Postal Orders or Cash

[lofty100e]

I've just won an auction for £2.00 where i overlooked the sellers payment options ( my fault) and have just realised she only accepts cheque or postal order. I emailed to see if she would accept payment directly into her bank- shhe said no because she doesnt want to give out details. This always amazes me- what do people think is written on cheques??

Anyway- its her choice so i'll have to dig out the cheque book, write a cheque, have the additional costs of postage and stationary, then wait ages for it to clear.

I agree Hanna it is frustrating, I had the same problem (missing cheque book) when I bought off Mel's Funky Fudge recently. Unfortunately she only takes PPPay or cheque/PO's.
I refuse to use PPP because of the buyers fee, so it had to be a cheque.

[ChrisJane]

Normal first class post offers an element of insurance & should cover you for up to £30 - next time ask the seller if they'll accept a cash deposit to their account - if they have internet banking - they'll most likely say yes - you wouldn't then have to pay the poundage on the PO or the stamp to send it!!!

[paintinglemonjane]

Dont kid yourself that the Special Delivery insurance will simply cough up whatever you say was in the envelope. Its a simple trick to put in a fiver and say that there was £100 in there (not saying you would) and Royal Mail wouldn't compensate you simply on your say so.

This is all very hypothetical. Checks go missing all the time too. Bank account get fleeced every day somewhere.

All I was saying was, for value if I was sending (via post), that it would be cheaper to send via Special Delivery than to send Postal Orders of any amount over £50. This info is for people who do use them. The teller could put the money in the envelope for you and there then is your witness.

Not everyone likes credit cards or like to give their info over the internet. While I do know that this information is on checks it is not given over the internet. A check can be stopped, an internet transaction is not so easily stopped.

I know of someone recently who had not and never had ordered an overdraft, had one ordered on his behalf by someone unknown and then fleeced his account. The internet is not as safe as you think. The person involved eventually got their money back but had to prove that it was not them who ordered the overdraft, or withdrew the money. It was not easy.

[auctiongroup]

Special delivery does not cover cash sent through the post it only covers articles or items of value and you must be able to prove that value, ie a receipt or purchase order to the value you are claiming for and as with all insurance if the item is second hand or used it only covers the value up the cost of a similar secondhand or used item.

postal orders if made out to a name or company are trackable and postoffices should ask the person cashing the postal order for some id if the amount is over 25 pounds. if crossed then they need to be paid into a bank account. blank postal orders should never be sent for an amount more than you can afford to lose as these are not covered under any insurances. General postal orders made out to a name and for more than 25 pounds can be tracked to the cashing post office, and if sent by recorded delivery you can ,along with the reciept for the postal order, claim if it never arrives for the full amount of the postal order.

this info was given to me by the local post master, as i have had trouble with postal orders before but still like to use them and recieve them as it saves time as the nearest bank is more than 30 miles away.

[brianj1175]

that is wrong as a former postman i used to have one particular delivery once a month via special delivery that just happened to be £10,000 if you seal it at the post office you are sending it from showing the assistant what you are putting in it is completely covered not only that but if any body does ever manage to steal the item there is a very thorough investigation using their very police (which they do have ).they know exactly who has picked it up and where it is as when they collect it it has to be signed for and when it is handed over it has to be signed for and every item scanned .the special delivery service is the only form of delivery that the post office does this with recordeds are sent through the same way as normal fist and second class letter and packets hence the no tracking untill signed for .i have witnessed first hand what the (secret police) of the post office are like when it comes to special delivery items it's like being watched by a hawk.

[auctiongroup]

to claim for an item or valuable sent by special delivery you need to have a "proof of value", ie a reciept or purchase order for the item sent.

but hey if anyone has sent cash by special delivery and had to claim i would like to know how they got on. i have had experience of claiming for items and its not easy to get them to pay out when you provide recipts, cant imagine what it would be like to try and claim for say 2k in cash.

[trezs56]

Special Devlivery is the ONLY service Royal Mail offers that would enable you to send cash and the maximum amount you are covered for is £2,500. Ordinary 1st & 2nd class only covers items up to a value of £34. Sending money or uncrossed Postal Orders is not covered by this even when sent by recorded delivery. The 1st class stamp price is now 34p so the compensation level increases too and is worked out as 34p (the price of a 1st class stamp) x 100 = £34. Special Delivery items are treated with great care and signed for all the way down the line - making this a very secure service.

[lofty100e]

Special Delivery items are treated with great care and signed for all the way down the line - making this a very secure service.

Unlike the rest of the mail sent through the system, which is open to theft by extra bags being left "safely" in shops, while the round is done, and often dumped on the doorstep if it won't fit through the letter box.

The service is very poor, they shouldn't market the signed for service as it is a complete joke. People use it mistakenly thinking it is safer, it is not. The RM like to make out that it will only be signed for by the named person, in reality they get the signature of anyone who answers the door. For all they know it could be a burglar or visitor.

Bring on the time when a competant rival takes up the business.

[paintinglemonjane]

that is wrong as a former postman i used to have one particular delivery once a month via special delivery that just happened to be £10,000 if you seal it at the post office you are sending it from showing the assistant what you are putting in it is completely covered not only that but if any body does ever manage to steal the item there is a very thorough investigation using their very police (which they do have ).they know exactly who has picked it up and where it is as when they collect it it has to be signed for and when it is handed over it has to be signed for and every item scanned .the special delivery service is the only form of delivery that the post office does this with recordeds are sent through the same way as normal fist and second class letter and packets hence the no tracking untill signed for .i have witnessed first hand what the (secret police) of the post office are like when it comes to special delivery items it's like being watched by a hawk.

Thank you!

[paintinglemonjane]

Special Devlivery is the ONLY service Royal Mail offers that would enable you to send cash and the maximum amount you are covered for is £2,500. Ordinary 1st & 2nd class only covers items up to a value of £34. Sending money or uncrossed Postal Orders is not covered by this even when sent by recorded delivery. The 1st class stamp price is now 34p so the compensation level increases too and is worked out as 34p (the price of a 1st class stamp) x 100 = £34. Special Delivery items are treated with great care and signed for all the way down the line - making this a very secure service.

Thank you too.

I was assured by the Post Office that this was the only method of sending cash safely whether it was cash or postal orders.

Why would a burgular want to answer the door. LOL What was a ridiculous remark to make lofty100e , you are just being silly now.
Auctiongroup I don't know where you heard that Special Delivery does not cover cash but they gave you the wrong info. It is the only option by the Post Office that covers cash.