17/08/2012

Royal Mail Roll Out Scheme To Leave Post With Neighbours

A scheme to deliver post to a neighbour if no-one is at home is to be extended across the UK.

Following a successful three-month trial, Royal Mail have decided to roll out the initiative to millions of homes around the country.

The postal group said customers welcomed the convenience of letters and parcels being left at a nearby address if they were not in.

Subject to regulatory approval, it is expected the scheme will become widespread from late September.

Homeowners and neighbours will be included in the scheme unless they registered to opt out.

Royal Mail said that in most cases it would be left to postal workers to decide which neighbour a letter or package should be left with.

Mike Newnham, Royal Mail's chief customer officer, said: "The results of the trial showed that customers welcomed the convenience of having items delivered to a neighbour if they were not at home to receive them.

"We look forward to Ofcom's decision on rolling out the initiative later this summer but wanted to give all our customers early information about our plans and outline their options."

(H)

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