The Greeting Card Association has launched a petition to force greater parliamentary scrutiny of planned changes to the postal service after Ofcom yesterday (January 30) confirmed a new consultation that would see second-class postal services slashed – with those cuts starting for over a million households piloted from next month
The petition, which can be found at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/701850, is being promoted by retailers and publishers. Online retailer Thortful, has already begun emailing its customers.
Others joining the campaign include AfroTouch Design, Bewilderbeest, Bexy Boo, Paper Salad, Love Kate’s, Stationery Supplies, Raspberry Blossom, Cath Tate Cards, Wendy Jones-Blackett, Two for Joy Illustration, and Grace Jackson Design.
Ofcom confirmed it had begun a consultation that would lead to cutbacks in the second-class service, giving the green light to Royal Mail’s premature trials to end Saturday second class delivery in more than 30 locations from February.
Even though Ofcom has not irrevocably agreed to any permanent changes to Royal Mail’s legal obligations under the Universal Service Obligation (USO), those pilots will begin reducing second class delivery to every other weekday, Monday to Friday, meaning deliveries two or three days on each alternate week.
The pilots will impact over a million households and small businesses, reducing their second-class post service ahead of any formal change to the USO.
The members we represent, know customers – small businesses and consumers – do not want to be left with a premium, uncapped, unregulated first-class stamp beyond their financial reach
Amanda fergusson, GCA CEO
In recent days the GCA has been briefed by Ofcom on the new timetable and will take part in further consultation before the April 10 deadline.
Amanda Fergusson, GCA CEO, said: “While we welcome the clarity of the new consultative timetable and will engage proactively with Ofcom in the coming weeks, our members and their customers are dismayed that a reduction in delivery services for over a million consumers and small businesses is being railroaded ahead of the consultation.
“We are acutely concerned that these changes will stifle economic growth leaving businesses and customers paying more for less.
“It’s clear Royal Mail expects this weakening of their delivery obligations to be nodded through by regulators without any parliamentary scrutiny.
“It’s time for MPs to get involved and stop this further spiral of decline which could ultimately result in Royal Mail calling time on an affordable second-class stamp and increase costs for businesses and consumers alike.
“The members we represent, know customers – small businesses and consumers – do not want to be left with a premium, uncapped, unregulated first-class stamp beyond their financial reach.”
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