Refused compensation by Royal Mail

[coinmerchant]

Recently the Royal Mail Lost two Commemorative Royal Mint presentation packs enclosing a fifty pence. According to the Royal Mint website,  both of these coins will not enter circulation and banks are

unlikely to accept them. What I don't understand, compensation was paid for exactly the same coins last year,

but now they are classed as legal tender and must be sent by Special Delivery.

Would be interested to know if any other members have had similar problems.

 

Best

William

 

[Sword]

I think you were lucky to get compensation last time. The 50p pence pieces are definitely current legal tender and no compensation should be paid unless posted by special delivery. However, they are probably not worth enough for special delivery and the hence it's an acceptable risk to post them by ordinary post. 

 

[sabrejv]

I've just received a Royal Mint presentation pack in the post and noted it was sent 'Tracked 48' no signature by the Royal Mint.

According to the Royal Mail site the Tracked 48 service details are -

https://www.royalmail.com/sending/uk/tracked-48

I note there is mention of up to £100 compensation, so for low value items that should cover the loss.  

Not sure why the Post Office is not honouring the compensation claim.

 

[jelida]

You could try arguing that you want re-imbursement of the ‘presentation pack’ , of which the coin was just a part. The value would then be what you paid, less 50p which by their argument is the value of the legal tender coin.

But you would still probably get nowhere. At least you would feel you had logic on your side.

Jerry

Edited February 19, 2020 by jelida

[Sword]

3 hours ago, sabrejv said:

I've just received a Royal Mint presentation pack in the post and noted it was sent 'Tracked 48' no signature by the Royal Mint.

According to the Royal Mail site the Tracked 48 service details are -

https://www.royalmail.com/sending/uk/tracked-48

I note there is mention of up to £100 compensation, so for low value items that should cover the loss.  

Not sure why the Post Office is not honouring the compensation claim.

Unfortunately, it is in the T&C that you send valuables at your own risk and no compensation will be paid. They further define valuables as to include money and coins. 

On the Royal Mail website, it states:

"If you’re sending valuables, money or jewellery in the post, you should use Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed®. This lets you to claim compensation if the post is lost or damaged. Valuables sent using any other service aren't eligible for compensation.

Our definition of money includes:

coins & bank notes of any currency which are legal tender at the time of posting ..."

Edited February 19, 2020 by Sword

[Sword]

2 hours ago, jelida said:

You could try arguing that you want re-imbursement of the ‘presentation pack’ , of which the coin was just a part. The value would then be what you paid, less 50p which by their argument is the value of the legal tender coin.

But you would still probably get nowhere. At least you would feel you had logic on your side.

Jerry

But they will probably argue that the BU 50p cost you £10 and the packaging came f.o.c. 

 

[jelida]

7 minutes ago, Sword said:

But they will probably argue that the BU 50p cost you £10 and the packaging came f.o.c. 

 

Probably, then point out that all legal tender 50p’s are BU at the moment they leave the die, and still valued at 50p, so the added value is in the handling and presentation, not the coin, and certainly not free!

Jerry

[Sword]

Brilliant uncirculated standard coins were struck twice and made at speed of 100 per hour which is much slower than currency. They are worth more than "50p" when they were first made. 

To be honest, how often do people lose things in the post? The very occasional loss of a low value item is very acceptable and can be factored into selling prices in in my view.

[coinmerchant]

Thank you very much for your input.  According to Wikipedia these coins are refer to as Non-circulating legal tender(  NCLT)

Which means they could be circulated, but are not because of their issue price/melt value is significantly above the arbitrary legal tender value placed thereon. 

Jerry, you made a interesting point about the re-imbursement of the ‘presentation pack. 

To be honest though, its probably not worth the hassle.

William

 

[copper123]

On 2/19/2020 at 5:34 PM, coinmerchant said:

To be honest though, its probably not worth the hassle.

That's why the royal mail makes big profits now instead of serving the pubic with a essential service

[Rob]

37 minutes ago, copper123 said:

That's why the royal mail makes big profits now instead of serving the pubic with a essential service

I'm not convinced a profit margin of 4.3% could be considered big profits. It's a reasonable amount given they have to cover services to the back of beyond at a fixed price, but certainly not excessive.

[copper123]

21 hours ago, Rob said:

I'm not convinced a profit margin of 4.3% could be considered big profits. It's a reasonable amount given they have to cover services to the back of beyond at a fixed price, but certainly not excessive.

Thats why a first class letter goes up 6p next month , I surpose

[Rob]

You have to stay ahead of the game. Being a hostage to the whims of your creditors is not a good place to be. You have to generate real profits to keep your lenders off your back.

[1949threepence]

On 2/19/2020 at 1:39 PM, Sword said:

Unfortunately, it is in the T&C that you send valuables at your own risk and no compensation will be paid. They further define valuables as to include money and coins. 

On the Royal Mail website, it states:

"If you’re sending valuables, money or jewellery in the post, you should use Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed®. This lets you to claim compensation if the post is lost or damaged. Valuables sent using any other service aren't eligible for compensation.

Our definition of money includes:

coins & bank notes of any currency which are legal tender at the time of posting ..."

The RM definition of "valuables" . As far as old rare coins going by next day tracked delivery are concerned, the emboldened bits cover it.

 

Quote

 

jewellery (including, diamonds and precious stones) with a retail value of greater than £100

watches with a retail value of greater than £100

any precious metal that has been made to add value to the raw material (including coins used for ornament) with a retail value of greater than £100

articles similar to any of those referred to in (a) – (c) above with an intrinsic value

any similar articles with a value other than the value of the workmanship

money (including, coins (of any currency), bank notes (of any currency), bullion, postal orders, cheques; unused postage and revenue stamps and National Insurance stamps; exchequer bills, bills of exchange, promissory notes and credit notes; bonds, coupons and other investment certificates; and coupons, vouchers, transferable tickets, tokens, cards, stamps and other documents that can be exchanged for money, goods or services, dividend warrants uncrossed and payable to bearer or bond coupons)

 

 

[Sword]

 

1 hour ago, 1949threepence said:

The RM definition of "valuables" . As far as old rare coins going by next day tracked delivery are concerned, the emboldened bits cover it.

But an "old rare" coin is often worth over £100 ...But, yes it does look like that something like an Old Head penny would be covered. 

I think the RM's latest definitions of money and valuables is fair. A package containing current legal tender is more susceptible to theft and is is only covered by special delivery which makes sense. The T&C for tracked delivery states "If you  breach this obligation [of sending valuables which include current legal tender] then you do so at your own risk and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we exclude all liability to you such in circumstances (and, to avoid doubt, we will not pay any compensation to you in such circumstances). Hence, I think it is hardly reasonable to expect any compensation when you are posting a modern coin using tracked delivery. 

[copper123]

Rare old coins are usually covered as long as they are not legal tender

[sabrejv]

Some changes to Royal Mail signed for service...

https://www.royalmail.com/coronavirus