Royal Mail couldnt deliver an item because there is postage to pay - is this a scam?

Question

I received a card from Royal Mail this morning stating that someone or some company has supposedly sent me something in the post but the postage hasnt been paid, so I have to pay before i can access it or even see what it is or who it is from. The card from Royal Mail doesnt say who the item is from.

Do you think its a scam? They are only asking for £1.27 but i think its a bit cheeky and i dont even want to pay 1p if its a scam.

Answer 1

Go to the delivery office and hand in the card ,have a look at the envelope first before you pay.If its junk dont bother with it.Sometimes even banks,estate agents forget or miss out a letter as it goes through the postage machine!

Answer 2

Probably not a scam. The Royal Mail quite often sends cards like this when the sender has not put sufficient postage on the letter/parcel they sent you.

If you go to the sorting office, you can probably ask to see what it is before you pay the postage due. If it looks like junk mail, just ask the post office to return it to sender.

If it is a business sender and you decide to pay the postage due, you can contact the sender and ask them to refund what you paid. If it is a friend........... up to you really!!

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

This has happened to me, it's not (usually) a scam, it's just that insufficient carriage probably wasn't paid the other end.I doubt it's from a company,they're normally more thorough.Hope it's something nice!xx

Answer 4

I live in a small town

it is easy to go to the post office

and ask to see what it is

even if it only costs one penny

Answer 5

lol, i had one of those the other day, postage was 6p short but they charge £1 for handling purposes, not gonna bother paying for it as whatever it is will be sent back to the sender (if theres an address) and if its important they will re-send it

Answer 6

Just pay it. Then when you know who it's from ask them for the money. If the RM know where it has come from they could return it, but as they don't know they have to chatge someone. They used to knock on the door and you had to pay the extra in cash. Of course you don't have to pay it because it isn't your liability but then it could be important to you, so you have to. What are they supposed to do? If people knew they could get away with it they would just post something with too little or no postage on it and get away with it. The worst thing is getting special deliveries without signing for them- this happens a lot.

How can it be a scam?

Answer 7

Don't bother if you've not expecting anything. Chances are it is a naff catalogue or holiday brochure.

Answer 8

I had this a few months ago..i didn't bother with it...at the end of the day if you haven't ordered anything..why would you want to pay for it

Answer 9

No, its not a scam.  The person who sent it to you either hasn't paid enough postage, has paid for the wrong class (i.e. letter instead of large letter) or hasn't paid any at all.

You choose whether to pay the money and receive the post or let Royal Mail return it to the sender.

Answer 10

Had a few of these- when i went to pick up the letters i could see on the front of the envelope/parcel who they were from -my local dentist! I chose to leave it there and not pick it up!

Answer 11

It's not a scam, it's Royal Mail asking you for the money not any particular company. However as somebody else said if it's that important the company will re-send it to you. Any company worth their salt will have made sure the postage was correct in the first place. Also as mentioned by others you can look at the unopened item before deciding whether or not to pay.

Answer 12

This isn't a scam it because the sender didn't put enough postage on it or posted it without a stamp!

keep the card, get the item then contact the sender and ASK them to refund you the postage.

you have the option on seeing the item at the mail office to either accept and Pay the excess postage or decline to accept it and have it returned!

are you expecting anything in the post as this is NOT a SCAM

Answer 13

whenever I have had to pay someone elses postage, I have been shown the item at the sorting office & then can decide whether to pay the excess.

Answer 14

It is not a scam as such! But it is legitimate. Whoever sent you a letter did not put enough postage on so Royal Mail want to charge you the balance PLUS a surcharge.

You will have to go and pick it up. Ask to see the envelope to see if it has a stamp on with a company name. IF you don't want it just tell the post office to return to sender.

If you do want it, you will have to pay. Then you can complain to the person who sent it to you!

Answer 15

hmm tough one. never heard of this. You sure it's not import duty you're paying?

The curiosity would kill me, but then so would the frustration if it was a scam.

Sounds like a possible scam/spam to me

Answer 16

No, I have had this before theres not enough stamps on it from the sender....it would be a pretty rubbish con for so small an amount....

Answer 17

I have got it twice and i can assure you it isnt a scam.

Answer 18

Someone has sent you something with not enough postage.

That isn't Royal Mail's fault.

And if it's a genuine Royal Mail card then it isn't a scam.

Answer 19

Without seeing the card it's difficult to say but these cards do exist.  You should be able to pay online or go to the collection office to pay for it if you are unsure.  It would have been 27p short the £1 is the handling fee.  With royal mail introducing postage based on size not just weight it is happening to me more often.