6(2)(a)(xiiv) infectious substances assigned to category A;
6(2)(a)(xxv) perishable items;
6(2)(a)(xxvi) prescription drugs where they are not from and to a medical practitioner or a hospital. In the case of emergencies however, prescription drugs may be sent to a private individual as long as they are in prescription quantities;
6(2)(a)(xxvii) sharp objects where they have not been packaged in a way that prevents them from presenting a risk to employees, other packages and the recipient;
6(2)(a)(xxviii) any financial documents (money, bankers drafts, cheques, dividends, bonds, securities etc) which can be exchanged themselves or with any other document for money, goods or services.
6(2)(a)(xxix) human and animal remains.
6(2)(b) containing or bearing any fictitious stamp (not being a fictitious stamp made with the approval of the Post Office ®) or any counterfeit of any impression authorised by or under this Scheme to be used to denote payment of postage or fees;
6(2)(c) containing or having thereon any letter, except so far as may be permitted by the relative postal arrangement;
6(2)(d) bearing words, marks or designs which are unauthorised and which may reasonably lead the recipient to believe that the packet has been sent on Her Majesty’s Service;
6(2)(e) of such a form or colour or so made up for transmission by post as to be likely in the opinion of the Post Office ® to embarrass the officers of the Post Office ® in dealing with the parcel;
6(2)(f) having anything written, printed or otherwise impressed upon or attached to any part of the parcel which, either by tending to prevent the easy and quick reading of the address of the parcel or by inconvenient proximity to the stamp or stamps used to denote payment of postage or fees, or in any other way, is in itself, or in the manner in which it is written, printed, impressed or attached, likely in the opinion of the Post Office ® to embarrass the officers of the Post Office ® in dealing with the parcel;
6(2)(g) bearing any stamp or franking mark or other impression denoting payment of postage or fees which is imperfect or mutilated or defaced in any way, or across which anything is written or printed or otherwise impressed; but a stamp shall not be deemed to be imperfect or mutilated or defaced or to have anything written or printed or impressed across it within the meaning of this provision, by reason only that it is distinctly perforated with initials by means of a punch, if the perforating holes are not larger than those dividing one stamp from another in a sheet of stamps;
6(2)(h) whereon the payment of any postage or fees purports to be denoted by any stamp or franking mark or other impression which has been previously used to denote payment of the postage or fees on any other postal packet;
6(2)(i) consisting of or containing two or more parcels or other postal packets (of the same or of different descriptions) addressed to different persons who are at different addresses;
6(2)(j) whereon the payment of any postage or fees is denoted by an adhesive stamp or stamps, and where the stamp or stamps have not been securely affixed in such manner as the Post Office ® may require;
6(2)(k) containing or bearing any franking mark which has been made by franking equipment used otherwise than in accordance with the terms of the Post Office Scheme for Franking Letters and Parcels 2000 as amended from time to time or any franking mark which does not in any other respect comply with that Scheme.
7. PACKING
7(1) Every parcel shall be made up and secured in such manner as in the opinion of the Post Office ® is calculated to preserve the contents from loss or damage in the post, to prevent any tampering with the contents, and to prevent injury to any other postal packet in course of conveyance, or to any receptacle in which the same is conveyed, or to any other postal equipment, or to an officer of the Post Office ® or other person who may deal with such packet.
7(2) Any article contained in a parcel shall be adequately packed as a protection against damage in course of transmission. In particular:
7(2)(a) an article which is of a fragile nature shall be packed in a container of sufficient strength and shall be surrounded in that container with sufficient and suitable material to protect the article against the effects of concussion, pressure and knocks to which parcels are ordinarily exposed in transmission and the parcel shall bear the words “FRAGILE WITH CARE” written conspicuously in capital letters on the face of the cover above the address;
7(2)(b) an article which is liable to be damaged by bending shall be packed in a container of sufficient strength to prevent the article from being bent in transmission and the parcel shall bear the words “DO NOT BEND” written conspicuously in capital letters on the face of the cover above the address;
7(2)(c) a parcel containing any perishable article shall bear the word “PERISHABLE” written conspicuously in capital letters on the face of the cover above the address;
7(2)(d) guidelines on packaging can be found on www.parcelforce.com.
8. LIMITS OF WEIGHT AND SIZE
8(1) Save as the Post Office ® may either generally or in any particular case allow, no parcel shall be posted, conveyed, or delivered by post if:
8(1)(a) the weight thereof exceeds 30 kilogrammes; or
8(1)(b) the length thereof exceeds 1.5 metres, or (if that limit of length is not exceeded); or
8(1)(c) the combined length and girth thereof exceeds 3 metres (the girth to be measured round the thickest part).
8(2) Where the postal arrangement applicable in relation to the conveyance of a parcel stipulates a lower limit than is specified in any one or more of paragraphs 8(1)(a), 8(1)(b) or 8(1)(c) that limit or those limits shall apply, instead of the respective limit or limits so specified.
8(3) Save as aforesaid, no parcel shall be posted, conveyed, or delivered by post unless its size is within the following minimum limits:
8(3)(a) where the parcel is made up in form of a roll, its length and twice its diameter taken together shall not be less than 170 millimetres, and either its length or its diameter shall not be less than 100 millimetres;
8(3)(b) where the parcel is not so made up, it shall have at least one surface measuring not less than 140 millimetres in length and not less than 90 millimetres in breadth.
9. FEES FOR IMPORT CUSTOMS CLEARANCE
9(1) With respect to the clearance of incoming parcels through Customs procedures, Royal Mail Group Limited has two levels of fee. There is one charge for express and high value parcels, and a separate charge for all other parcels. These fees apply to all parcels liable to import duty/tax and are payable by the recipient before the parcel can be delivered. Our charges at date of printing are £13.50 and £8 respectively, but do change from time to time. For details of our current charges, please see “www.parcelforce.com”.
10. (Deleted).
10(1) (Deleted).
10(2) (Deleted).
10(3) (Deleted).
10(4) (Deleted).
11. (Deleted).
11(1) (Deleted).
11(2) (Deleted).
11(3) (Deleted).
11(3)(a) (Deleted);
11(3)(b) (Deleted);
11(3)(c) (Deleted);
11(3)(d) (Deleted).
11(4) (Deleted).
11(5) (Deleted).
11(6) (Deleted).
11(7) (Deleted).
11(8) (Deleted).
12. TREATMENT OF IRREGULAR PARCELS
12(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Scheme, any parcel which is found when in the post not to comply with any prohibitions and restrictions outlined in this scheme, or with a provision of the law or customs requirements of the country or place in which the parcel was posted or to which it is addressed or of any country or place through which it may pass (including the Act, this Scheme and the provisions referred to in paragraph 32), or not to be accompanied by a document required by any such provision may be either detained or returned or given up to the sender, or dealt with or disposed of in such other manner as the Post Office ® may think fit.
12(2) Any incoming parcel which is found in the post to be such that the conveyance or delivery thereof is prohibited by paragraph 6(2)(i) may, if the Post Office ® thinks fit, be delivered to the addressee subject to such charge as the Post Office ® may fix in the particular case, not exceeding the aggregate amount of the separate charges which would have been payable in respect of all the individual parcels or other postal packets contained therein if each of them had been posted separately without prepayment of postage in the British postal area addressed to the country or place of origin of the parcel.
13. (Deleted).
13(1) (Deleted).
13(2) (Deleted).
14. CHARGES ON DELIVERY IN THE UK
14(1) There shall be charged on any incoming international parcel and paid by the addressee prior to its delivery, the amount of any postage deficiency, and any fees and charges payable in respect of the parcel under the law, regulations, or schemes in force in any part of the British postal area or any country or place from or through which the parcel has been transmitted which have not been paid.
14(2) In this paragraph “postage deficiency” means, if no part of the postage thereon has been prepaid, the full amount of the postage which ought to have been prepaid, and if part only of such postage has been prepaid, the difference between such full amount and the amount of such postage which has been prepaid.
15. (Deleted).
15(1) (Deleted).
15(1)(a) (Deleted);
15(1)(b) (Deleted).
16. WITHHOLDING OF PARCELS FROM DELIVERY
16(1) The Post Office ® may withhold any incoming parcel from delivery to the addressee until all sums due thereon have been paid.
16(2) Where the sums due in respect of any such parcel, or of parcels on hand for to the same person on any one occasion, the Post Office ® may give notice to that person accordingly and require that, before such delivery is effected, he should pay the amount due within such period and at such office as shall be specified in such notice.
17. UNDELIVERABLE PARCELS
17(1) Subject to the following paragraphs 17(2) and 17(3), an incoming parcel which cannot be delivered or in respect of which any sums due thereon under paragraph 14 have not been paid within such period as the Post Office ® may consider reasonable, may be dealt with or disposed of as the Post Office ® may think fit.
17(2) Where an incoming parcel cannot be delivered as originally addressed, delivery will be attempted to neighbouring addresses. In the event that delivery cannot be made to either the original address or a neighbour, and the parcel is within the relevant size and weight limits and the contents of the parcel are suitable, the parcel will be automatically taken to a local Post Office ® branch for collection by the addressee and a card will be left at the addressee’s address informing them of the location of the collection point.
17(3) In the event that delivery cannot be effected by any of the above means, the parcel will be returned to the local depot and a card will be left at the addressee’s address outlining the redelivery options and any associated charges that are available. For details of our current charges, please see “www.parcelforce.com”. The card will also provide details of the location of the depot where the parcel is being held, the methods for booking a redelivery and appropriate contact details.
The current redelivery options are as follows:
17(3)(a) collection from holding depot;
17(3)(b) redelivery to original delivery address on a specified day (Monday to Friday excluding public holidays);
17(3)(c) redelivery to an alternative UK address on a specified day (Monday to Friday excluding public holidays);
17(3)(d) delivery to a nominated Post Office ® for collection by the addressee;
17(3)(e) redelivery on a Saturday (excluding public holidays),
An automatic redelivery attempt will be performed on the next working day after the original delivery attempt. In the event that this second delivery attempt is unsuccessful the parcel will be held for 16 calendar days from the date of the first attempt pending contact from the addressee. If no contact is received from the address within this time the parcel will be returned to sender.
18. (Deleted).
PART 3
Postal Facilities
19. GENERAL
19(1) The postal facilities referred to in this Scheme may be provided by the Post Office ® at such times, during such periods, at such post offices, in such circumstances, and on such conditions (not being inconsistent with the provisions of this Scheme) as the Post Office ® may from time to time consider expedient.
20. (Deleted).
21. (Deleted).
22. (Deleted).
23. (Deleted).
24. COMPENSATION
24(1) Where the Post Office ® is satisfied that any article of pecuniary value enclosed in, or forming part of, a parcel (including an insured parcel) has been lost or damaged whilst in the course of transmission by post, it may (but subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph) pay such sum as it may think just by way of compensation for such loss or damage to any person who in its opinion establishes a reasonable claim thereto, whether as the sender or as the addressee of the parcel.
24(2) The total amount of compensation which the Post Office ® may pay under paragraph 24(1) in respect of:
24(2)(a) (Deleted);
24(2)(b) (Deleted);
24(2)(c) any one incoming insured parcel and its contents shall not in any case exceed £1400 having regard to the insurance fee paid in the country or place from which the parcel was transmitted and the terms of any relative postal arrangement with the Postal Administration of that country or place;
24(2)d any other parcel not covered by paragraph 24(2)(c) above shall be nil.
24.3 Subject to paragraph 24(2), the maximum amount of compensation which the Post Office ® may pay under paragraph 24(1) in respect of any article enclosed in or forming part of a parcel shall be such sum as, in its opinion, represents:
24(3)(a) if the item is lost or damaged beyond repair, an independent agent may be used to supply a replacement, subject to the maximum compensation level purchased, allowing for wear & tear and depreciation where appropriate. The lowest of the cost/sale price will be used to settle a claim exclusive of VAT;
24(3)(b) providing the item has been packaged correctly, any compensation payable for damage to the item will be limited to the repair cost.
24(4) (Deleted).
25(5) No compensation may be paid under paragraph 24(1) in respect of any parcel or its contents unless the Post Office ® is satisfied that the conditions set out in paragraph 7 have been complied with.
24(6) (Deleted).
24(7) No compensation may be paid under paragraph 24(1) in respect of any parcel or its contents if the parcel has been destroyed or otherwise dealt with or disposed of by the Post Office ® pursuant to section 8(3) of the Act or paragraph 12(1), paragraph 17 or by another Postal Administration under a provision of the law of the country or place of that Postal Administration.
24(8) No compensation may be paid in respect of any parcel or its contents unless:
24(8)(a) a claim for such compensation is received:
24(8)(a)(i) (Deleted); or
24(8)(a)(ii) in the case of an incoming parcel, from the sender or the addressee within a period of 12 months beginning with the date on which the parcel was posted;
24(8)(b) (Deleted);
24(8)(c) in a case where loss of the parcel is claimed and the Post Office ® so requires, a declaration is made by the addressee that the parcel was not delivered to him or to the place to which it was addressed.
24(9) No compensation may be paid in respect of any parcel or its contents if it contains anything the posting of which is prohibited by or under any enactment of this Scheme.
24(10) No compensation may be paid in respect of any parcel or its contents unless the address of the person to whom the parcel is to be transmitted is written fully and correctly on the cover thereof or on a label securely affixed or tied thereto.
24(11) No compensation may be paid in respect of any parcel or its contents if the parcel was lost, damaged or destroyed in circumstances beyond the control of the Postal Administration in whose service the loss, damage or destruction occurred.
24(12) If compensation has been paid to any person in respect of the loss of a parcel and the parcel subsequently comes into the possession of the Post Office ®, then upon tender of the parcel to that person (whether or not he accepts it), he shall repay to the Post Office ® the sum paid by way of compensation or such part thereof as the Post Office ® may require.
24(13) Where the Post Office ® pays compensation in respect of a parcel in accordance with the foregoing paragraphs it may additionally pay an amount equivalent to the amount of postage paid by the sender of the parcel.
24(14) (Deleted).
24(15) No compensation may be paid in respect of any parcel for the loss of or damage to the following items:
24(15)(a) any dangerous, hazardous and prohibited goods, or restricted items where the instructions have not been heeded;
24(15)(b) diamonds and other precious stones;
24(15)(c) real fur;
24(15)(d) jewellery (other than imitation);
24(15)(e) articles made largely or wholly of gold, silver or other precious metals;
24(15)(f) antiques;
24(15)(g) (Deleted);
24(15)(h) (Deleted);
24(15)(i) stamps;
24(15)(j) negotiable documents;
24(15)(k) bearer bonds;
24(15)(l) money or money’s equivalent, meaning all or any of the following:
24(15)(l)(i) any bank note or currency note, being current in the British postal area or elsewhere;
24(15)(l)(ii) Coins, bankers drafts, and credit/debit cards;
24(15)(l)(iii) any uncrossed postal order which does not state to whom it is to be paid;
24(15)(l)(iv) any cheque or dividend warrant which is uncrossed and made payable to bearer;
24(15)(l)(v) any bearer security (including a share warrant, scrip or subscription certificate, bond or relative coupon);
24(15)(l)(vi) any unobliterated postage or revenue stamp valid for current use in the British postal area or elsewhere (except a revenue stamp embossed or impressed on an instrument which has been executed);
24(15)(l)(vii) any coupon, voucher, taken, card, stamp, lottery tickets, scratch card or similar documents which can be exchanged (by itself or with any other document) for money, goods or services;
24(15)(l)(viii) National Insurance stamps.
24(15)(m) all tickets, including travel and events;
24(15)(n) sim cards;
24(15)(o) watches;
24(15)(p) human and animal remains including ashes, other than those being sent for medical research. Those which are sent for medical research should be packaged to ensure no contamination. Limits on the type of service available and categories of claims are the same as for the perishable goods;
24(15)(q) musical instrument hard cases and suitcases when used as external packaging;
24(15)(r) marble or other stone derivatives;
24(15)(s) any combination of two or more parcels strapped or in some other manner bound together, including any parcel if such an attempt to do so has been made);
24(15)(t) any parcels where the packaging guidelines in paragraph 7 and on “www.parcelforce.com” have not been heeded;
24(15)(u) any parcels where the claim overstates the value of the contents;
24(15)(v) any parcels where a request made by Royal Mail Group Ltd for affirmation of the value is not fully and correctly responded to within 21 days.
24(16) Any compensation payable for loss of or damage to a collectable(s) shall be limited to the actual price paid for the collectable(s) shall be limited to the actual price paid for the collectable(s) subject to the sender providing satisfactory written or printed evidence (e.g. a receipt for the price paid by the sender, or the price as listed in a recognised catalogue or guide) and not exceeding Parcelforce Worldwide’s stated limits of compensation for the service selected.
24(17) (Deleted).
24(18) No compensation shall be payable for loss of or damage to an item due to latent or inherent defect, vice or natural deterioration of items where there is no evidence of external damage to the item(s) or its packaging.
24(19) No compensation may be paid in respect of any parcel for damage to the following items:
24(19)(a) ceramics or composites wholly or partially made of china and / or porcelain;
24(19)(b) glassware - items partially or wholly made of glass or containing glass, for example picture frames that contain glass;
24(19)(c) eggs;
24(19)(d) fossils; stone or stonewear;
24(19)(e) resin items, amber and composites.
24(20) No compensation shall be payable for any loss of profit, revenue, opportunity, or any indirect, special or consequential loss, damage, expenses or other claims (whether caused by the negligence of Royal Mail Group Limited, its servants, agents or otherwise).
24(21) Items which have appreciated in value either due to their scarcity or due to their being out of production are not excluded from compensation cover. However, any loss of, or damage to any collectable shall be limited to the actual price paid for the collectable and shall not exceed Parcelforce Worldwide’s stated limits of compensation as set out in the compensation table subject to the customer providing satisfactory written or printed evidence.
24(22)The maximum compensation payable in any event for loss or damage to Musical Instruments shall be £100 per parcel.
25. (Deleted).
26. (Deleted).
26(1) (Deleted).
26(2) (Deleted).
26(3) (Deleted).
26(4) (Deleted).
26(5) (Deleted).
26(6) (Deleted).
26(7) (Deleted).
27. PARCELS IN BOND
27(1) (Deleted).
27(2) (Deleted).
27(3) (Deleted).
27(4) (Deleted).
27(5) We will make a charge if we have to hold a parcel whilst it is being processed through Customs. For information on current charges please see “www.parcelforce.com”.
27(6) (Deleted).
27(7) For the purposes of this paragraph:
27(7)(a) a parcel shall be deemed to be in bond when and so long as it is in the custody of the Post Office ® at a place appointed by the Post Office ® and the Commissioners of Customs and Excise as a place for customs examination;
27(7)(b) (Deleted);
27(7)(c) a parcel shall be deemed to be stored in bond by the Post Office ® from the sending of the customs notice to the addressee until the parcel is finally cleared;
27(7)(d) “customs notice” means a notice sent by an officer of Customs and Excise requiring entry to be made of goods contained in a parcel in bond, or requiring an account of them to be delivered ;
27(7)(e) (Deleted); and
27(7)(f) (Deleted).
28. REQUESTS FOR PROOF OF DELIVERY
28(1) A proof of delivery is available on all incoming parcels electronically through “www.parcelforce.com”. If a hard copy proof of delivery is required, this is available on request at a charge. For information on current charges please see “www.parcelforce.com”.
PART 4
General
29. (Deleted).
30. REMISSION OF POSTAGE AND FEES
31(1) The Post Office ® may remit in whole or in part any postage or other sums chargeable under this Scheme in such cases or classes of cases as it may determine.
31. APPLICATION OF POST OFFICE INLAND PARCEL POST SCHEME
31(1) The paragraphs specified in Schedule 5 shall apply to parcels transmitted by post under the provisions of this Scheme, to the extent and subject to the modifications specified in the said Schedule.
32. SAVING
32(1) Nothing in this Scheme shall prejudice, or affect the operation of, the provisions of the Postal Packets (Customs and Excise) Regulations 1975, or any regulations made by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise under any enactment for the time being in force relating to customs.
33. ALTERATION OF SUMS CHARGEABLE, CONDITIONS, ETC.
33(1) On and from the date when this Scheme comes into operation until such time as the Post Office ® may determine under paragraph 33(2), the sums chargeable under this Scheme shall be those set out in this Scheme as amended from time to time.
33(2) The Post Office ® may at any time after the coming into operation of this Scheme, and from time to time thereafter, determine that different sums chargeable under this Scheme shall be substituted for all or any of such sums chargeable under this Scheme and such substituted sums shall be applicable on and after such day as may be so determined. Such substituted sums (or any of them) may be determined on such basis and subject to such conditions and limitations as the Post Office ® may think fit.
34. (Deleted).
SCHEDULE 1 (Deleted)
PART 1 (Deleted)
PART 2 (Deleted)
PART 3 (Deleted)
PART 4 (Deleted)
PART 5 (Deleted)
PART 6 (Deleted)
PART 7 (Deleted)
PART 8 (Deleted)
PART 9 (Deleted)
PART 10 (Deleted)
PART 11 (Deleted)
SCHEDULE 2 (Deleted)
SCHEDULE 3
PART 1 (Deleted)
PART 2 (Deleted)
SCHEDULE 4 (Deleted)
SCHEDULE 5
Application of Post Office Inland Post Scheme
Application of Post Office Inland Post Scheme
The Post Office Inland Post Scheme 1989 (Post Office Scheme P1/1989).
| Paragraph 13 (Postmarks). | |
| Paragraph 16 (Treatment of packets addressed to deceased persons). | The Reference in paragraph 16(1)(d) to “this Scheme” shall be read as a reference to this Scheme. |
| Paragraph 17 (Parcels). | Sub-paragraph 17(4) shall apply to the delivery of incoming parcels transmitted by post under this Scheme. |
| Paragraph 18 (Postal facilities-general) | This paragraph shall apply for the purpose only of the application of the other provisions of the Post Office Scheme P1/1989 mentioned in this Schedule to postal packets transmitted by post under this Scheme. |
| Paragraph 21 (Evasion of postage by redirection). | |
| Paragraph 22 (Poste restante). | The reference in paragraph 22(h) to “this Scheme” shall be read as a reference to paragraph 17 of this Scheme. |
| Paragraph 30 (Variation of route). | |
| Schedule 3 (Postal facilities) items 3 to 9 inclusive. | |
| Part VII (Compensation fee parcel service) and Schedule 4. | (Deleted) |
| Part VIII (Compensation for other packets) and Schedule 5. | (Deleted) |
SCHEDULE 6
| Schemes revoked | References |
| The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Scheme 1977. | Post Office Scheme P6/1977 |
| The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No. 1) Scheme 1979 | Post Office Scheme P3/1979 |
| The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No. 2) Scheme 1979 | Post Office Scheme P6/1979 |
| The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No. 3) Scheme 1980 | Post Office Scheme P3/1980 |
| The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No. 4) Scheme 1980 | Post Office Scheme P8/1980 |
| The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No. 5) Scheme 1981 | Post Office Scheme P3/1981 |
| The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No. 6) Scheme 1981 | Post Office Scheme P8/1981 |
| The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No. 7) Scheme 1981 | Post Office Scheme P9/1981 |
| The Post Office Overseas Parcel Post Amendment (No. 8) Scheme 1981 | Post Office Scheme P1 6/1981 |
© Royal Mail Group Limited 2014