Member Info for OliGarch

Maximas, "probably because a deal behind the scenes with regards the USO has been agreed".

Probably being the operative word in that sentence?

I would think that the shower that forms the current UK Government has better things to concentrate on at this moment in time? Sorting out the USO would and should be well down the list in my opinion. Getting interest rates lower and sorting out our shyte show of a Police service should be their priority in the run up to a GE?

Sid, RM did not contest the fine because they know a good thing when they see it.

JB, thanks for posting this but this is the sort of response that RM is expected to trot out when in reality they are almost certainly thinking that they have got away with it lightly.

JB, £5.6m is a bargain and certainly chicken feed for RM. I wonder how OFCOM work out their fines?

Maximas, thanks for posting that article because I needed a good laugh. The section on the Elvis impersonator had me in stitches (no reference to Shawn Mendes intended).....

"It was a nightmare from start to finish,’ says Newsome, who also runs Elvis-themed fish and chip van, Cod in a Trap". Absolute classic but please Don't be Krill.....lol

In all honesty, which courier doesn't lose or have delays for some parcels? RM are no exception to this and it will be interesting to see if the QofS figures are released for T24 and T48 items on Thursday.

Petralva, I'm interested to know what prompted you to buy in at this price and/or time. Also, do you have an exit price in mind here?

Newdealz, "you have to be dynamic and have vision and be able to adapt quickly, pretty much the qualities anyone needs to be successful as either a soletrader or Ltd Co. or SME.".....summing up exactly why the UK operation is always behind the curve. You can turn a jet ski 180⁰ in seconds but you can't do that with a super tanker.

Redceo, was that extract from the Watford Gazette?

I thought that Derek's career with POCL was common knowledge?

Newdealz, it will certainly be interesting going forward. In my opinion, if you are offered a choice of three identical services at different prices, then as Eric would say "who you got?"..... It could be the start of some really competitive pricing and a win/win for the consumer.

Broch, you are probably correct about the services previously offered by callers offices however the business has made that decision. My local callers office used to be open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8 to 1pm on a Saturday (and 8am to 8pm seven days a week during Christmas Pressure). It's now open 8am to midday Monday to Saturday and it's strange to witness members of the public hammering on the door at 2pm in the afternoon.... haven't they got mobile phones and internet access for pity's sake.....lol.... anyway the card readers have been removed from the callers office as has the ability to purchase postage stamps so it's becoming a bit irrelevant really but clearly the direction of travel that the business feels it needs to take. It's amazing how many people don't use the callers office..... until they need the callers office.....lol

Broch, we had a similar issue. The local PO Counters migrated into the Co-op which has always had a high turnover of staff. Opening times vary on a daily basis depending on which trained staff members are working and there have been weeks when there has been no service at all.

MrPeevly, thanks for the update.

....."this could result in the Post Office acting as a ‘mega parcel shop hub’, selling services and accepting parcels for multiple couriers." If that happens then our local Post Office is gonna need an extension.....lol

JB, "Oligarch I was for a time involved in part of the relationship with POCL how has it worsened IYO?"

It's not just my opinion. The Guardian article states that "Industry sources said the decision was the result of increasing dissatisfaction at the Post Office with Royal Mail because of customers complaining about the standard of service".

Perhaps there is a reason why RM aren't offering Tracked 24 and 48 as an option at PO Counters, however I am at a loss as to why? The fact that PO Counters has lost patience with RM speaks volumes about their previously strained partnership but ultimately the consumer will be the winner here.

RM are gearing up to handle double the volume of mail in the run up to Christmas was the headline from a couple of weeks ago. If that's true then expect some pretty dire Q3 and ultimately full year results.

If I remember correctly, doesn't the SP drop just before the employee share scheme purchases?

If the SP is being manipulated, wouldn't a drop now be indicative that the half year results could be better than anticipated? Just a thought.

Brendyboy, correct.....you aren't the brightest....lol

It would be really easy for the RM Chairman to say "we can no longer deliver letters as it cropped us financially" but really, think hard about it, it's not gonna happen is it?

So, letters actually exist.....fact.....I'm looking at about 630,000 of them on twills waiting to go to the sequencing machines for potential delivery tomorrow morning. Who would you have deliver them? Just asking for a friend called Keith.....lol

TMS, "there’s plenty of suckers on here that would buy into your ideology".

My ideology being that RM are never going to fulfill it's obligation? That wasn't an ideology, it was just stating an opinion based on fact. Whether you think that it's going to come to fruition or not is irrelevant to me.

Brendyboy, "why should they it’s not wanted by the general public". Was there a survey on this?

"Whistl pay Royal Mail as little as 20p per letter to deliver". I believe that this type of mail is profitable and depending upon the contract some of it comes in already walk sorted.

The outgoing CEO and the current Chairman have repeatedly stated that it is a "great honour for Royal Mail to deliver the USO" and to have "trust on the doorstep". Now these may be words that are necessary to be said as part of the job description however there are many that will take these words as truth?

And there's the issue. RM have no chance of meeting it's USO targets (even if it wanted to) and OFCOM will be able to take advantage by fining RM accordingly. I guess that as long as the fine is financially viable then both sides will be happy?

Mike, following the RM BoD decision to systematically dismantle the operation from within, I'm not sure that RM now has the capability to be able to deliver it's universal service obligation. It really has been a masterclass in how private corporations have been able to ignore regulation in order to appease the shareholder whilst giving the UK Government and regulator the middle finger. The UK utility companies showed the way and others have followed.

Welcome to the 21st century (not so) Great Britain. Successive weak governments with slopey shoulders and a seemingly worrying interest in it's downfall. It doesn't matter who wins the next general election, we're still going to get more of the same.....lol

Is this increase due to the assumption that interest rates are going to remain the same in today's announcement or is it down to something else?