They're charging more money to withold my mail and charge me for it? Gotta love this stuff!

Ouch. Thanks Squirrel. What a rip off.

Lopek, so Watchdog is on tonight. You gonna call them?

I've sent an email to Watchdog. Better turn in tonight to see if anything happens

'Knock-A-Door-Run' (their correct name; Royal Mail is just for the letterheads) fascinate me. It's almost as if they sit around thinking "what can we do now to make our service really crap". They know they have a monopoly and they are seriously abusing it just for the hell of it. 

Cheers for that, Squirrel. So, who's going to be first to set-up a DVD Profiler Import Club? Place our orders in bulk then distribute ourselves.

Quoting Lopek:

Quote:
That is crazy!

Wonder if there is grounds re reclaim that in the same way as bank charges - the fees legally have to reflect the actual expense to the company.

Worth checking out if you get charged.

Yeah, move out of the UK!

Quoting Kevin Coed:

Quote:
That's obscene. The old charge always had a little note saying that it was an internationally agreed cost. I wonder if this one will?

I think it said it was agreed with the Government, not internationally (but I may be wrong)... maybe it was what the Governemnt agreed with itself was a fair rate for International parcels. I knew the Gov were pushing to up the charge for ages, seems like it's got through with another stealth tax.

FWIW I believe the charge ahould be lowered, not raised, given the actual situation must be (I assume):

10 years ago: Customs say "total to pay today is £5000", PO say, "Here's £5,000 by transfer" and charge customers the £5,000 plus their 'cut' of £4/parcel (say £1,000) just for transfering the money...  which cost them a fixed fee of (say) £50... £950 profit for nothing

Now, many more imports: Customs say "total to pay today is £5000", PO say, "Here's £50,000 by transfer" and charge customers the £50,000 plus their 'cut' of £4/parcel (say £20,000) but the transfer still costs them only £50... since it doesn't cost them any more or be any more difficult (and Customs have already taken their cut by charging the actual fee) it should still be a fair £950/£1000 profit for nothing yet it's actually £10,000 ... now going up to £20000... disgusting.