Posting from France to the UK

[Bayleaf]

It's so long since I've posted anything to the UK, that I'm wondering what the latest situation is!

I need to send some documents by Recorded Delivery - without it costing the earth, and me having a hissy "dammit brexshit" fit due to forms needing filling etc.

Anyone au fait with the current situation?

Thanks in advance.

[niemeyjt]

I think biggest issue at present with mail to the UK is the CyberAttack - certainly mail to CH from the UK is badly affected.

source: https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/u ... fter-hack/ (from 5 days ago)

As for forms - if just "documents" I write on the envelope "Printed Matter - No Commercial Value" from CH to EU and UK and don't bother with the green douanes form. I think it works, doesn't it???

[Loup-garou]

In our experience it can depend on which La Poste office you use.

In December we posted all our UK christmas cards to my daughter to stamp and send on. Took them to a depot in Langres (reasonably large) and when asked what was in the parcel we were told that it could go as letter post and no need for any form.

Last week took a scarf and woollen hat to an office in Montigny le Roi (not such a big town and the bureau only opening part time) said what it was and the woman went all round the place eventually saying she couldn't find the forms needed so we'd need to come back. As it was for a birthday, we took it to Bourbonne les Bains (bit bigger and open more hours) and on explaining what was in it we were told that it was OK for letter post and no form needed. I'm afraid I don't know about "signed for or recorded delivery" but I have had experience of the UK Post Office not bothering with the paper work their end.

Anyway, since you're sending documents you should be offered letter post so no form in that respect, just the paperwork needed for the "Recording" part.

[exile]

If you mark the envelope as containing "Documents". There will be no issues with customs. It is possible however that you will need a customs declaration note to attach to the envelope - depending on the post office used.

[Bayleaf]

Thank you - mostly reassuring! I didn't realise post going TO the UK was also affected by the cyber attack - just thought it was stuff going out, but I guess it works both ways.

I may hang back for a while, don't want this stuff getting lost - as it's heading for the Solicitor. They've accepted scanned copies, but want original signatures to follow in the post. Shame they don't do electronic signatures! Better tell big bruv in NZ to wait too .....!

Thanks again.

[Polly]

Maybe you won’t need to wait for too long:


Royal Mail resumes overseas mail at post offices after cyber-attack https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-64718824

[exile]

Overseas mail has been going on during the strike/cyber attack period. Just very very slow. OH received a get well soon card - posted 4/1/23 and received early Feb.

[elsie]

In the last couple of weeks I've posted two birthday cards from France to England (not square envelopes which have been known to cause sorting problems) and they've both been delivered (not London) within a week. In the past three days was enough but now I allow twice that.

[Bayleaf]

It'll have to be an A4 size brown envelope. It certainly looks like things are moving, but of course there'll naturally be a backlog. I've suggested brother sends his contribution from NZ to me, to be included with my stuff.

I looked up "postage delays" in general - and it seems that across the world is currently affected by different situations. Germany, for instance, a shortage of staff due to Covid (yes, it still exists!), obviously flooding and other natural disasters, and strikes - in several countries!

C'est la vie de maintenant!! Perhaps I should suggest to the Solicitor that they set up electronic signature like our Insurers do - it seems the way forward!

[niemeyjt]

C'est la vie de maintenant!! Perhaps I should suggest to the Solicitor that they set up electronic signature like our Insurers do - it seems the way forward!

Sadly mine doesn't - but it only took a week from St Y to here for the paperwork to arrive.