Wigan boss angered by Royal Mail's £1,000 post redirection charge

Monks Dry Cleaning, in Aspull, was forced to close its doors at the start of the month due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Paul Monks, the owner of the family-run dry cleaning and laundry business, then asked Royal Mail bosses if they could divert their post to his home address.

But Mr Monks said he has been told that he would have to pay £1,005 to have his mail diverted as his business doesn’t have a post box.

Mr Monks, 38, from Abram, has arranged for Aspull Village Store to take his post in for him, but he wants to highlight the “unethical” charge during hard times.

He said: “The shop has been closed for two weeks and there are shutters on the front and no slot for the post and no post box.

“So I went to Wigan sorting office to get my mail but I was told I couldn’t be given it over the counter, so that I would have to arrange for it to be delivered.”

Mr Monk said he then contacted the Royal Mail head office several times, who then told him he would to have pay the charge for a three-month business post diversion.

He said: “I’ve spent one hour on hold for several times in a week to be told that because my business doesn’t have a post box, I can’t have my post diverted unless I pay £1,005. This would be for a three-month business post diversion.”

He added: “This is completely unethical at a time like this when we’re struggling to pay our bills and might not have a business at the end of this.

“But Royal Mail want to charge over £1,000 to get the mail I need to fight to keep my business open.

“They should offer more help to businesses.”

Royal Mail was unavailable for comment.

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