Top tips for surviving the postal strike

27 October 2009

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Last week's industrial action at Royal Mail has caused big problems for small businesses that rely on their services. With further strikes planned for later this week, we bring you our tips on how to minimise the impact of the strikes on your business.

Use alternative methods

It may be possible to perform many of the tasks you usually carry out by post by using alternative methods.

For example, you can pay bills online, over the phone or in person at banks, building societies and Post Offices. It is also possible to scan and email invoices, or send them by fax.

Communicate with your customers

You should maintain regular contact with customers and clients to let them know how the strike may affect the service you provide to them.

Most people are aware of the strikes, so explain to your customers that, as a result, there may be a delay to their goods being received. That way they can decide whether or not to buy from you and cannot hold you responsible for any disruption caused.

Use the Post Office

If you need to send anything, send it from a Post Office rather than a post box. It is far more likely to be collected from a Post Office. However, you should check with the Post Office that all deliveries are being collected.

Use alternative delivery

For urgent items, consider and even consider whether it's worth upgrading to first-class delivery or special delivery.

According to a statement released by the Royal Mail, their premium services (Special Delivery™ and Royal Mail Tracked™) will continue to run. However, you should check with your local Post Office to see if these services are still running.

If not, you might consider sending your items by a courier service instead.

While these services may cost more, the extra cost may be worth it to provide a worry-free delivery service to your customers.

Avoid late payment

If you need to access credit card and bank statements, or utility bills delayed by post, you can usually access this information by phoning your provider. You may also be able to access your account online.

Payment can then be made either through a bank branch, over the phone or electronically.

If you have posted your payment and it doesn't get there in time because of the postal strike, you should talk to your service provider to ask if they will be prepared to waive any late payment fee. You may, however, have to show proof of postage.

Self Assessment returns

If you have sent or intend to send your Self Assessment tax return by post, you should be aware that it is still your responsibility to make sure that your return is received on time.

You won't have to pay a penalty if you miss the deadline because of the postal strike – but you must post your return before 31 October. You may be asked to prove this, so make sure you get proof of postage from the Post Office.

If you want to send your return on paper you can deliver it by hand to your nearest HMRC office instead of posting it. If you deliver your tax return by hand on Monday, 2 November, normal arrangements will apply and you won't have to pay a late filing penalty.

You can also file online. The added benefit of this is that you'll have longer to file your tax return - until 31 January 2010.

Stay informed

You can find out about planned industrial action and get daily updates on the Royal Mail website at www.royalmail.com/serviceupdates or by calling 08457 740 740.

Let us know how your business is coping during the postal strikes.

Email your own tips on how to beat the strikes to production@fpb.org

and we'll publish the best of them in this article.

Join the FPB today.

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