Services of the post office
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| Letters from the post office |
Introduction:
Communication can be defined as the sending and receiving of message. In modern times, communication must be fast, cheap and efficient. Through communication a business is always in contact with other businesses and its customers. The post office plays a very important role in communication in the economy. The services of the post office will be discussed and by the end of the reading one will be able to identify and explain the different services provided by the post office.
Three major Services of the post
Post office in are mostly manage by the government agencies who are shoulder with the responsibility to control the system. The post office is very important to business because it provides numerous services. The post office guide published annually by the post office contains information on all the services provided by the post office. Some of the information contained in the guide will be discussed in here.
The services offered by the post office can be divided into three major headings which is;
1. Postal
2. Remittances
3. Other services
1. Postal services:
Letters:
The post office carries letters from one point to another, at a cost of carrying letters is covered by the purchases of stamps. Letters sent within a particular country require some payment stamp but not that much. Letter may be sent to other country either by air mail (aerogramme), postcards or surface mail. If a letter is sent by airmail it most not contain any other piece of paper in it, otherwise, the person the letter is addressed will be asked to pay some more money before it is released to him or her. On the other hand a letter to be sent by surface mail is usually weighed to determine the cost of carriage.
Registered letters:
Letters containing important information may be sent by registered mail. In this cases the letter may be enclosed in a special envelop bought at the post office or the sender can provide his own by drawing both vertical and horizontal lines across the face and back of the envelop in red. The clerk at the post office usually gives the person sending the registered letter a registration slip which acts as a receipt to the sender. When the letter arrives at its destination another slip is sent to the person the letter is addressed to, informing him that a registered letter or parcel is awaiting his collection at the post office.
He then comes to the post office with some form of identification. The person that identifies him either in writing or personally must be a person that the post office knows or accepts. The post office now provides an identity card which it sells and this can be presented at all times to collect registered letters or packets. The post office will also accept student identifies cards issued by approved institutions and international passports as suitable proof of identify.
Express letters:
The post office provides this service to people who want their letters or parcel to arrive at the required destination within a day or two. An extra fee is charge for carrying letter or parcel by express. The sender hands the letter to the counter clerk who weighs it and tells the sender how much it will cost. The sender is then issued a receipt.
Telegram:
This service enables a person to send a message at a greater speed than other postal services. It is a more expensive means of communication as costing is done by the number of words in the message. The post office will then send the message through wireless to the nearest post office to the addressee. The message is then delivered immediately it is received by a post office messenger. When delivered to a residential address, the receiver is required to sign a receipt document.
Recorded delivery:
Sometimes a post office customer may want proof that a letter has been delivered to the right person. The post office in delivering the letter usually makes the addressee sign a receipt which is then sent to the person who mailed the letter. This survive is useful for sending legal documents or certificates.
2. Remittance :
The post office enables an individual to send money from one place to another by either postal orders or money order. They are created to stop people from sending currency through the post.
Postal order:
These are purchased over the counter at a post office. The purchaser orders the post office to pay a named person the stated sum of money at another posy office. A blank postal order is given to the customer who fills in the name of the person he is sending it to and the nearest post office where he can claim the money. This is then sent to the addressee in a letter. For this service, the post office make a charge called commission.
A postal order may be crossed which means that it cannot be cashed over the post office counter; it must be paid into a bank account. Postal orders are valid only for six months.
Money order:
This is obtainable from the post office for any amount. The sender of the money order must fill in a requisition form stating:
1. The amount for which the money order is required
2. The full name and address of the person to receive the money
3. The post office at which payment is to be made
4. The senders own name and address.
The form is then handed over to a post office clerk with the money and the commission. The money order is then handed over to the purchaser to be sent out. At the same time the post office which issued the money order will send an advice slip to the paying post office.
The person who receives the money order must then take it to the pest office named. After confirming the amount involved, and the name of the sender, the money is paid to the receiver. Money orders are safer than postal orders, but they are more expensive because the commission on them is higher. Money orders are valid for six month only and are not legal tender.
3. Other services
Other services provided by the post office are as follows:
Redelivery of letters and packets:
Letters, registered packets, post cards, magazine and newspapers can be carried again by the post office. When, for example, mail goes to the wrong address and is readdressed correctly, the post office will forward it. There is no additional charge provided the mail is unopened and reposted not later than a day after delivery.
Redirection of mail by the post office:
The post office will redirect letters, parcel and other postal packets for a person or a business that has moved from one address to another. The post office charges for this service will depend on the period of time since the business changed addresses involved. To enable an individual to receive this service, a form entitled request for redirection of postal packets must be completed and sent to the post office serving the old address.
Post office box:
An individual or business may rent a private box at a post office for receiving postal packets. The owner is issued a key to the box and then he or his agent can collect any mail. This service makes it possible for the owner to obtain his mail earlier than normal delivery by postmen. The rental period is usually for one year and is renewable.
Private mail bag:
An institution or organization may rent a private mail bag at a post office for the posting and receipt of postal packets. The bag must be taken to the post office by the user or his agent. The post office usually have two keys to the bag, one is kept in the post office and the other by the person responsible for mail in the organization. This is to ensure that the mail in the bag is safe whether inside the post office or in the office. A private bag can be rented for one year and is renewable.
Licenses:
The post office issues license for radio, television and dogs.
Why the services of a post office is important
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