First and second class stamps set to soar by 53%

[Philofacts]

Ofcom plan to remove price caps on first-class stamps and raise the price limit on second class to as much as 55p.

Ofcom which has taken over regulation from Postcomm said said its proposals announced last October, were:
"designed to make sure UK consumers continued to benefit from an affordable, universally-priced postal service six days a week, at a time when postal use was declining as many people had turned to new technology".

The cost of a first-class stamp is currently 46p.
The Royal Mail would be allowed to set this price at a level it considered to be appropriate and competitive.
The only price capped would be the charge for second-class letters, which was just 19p in 2000 and is currently 36p.
Ofcom has proposed that this should increase to between 45p and 55p, with Royal Mail suggesting the price should be at the higher end of this scale.

MP's are urging the public to stock up on their Christmas stamps now to avoid the 53% proposed increase.
The Royal Mail say they are:
 "awaiting the outcome of Ofcom's consultation on its proposals for future regulation of UK postal services before announcing stamp prices for 2012"

[BobTB]

There cannot be many industries where it is acceptable to increase prices to maintain a viable business in the face of competition from technological advances.
No doubt everyone will use second class now and then only when they have no alternatives.  (e mail)

[Albert]

The Royal Mail announced yesterday that prices for first and second class would rise on 30 April 2012. 
In the biggest price rises for 37 years, the cost of a first class stamp will increase 14p to 60p.
The price of second class post also rises 14p to 50p a rise of 39%!

Whilst mail volumes may have slumped 25% since 2006 due to an explosion in text messages, emails and Facebook sign-ups over the past decade, increasing prices by over 30% is hardly likely to increase business!

The Royal Mail's American chief executive, Moya Greene should be sacked when this badly backfires on the Royal Mail.
Just because postal charges are higher on the continent does not mean we should all be fleeced.

So what can be done?
1) Everyone should stock up on 1st and 2nd class stamps before the increase.
2) Send birthday cards before the increase.
In that way you can send several to relatives at the same address in one A5 envelope with one stamp – 2nd class of course.
3) Pay bills using an online bank account or online using a credit card. Never pay by post!
4) Return all junk mail to sender in the pre paid envelope supplied.
Send it back even if the envelope is not pre paid. Make sure you don’t send your name and address!
Soon businesses will get fed up with the cost and stop - hurting Royal Mail.
5) Post all junk mail and leaflets delivered by your postman and not addressed to you back in the post box.
You didn’t ask for it and the Royal Mail actually gets paid for littering your hallway!
They will soon get fed up if they need a bin bag when they collect from all the post boxes.
6) Reduce the number of Christmas cards you send to people you don't visit. Be selsctive.
7) Think ahead and hand deliver where possible.

Finally everyone should not send any mail at all for the whole of May as a nation-wide protest against these rises. 

[The Prophet]

I have just stocked up yesterday.
I bought 49 second class stamps before the rise saving nearly £7.
I will never use 1st class again!