Posting to Canada from UK

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Which Royal Mail Services Are Ideal for Posting to Canada from UK?

Did you know that between 6,000 to 10,000 citizens become Canadian residents annually? Unsurprisingly, you may have a family member or friend you want to mail to in Canada! Knowing which Royal Mail services you can use for posting to Canada from UK can help reduce costs and ship speedily.

The Post Office offers many options for domestic and international shipping. You can select a service according to your budget, mailing urgency, and need!

This blog discusses posting to Canada from UK with its postage rates and delivery standards. Let us dive in!

Which Royal Mail International Shipping Options Can Help You Post From UK to Canada?

Royal Mail has a history of over 500 years in the courier industry. It helps you ship postcards, letters, packages, etc., to over 230 nations and territories worldwide.

You have several shipping choices to post from UK to Canada at varied prices. Below, we cover these options in detail to help you make an informed choice:

International Economy

You can send letters and parcels weighing up to 2 kg using International Economy. This option lets you post from UK to Canada with free returns.

For instance, if your intended recipients in Canada refuse delivery, Royal Mail returns the items to your address at no added costs. It also initiates free returns if the recipient cannot sign for the mail item. This feature makes the International Economy option apt for eCommerce businesses that serve an international audience without risking lost mailers.

You can use International Economy for posting to Canada from UK when you have adequate time. It is the cheapest global shipping option Royal Mail offers to help companies and individuals mail items without burning a hole in their pockets!

The best part is the £20 compensation cover senders get while posting to Canada from UK to protect their mail items against damage or loss. It reduces the risk of shipping items to another country, encouraging businesses to expand globally.

Senders can visit a nearby Post Office to post from UK to Canada over the counter or print postage at home. By using Royal Mail online services, they can save time and drop their items at any postbox. There are 115,000 postboxes in the UK, making it easy and quick for you to find one!

The Post Office allows you to book a pickup from anywhere in the UK. You may need to pay an extra fee, but it is worth it when you want to post from UK to Canada instantly.

Since International Economy is the most affordable global mailing option, its rates start at only £1.60. The postage can rise depending on the mailing distance, weight, and size of your items!

But how long does post take from Canada to UK and vice versa?

If you ship via International Economy, the delivery standard to post from UK to Canada is six weeks. Yes, it sounds too time-consuming! But it is the best way to send items to an abroad destination at an affordable price!

Canada Post takes a few days to weeks to complete UK deliveries, depending on your mailing option.

International Standard

The Royal Mail International Standard service is ideal for posting to Canada from UK when you want to send something weighing up to 2 kg. It is faster than International Economy, with rates starting at £1.85.

The only difference between the International Standard and Economy options is their shipping speeds. Other features, like the £20 compensation cover and the free mail returns, stay the same!

You can choose this service to send time-critical items with confidential or crucial information. For example, imagine you want to post from UK to Canada within a week. Or if you need to ship invoices, cheques, contract agreements, or other documents containing critical details.

Shipping them via International Economy can lead to unnecessary delays and increase the chances of a data breach.

International Standard only takes three to five working days to complete deliveries within Europe. But posting to Canada from UK using this service can take six to seven business days. So, plan your mailing accordingly to avoid unexpected delays or customer miscommunication.

You may post your International Standard mailers online and print labels at home. Or take them to a nearby postal outlet and let Royal Mail employees assist you in posting to Canada from UK and calculating its postage.

International Signed

Companies and individuals need a more secure option to ship critical items globally. One excellent example is the Royal Mail International Signed service, allowing you to get the recipient’s signature during delivery.

It ensures you post from UK to Canada and the items reach the intended recipients safely, reducing the risk of data breaches and mail thefts.

The postage from UK to Canada under International Signed is £7. Though expensive, it helps secure your packages and letters and decreases shipping friction.

You can get a copy of the recipient’s signature after delivery. Royal Mail drops you an email, but you may also ask for a physical copy.

International Signed offers free tracking within the UK. You may track your sent mail items from their origin until they leave the country. But why?

Please remember that the Post Office helps you with posting to Canada from UK only up to the Canadian border. GLS and Royal Mail depots in Canada take over from this point to fulfil last-mile deliveries.

Unlike International Economy and Standard, the Signed service offers a compensation cover of up to £50 per item. You can extend the coverage up to £250 for an extra fee. It prompts senders to use this post from UK to Canada option for valuable packages worth between £20 to £250.

International Signed enables you to post from UK to Canada with free mail returns. Royal Mail ensures you get the items at your return address without you doing or paying anything!

Please note that International Signed assists you in posting to Canada from UK between five to seven working days. But there can be some delays, primarily when the recipients are unavailable at the address to sign for your envelope or parcel.

Also, Royal Mail does not send International Signed items to Pack Stations and PO boxes. It is impossible to acquire the recipient’s signature in these cases, so it would help to opt for International Standard instead.

International Tracked

The International Signed option is an excellent way of posting to Canada from UK when you need a signature. But it is untrackable up to the delivery point, leading Royal Mail to introduce another service—International Tracked!

Like other options to post from UK to Canada, it helps you send items weighing up to 2 kg. This service allows you to track your mailers until it reaches their destination. You get an online delivery confirmation via email, helping you stay updated.

International Tracked lets you ship items within Europe between three and five working days. But deliveries to Canada can take five to seven days, depending on the destination city and locality.

Royal Mail offers other features with this posting to Canada from UK service, like free returns for undelivered mail and a £50 insurance cover. You may buy additional coverage for up £250 for valuable parcels.

The postage from UK to Canada for International Tracked items starts at £6.90. It differs based on the item’s weight, size, and dimensions. The destination province/territory and the city can also affect the prices.

Senders can use the online postage option to avail of a flat discount of 10%. It helps manage the shipping costs better and print postage at home or the office, speeding up the process!

International Tracked and Signed

The International Tracked option to post from UK to Canada offers end-to-end tracking.

International Signed provides you with a signature on delivery. But is there a way to combine these services into one?

Luckily, yes!

You can use International Tracked and Signed to get all the features in one service! It is the most premium Royal Mail posting to Canada from UK option for businesses.

Use this service for valuable items that need proof of mailing and delivery. You may also consider it for sending documents, like invoices or business agreements, wherein getting the recipient’s signature is essential.

It takes five to seven days for mail posting to Canada from UK under this service. Europe deliveries only take three to five working days. You can avail yourself of free mail returns and compensation coverage of up to £50. Consider purchasing additional coverage from the Post Office or online if you want to send something worth more.

Please note you can only use International Tracked and Signed to post from UK to Canada commercial and residential addresses, allowing the carrier to get the recipient’s signature. Avoid mailing to a PO box address or Pack Station.

Parcelforce Services

Parcelforce helps ship heavier packages weighing up to 30 kg to Canada. Global Express enables your parcels to reach their destinations the following day. You can avail of many other options for posting to Canada from UK, including Global Value and Economy.

• The postage from UK to Canada for sending Global Express mailers starts at £43.50. Senders get compensation coverage of up to £200 with super-fast delivery. But please remember that you should lodge the items before the cut-off time to help Royal Mail initiate delivery speedily.
• Global Priority helps you post from Canada to UK within three business days. The prices start at £25, with compensation coverage, for up to £100. You can buy these global shipping services online to mail faster and get discounts.
• Global Value costs £9.80 only with £100 compensation coverage. Royal Mail completes deliveries under this service within five to eight working days.
• Global Economy costs £24.70 and allows you to deliver items within 28 to 46 days.

Parcelforce deliveries to post from UK to Canada run between Mondays and Fridays. Saturday shipping may require an additional charge!

Which Factors Affect the Delivery Timings for Posting to Canada from UK?

Some Canadian holidays can interfere with how long does post take from Canada to UK because the Post Office remains closed these days.

Here is a list of the 2023 holidays for your reference:

• New Year’s Day- January 2
• Good Friday- April 7
• Victoria Day- May 22
• Canada Day- July 1
• Labour Day- September 4
• Thanksgiving- October 9 (can differ)
• Christmas- December 25

Please note that Royal Mail waits for the following working day for posting to Canada from UK if the estimated arrival date falls on a statutory holiday.

For instance, if you use Global Express to send a 20 kg package on April 6, the postal services can deliver it only by April 8.

Other reasons for delays during posting to Canada from UK include

• Weather conditions: Extreme snowfall, heavy rains, storms, floods, etc., can impact delivery timings and dates. Royal Mail services like International Tracked can help you check the status in real-time and update your intended recipients. 
• Post Office timings: Canada’s Post Office timings can differ from the UK. Hence, it is best to learn the differences to manage potential delays. 
• Late lodgement: Please ensure you drop your packages or envelopes within the specified time frame for posting to Canada from UK without delays.

PostGrid’s direct mail API helps you plan your campaigns and ship items fast. Our 2-business day SLA allows clients to avoid unnecessary delays and mail accurately. 

Size and Weight Guidelines to Post from UK to Canada

You can use Royal Mail posting to Canada from UK services to send letters, large envelopes, packages, and tubes/rolls. Their size and weight dimensions differ to help the postal workers process your mailings smoothly.

Letter

• Letters can weigh up to 100 g.
• The minimum letter size is 9 cm x 14 cm.
• Ensure your letters do not exceed 24 cm x 16.5 cm. Otherwise, you would need to pay extra to post from UK to Canada because USPS considers such items large envelopes.
• The postage from UK to Canada to send letters ranges between £1.60 and £7 based on the selected services.
• Some examples of letters include personal correspondence, greeting cards, postcards, invoices, bills, and documents.

Large Letters

• You may mail letters weighing up to 750 g under this option!
• Magazines, booklets, DVDs, and CDs are prevalent examples of large letters.
• The minimum dimensions for posting to Canada from UK remain the same. But the maximum size for large letters is 35.3 cm x 25 cm x 2.5 cm.
• It can be expensive to post from UK to Canada if your letters are heavier. For example, it costs you £8.75 to ship large envelopes under the International Tracked and Signed option. Although you can reduce the prices using other options, it can keep you from benefiting from all the features.

Packages

• Ship packages weighing up to 2 kg using Royal Mail posting to Canada from UK services.
• The sum of the length, depth, and width must not exceed 90 cm.
• Ensure the item length is no longer than 60 cm.
• The postage from Canada to UK to send packages ranges between £5.05 and £10.80. Online prices can be cheaper, so remember to check them before you ship something.

Tubes or Rolls

• The maximum weight of your tubes and rolls cannot exceed 2 kg.
• All sides should measure less than 90 cm.
• The length of your tubes and rolls plus two times the diameter cannot exceed 104 cm.
• Packages and tubes cost the same postage from Canada to UK because the weight limit is similar. Only the dimensions differ to help postal employees sort and process the mailings without trouble.

How to Handle Canadian Customs When Posting to Canada from UK?

Customs can puzzle international shippers because all countries have different regulations. A customs form helps the authorities determine whether your item is legal to ship to their country. They might also check the weight, size, and other factors to check whether you have paid the entire postage.

Filling out the customs declaration might require some time and effort. But it is critical for posting to Canada from UK without legal trouble. Otherwise, the Canadian authorities can seize your items permanently.

You require two forms to post from UK to Canada- CN22 and CN23.

• CN22 allows you to ship mailers up to the value of £270.
• CN23 is for packages or other items worth more than £270.

Download the forms from the Royal Mail website and fill them out. You may stick them to your mail items before shipping for smooth processing.

Or you can use PostGrid’s direct mail services to automate your shipping activities. All companies can use our solutions to avoid in-house hassles and speed up their tasks.

They can post from Canada to UK without worrying about the customs forms. PostGrid helps its clients draft, print, and ship their mailers using all-inclusive services at low rates!

How Do You Write a Canadian Address for Posting to Canada from UK?

Canada’s address format is different from the UK’s. Hence, try using the prescribed guidelines to ensure secure and fast deliveries.

• Always write the street address in capital letters.
• Mention the postal codes in capital letters with a space between the two parts. Please prevent using a hyphen because the sorting equipment cannot read it, causing delays.
• Include the city, province or territory, and postal code on one line when posting to Canada from UK according to the format.
• Add one space between the municipality name and the province or territory.
• Separate the postal code with these names using two spaces.
• Only use punctuation marks to post from UK to Canada when they form part of a name.
• Write your return address on the top-left corner to help Royal Mail get the items back to you if the delivery fails.
• Add the country name ‘Canada’ on the last line.

Find below an example of how to format Canadian addresses to post from UK to Canada quickly:

CHRIS GABOURY

15-512 MAIN ST SE

MONTREAL QC H1A 1K7

CANADA

How Can PostGrid’s Direct Mail Solutions Help You Post from UK to Canada?

PostGrid is an automated direct mailing service provider to help you ship items to 245+ countries. It does not matter if you want to send something to an address down the street or communicate with a client thousands of miles away. Our solutions prioritise every order and help you streamline your printing and mailing tasks. 

You may post from UK to Canada without preparing the mailers in-house or finding a printing vendor. Integrate our API into your existing workflow to fetch data faster and ship items from within your CRM. 

PostGrid helps you with posting to Canada from UK at all-in-one prices. You may download and use one of our pre-built templates for items like postcards, letters, and invoices. Or you can continue with your saved designs using the API integrations. 

PostGrid adds value to your direct mailing campaigns in multiple ways, like

• Reduced clerical work: Your staff can focus on other areas instead of printing papers in the office and assembling the envelopes. Our direct mail automation solutions aim at eliminating manual effort when posting to Canada from UK and replacing it with high-tech features to boost efficiency.
• Low costs: PostGrid’s flexible pricing plans enable you to mail according to your convenience. You can upgrade to a different program and pay as you go. Our services help you add barcodes, presort items, and track mail. Thus, you can reduce the postage from UK to Canada without taking any elaborate steps in-house.
• Bulk mailing: Our API and automation software enables you to ship mail pieces in any quantity. You may switch between on-demand and bulk mailing based on your requirements and mailing objectives!
• Data security: PostGrid complies with GDPR and the Data Protection Act to help keep your files confidential and secure. It also has ISO 9001, 14001, 27001, and 2701 certifications, making it the safest direct mailing automation vendor. 
• Address verification: You may get high mail returns without using a verified mailing list. PostGrid ensures your delivery addresses are valid and accurate to avoid these situations and helps you post from the UK to Canada on time.

Request a demo to learn more about posting to Canada from UK in an automated way via PostGrid!

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source https://www.postgrid.co.uk/posting-to-canada-from-uk/

Google Address Validation Vs. PostGrid

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What is Address Validation?

Address validation is a process of checking whether the inputted mailing addresses are correct and deliverable. If not, they are corrected and validated – so that companies can continue their mailing activities without any interruptions. The procedure is carried out by comparing the given addresses with an official database like Royal Mail.

There are two ways of using an address validation solution – at point-of-entry or bulk validation of an existing database. With millions of addresses spread across the UK, it is difficult to keep an accurate and updated database at all times. Hence, many businesses resort to using address validation. It helps them:

• Complete deliveries on time
• Provide a better user experience on their website
• Prompt checkouts
• Have access to high-quality data

What Google Isn’t Telling You

Many people turn to Google for searching addresses and the route to reach them. Though Google’s mapping services are excellent as it shows a map for literally any place on earth, its address validation solutions lack more than one thing.

Google’s address validation does not parse, standardize, or verify any addresses. So what does Google actually do with the addresses? It shows you the exact longitudes, latitudes, borders, time zones, and routes to reach those addresses. It doesn’t matter whether you can make use of that route or whether the address is deliverable. Hence, if you want to validate your addresses regularly or mail to the right addresses – Google is not the right option for you. Much of Google’s address data is based on estimations. Moreover, it just uses geocoding to return addresses as per coordinate details. There’s no guarantee that the address even exists.

Google Address Validation Vs. PostGrid

If you are wondering how to select the right address validation solution, you need to know some common features of address validation. Let us dig into these features and also simultaneously find out if Google has those.

Address Parsing and Standardization

Address parsing is breaking down an address into various parts like the street name, city, state, and postcode. It gives meaning to every part of the address and fills it in the respective fields. However, due to abbreviations and misspellings, parsing can not be done properly – now is when standardization comes into the picture.

Standardization helps reformat an address into the standard address format as stated by the country’s postal service provider like Royal Mail. Hence, the addresses become easy to understand and deliver on. It also reduces the work of postal employees and makes your delivery process speedy. Coming to Google, it doesn’t provide any such features. On the other hand, PostGrid’s address validation solution provides parsing and standardization with both to give you more than just pinpointed locations on a map. It also autocompletes all the addresses within a few keystrokes to save your customers time and make checkouts faster and easier.

Address Verification

Address validation or verification is done by cross-checking the inputted data with Royal Mail’s official database. If the address exists in their database, it is marked as “valid,” else wise it is marked as “invalid.” Sometimes, valid addresses are also marked invalid due to formatting errors. Hence, parsing and standardization are done earlier. Since Google does not standardize addresses, it is likely to mark many valid addresses as invalid or unreal – based on guesswork. Moreover, the addresses suggested as valid by Google’s address validation API may not be deliverable.

PostGrid’s address validation API can parse, standardize, and verify addresses in one go with far more accuracy and reliability.

Intercontinental address verification is also possible through PostGrid as it offers global coverage. All the addresses are translated, standardized, and validated as per the destination country’s address guidelines.

Data Cleansing and User Experience

Data cleansing is the priority of every business as wrong addresses can cost a lot. When you incorporate an address validation API into your website so that customers can enter the right addresses and deliveries are rightly completed, there’s a lot to talk about the user experience you are providing.

Google’s address validation solution does not allow type-ahead suggestions. Furthermore, the addresses that Google returns may or may not be updated as it depends on crowdsourced data for updations. Therefore, for advanced data cleansing and improving user experience – opt for a reliable option like PostGrid.

PAF Certified

Google returned addresses are not certified or verified against any official database. You can never rely on Google for getting mailable addresses.

So, does PostGrid provide certified addresses? Yes, all addresses returned by PostGrid’s address validation API are PAF certified. Being the most accurate mailing address database in the UK, PAF helps PostGrid return only deliverable and validated addresses. You should also know that PostGrid’s API is GDPR – DPA 2018 compliant and ISO 9001, 14001, 27001, 2701 certified. Hence, you get up-to-date addresses with no security concerns.

Integration and Set-Up

Next on the list is the technical part. PostGrid’s address validation and verification API is easy to install and integrate. There is no technical expertise required, and our team is available 24 x 7 so that you can contact us any time of the day and get instant technical assistance.

However, Google does not provide any assistance or technical support. If you have any queries, you might just have to post them on a public forum and wait for replies. Hence, its interface is difficult to integrate. Companies can use PostGrid’s API to integrate quickly with several platforms like Magento, Salesforce, Shopify, and more.

Fuzzy Matching

Does your address validation API fill in missing information, correct typos, and offer fuzzy matching? Google, definitely does not. Fuzzy matching helps correct addresses and then validate them. It often happens that the addresses are not validated due to misspellings, abbreviations, and typos. Fuzzy address matching helps cross-check the address anyway and helps in the validation process. PostGrid’s address validation API can correct typos, misspelt words, and add any missing parts.

Secondary Unit Designators

Secondary unit designators are the internal units within a building where your customer may be residing. To deliver mail, you must know the floor number, room number, or suite number of your intended recipient. Just knowing the building name won’t help it, as there might be hundreds of internal units. In this case, we cannot rule out secondary unit designators as an important feature of an address validation solution.

Even though addressing internal units is so important, Google has nothing to do with it. It will just show the address of an outer building. But, PostGrid’s address validation API can come to your rescue as all the returned addresses contain every minute detail that makes them easily deliverable.

Pricing and Branding

Talking about the price of an address validation API, it should be reasonable and include things like free technical assistance. Google offers paid support, and its API costs a lot more than other solutions like PostGrid. Even after paying a lot, you can just guess whether the returned addresses are correct.

Another thing to know is that Google adds the tag “Powered by Google” in your search bar when you incorporate its API. PostGrid allows you to remove the branding tag and appear unique in front of your audience.

What Happens When Your Addresses Aren’t Verified

Missed conversion opportunities, damaged reputation, wastage of time, misspending, and dissatisfied customers are some of the many problems you can face with unverified addresses.

If you keep sending your personalized direct mail items to the wrong addresses, you can never expect responses. Imagine sending a postcard with the name “Jake” to someone named “Jace.” It not only hurts your reputation but also reduces your conversion chances – leading to a huge loss of time and money.

Some of your mail items contain confidential documents, and sending them to the wrong people can lead to huge problems. If you think ahead, your customers are likely to never order from you again because you could not deliver on time. Hence, validated and verified addresses are an essential part of any business – requiring a smart, reliable, and useful API like PostGrid.

Wrapping Up

Owing to all the above reasons, it is factually correct that Google is not the best in terms of address validation. Companies can rather choose PostGrid and work more efficiently. There are many more reasons to choose PostGrid’s address validation API, like bulk data verification, scalability, faster verification, and much more. Hence, you can increase conversions, improve brand image and credibility, and get access to high-quality data – all through PostGrid’s address validation solutions.

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The post Google Address Validation Vs. PostGrid appeared first on PostGrid UK.

source https://www.postgrid.co.uk/google-address-validation/

Royal Mail Return to Sender

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Royal Mail Returned to Sender: What Does It Mean and How to Prevent It?

Did you ever receive a letter in your mailbox that is not for you? Getting mail items with a different name can feel puzzling when you are unfamiliar with the addressed recipient. Fortunately, the Royal Mail returned to sender option can help you!

This feature helps people who worry about identity theft when they encounter a wrongly-delivered letter. Though it is a legitimate concern, they can take some steps to make things right. The returned-to-sender option helps them return the item to the Post Office or forward it to the correct address.

This blog covers everything about the return-to-sender Royal Mail service to help you return such items. It also lets you determine why the Post Office returned your packages instead of delivering them to your address!

Let us dive in!

Why Is a Return Address Significant?

A return address is the home or office address of the sender. It is the origin of a mail item.

It is your decision whether you want to mention a return address on an envelope or parcel. But it helps you get your item back in case of a Post Office missed delivery and avoid losses.

The returned-to-sender feature allows senders to recover or retrieve their postal mail if the recipients rejected the items or were unavailable.

Royal Mail workers do an excellent job redirecting mail back to the sender when the addressed recipients don’t respond. If you fail to mention a return address, the return-to-sender Royal Mail process remains incomplete.

The Post Office sends unclaimed mail items with no return address to a centre where employees open them up. They try to determine the origin to send it back. If they cannot find the details, they discard the parcel.

Royal Mail does not accept refund claims for Post Office missed delivery if your item did not carry a return address. Writing a correct and valid address on the front of your envelope or package is advisable to avoid incurring a loss.

Please follow the correct Royal Mail address format for your return and mailing addresses.

Addressee

Apartment number and building name

Street address

Dependent locality

Posttown or city

Postcode

What to Do If Royal Mail Delivers Mail to the Correct Address, But the Person No Longer Lives There?

Royal Mail allows all UK citizens to drop an address change request when they move to a different location. It replaces the old addresses with new ones, ensuring the mail items go to the correct recipients. If an item not returned to sender, it can lead to confusion, waste, data breach, etc., because it could end up in the wrong hands.

You may drop a redirection request within minutes on the Royal Mail website. Or you can visit a nearby Post Office to guarantee it follows the returned-to-sender feature and help you get your items back.

Homeowners or tenants might face several discrepancies, like receiving mail items for a person who no longer resides at the address. They can initiate return-to-sender Royal Mail, but they must know why it happens.

This situation occurs when a person moves without alerting Royal Mail, restricting the postal services from forwarding their mailers to the new address. They rely on the people who receive these items to report them and help them with the Royal Mail returned-to-sender process.

The National Returns Centre in Belfast holds your items for four months if it cannot find the sender. You can retrieve your mail by requesting Royal Mail to search your packages within its system. Otherwise, it goes ahead with the disposal.

As a homeowner who received a mail item that does belong to you, you can follow these steps:

• Cross out the address and let the name stay on the envelope or parcel. It indicates the Post Office to find the recipient and redirect the item to their new or updated address. This step makes return-to-send Royal Mail easier and faster!
• Write the words ‘No longer living at this address, kindly forward to’ followed by the recipient’s new address. Of course, it works only for situations where you know the person who lived at your house before you, and you can provide their updated location.
• Your last step is to drop the envelope or package in the postbox to let Royal Mail forward the item or start the returned-to-sender transit.
• If you do not know the addressed recipient, do not worry! The return-to-sender Royal Mail process remains almost the same for you. Cross out your address and write, ‘Please return to sender- not known at this address.’
• Drop it in a nearby postbox and let the postal services handle the rest. After this step, you complete your responsibility and can stop worrying about the item. But if you continuously receive mail belonging to someone else, it can indicate identity theft.

What to Do If the Address on an Item Is Correct, But the Addressee Never Lived There?

Sometimes, senders might mention an incorrect address on their mailers. The result? There is a mismatch between the name and address. So the Post Office delivers your items to an incorrect destination but with the correct addressee.

The Royal Mail returned-to-sender journey only after you try to find the valid address. Remember that the Post Office delivers packages to locations, not people. It drops off the items at the address on the mail item, irrespective of whether the addressee resides there. The only way to modify or re-route delivery is by filing a redirection request.

• Try verifying your mailing lists using PostGrid’s address verification services as a sender. This practice can help you send items to the correct recipients and avoid waste of time and money.
• As a person who received a mail item wrongly, try returning it to the addressed recipient and help Royal Mail rectify the Post Office missed delivery situation.

You can cross out the address and mention, ‘Please return to sender- not known at this address.’ Drop the item in a nearby postbox or give it to a postal carrier the next time they visit your address to drop off something. You may also visit the Post Office and report the item for the return-to-sender Royal Mail procedure.

How to Deal With Misdelivered Packages or Envelopes?

You may encounter situations where the sender mentioned the correct address on the item, but the carrier made a mistake. For instance, imagine you live at 5 Duguids Building, and the delivery person drops off the package at apartment number 15.

It is easier for the Post Office to manage such returned-to-sender packages because they can rectify the mistake and reattempt delivery.

If you get a package that does not have your name or address, mark it ‘Misdelivered.’ Then, you can follow the same step of popping it back in the postbox to let the postal services deliver the package correctly. This scenario helps a business avoid Royal Mail returned-to-sender because the Post Office redirects the item instead of sending it back!

What to do If I Receive a Slip Asking You to Visit the Post Office to Collect an Item?

The carrier might take your package back to the postal outlet if you are unavailable during the delivery attempt. They may drop a slip or card prompting you to visit a specific postal outlet to retrieve your mail. Otherwise, the postal services mark your item for Royal Mail returned-to-sender, delaying delivery by several days or weeks.

Try taking the card to the Post Office within the specified timeframe to prevent the Royal Mail returned-to-sender process! You may need to sign for the item, so carry a valid ID.

But what if the Post Office has a package with your address but a different name?

You can ignore the slip and avoid visiting the Post Office in these situations. The Post Office automatically initiates return-to-sender Royal Mail after the retention period is up.

Our direct mail services allow you to print and ship items systematically. You can track your mailers using our easy-to-navigate dashboard and get campaign reports. Thus, you can skip worrying about delivery statuses and guessing whether the Post Office would return your mail items.

Can I Throw Away Items If They Are Not For Me?

Many wonder whether they can discard mail if it is not for them. And the answer is—no!

It is illegal to throw away mail items addressed to someone else. Otherwise, you may fall into trouble under the Postal Services Act 2000. Trying to find the addressee and assisting the Post Office in their returned-to-sender procedure is the only right thing you can do!

This act states that the law may punish a person for intentionally delaying or opening a mail item during postal transmission. The delivery process is only complete if you send the package back and enable the Royal Mail returned-to-sender process to begin.

Until then, try protecting the package because it is an offense to damage or open it.

If found guilty, you may need to pay up to £5,000 and face imprisonment for up to six months. Please remember to help the postal workers when a Post Office missed delivery occurs because it does not take up much time. And it is the morally and legally correct thing to do!

What Is the Difference Between Unsolicited and Misdelivered Mail Items?

Unsolicited products are the ones you receive from a company without ordering or paying for them. For example, samples from a business or gifts from a friend are unsolicited goods.

You can keep these items with you because it does not instigate a return-to-sender Royal Mail case. The Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 say you can retain unsolicited products from businesses or other senders.

Misdelivered mail items do not carry your address, making it a responsibility to return them.

Why Was My Package or Envelope Returned to Sender?

Seeing the Royal Mail returned-to-sender message on the tracking screens can raise several questions. It confuses recipients, making it essential to know the reasons.

• The address is non-existent or invalid: The Post Office can only deliver your mail pieces to a valid address. It can try to find the addressee through the Postcode Address File (PAF), but it is only sometimes successful. It may begin the return-to-sender Royal Mail journey after waiting for someone to claim the item.
• The package carries insufficient postage: Royal Mail delivers parcels or envelopes once you or the intended recipient pays the postage. You can affix the appropriate number of stamps beforehand or let the addressee pay. You may see the Royal Mail returned-to-sender notification if the addressed person is inaccessible or absent.
• The recipient refused the package: If your recipients refuse delivery, the Post Office changes the tracking update to returned-to-sender or package refused. It sends the item back to your address or discards it, depending on whether you mentioned a return address.

How Do PostGrid’s Direct Mai Services Help You Avoid Returned-to-Sender Packages?

PostGrid offers turnkey direct mailing solutions to clients to help them conduct automated campaigns. It allows them to bring their manual input to 0%, which means higher efficiency and no errors.

Our direct mail API enables you to create your mailing items, print them, and ship them quickly. You may also install our automation software to send your mailers via our reputed print and delivery network!

You can avoid getting return-to-sender Royal Mail packages by maintaining efficiency throughout the shipping process. PostGrid helps you standardise and validate your delivery addresses to prevent returned-to-sender scenarios.

Some other ways in which PostGrid adds value to your print and mail tasks include

• Our template gallery.
• Variable data printing.
• List importing.
• API integrations.
• Campaign analytics.
• Metadata tagging.
• GDPR compliance.
• Real-time delivery reports.
• Print and mail fulfilment, etc.

With our advanced features and high-quality solutions, you can rest assured your items will reach the correct destinations. Gone are the days of worrying about Royal Mail returned-to-sender items. Integrate our API into your system or install the software and transform your mailing activities!

Conclusion

The Post Office manages the PAF, which has millions of addresses and postcodes. You can update it about your address change, allowing Royal Mail to redirect your mail and reduce returned-to-sender cases.

But many people could bypass this procedure! Hence, you may receive some items with a different name. We hope this blog helps you understand what to do with these packages or envelopes!

If you run a business, you may already know it can be daunting to print and ship items. Sign up now to learn more about how PostGrid helps you resolve the Royal Mail returned-to-sender issue forever!

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The post Royal Mail Return to Sender appeared first on PostGrid UK.

source https://www.postgrid.co.uk/royal-mail-return-to-sender/

Printing and Mailing Guide in 2023: How to Get Started

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Printing and Mailing Guide in 2023: How to Get Started

Print and mail have been an integral part of the business. From sending out business agreements to personalised postcards, print and mail have become an ongoing process.

After the Covid-19 outburst last year, 2021 has brought hope with fresh opportunities for companies to re-establish their business operations and make their place back in the market. Perhaps, it is the best time now to make use of technological advancements and boost up your print and mail campaigns. Direct mail can help businesses advertise better and engage more customers. Hence, let us first get to know what direct mail is, followed by understanding its benefits and how it can induce conversions.

What is a Direct Mail?

Direct mail is a form of offline marketing wherein businesses send out day-to-day transactional and compliance messages as well as marketing correspondence directly through the mail. In today’s digital era, this marketing channel is considered to be highly personal and more effective.

Companies that incorporate direct mail into their marketing strategies are more likely to reach their prospects and form an emotional bond. This bond, in turn, can get people to respond to your mail and even buy from you. The idea behind direct mail, as the name goes, is to reach out to customers and prospects directly instead of posting something online and waiting for the responses.

What is Print and Mail?

As said earlier, print and mail is required by almost all companies. Oftentimes, employees are burdened with tasks like loading and unloading paper in the printer or affixing stamps on envelopes.

Though these tasks sound simple, repeatedly doing them can be boring, time-consuming, and affect the productivity of an organization. Hence, businesses should consider automated print and mail solutions like PostGrid that can assist them in this work and save a lot of time and effort, and also increase efficiency.

How Does Print and Mail Solutions Work?

1. Select the Mail Item

Firstly, you have to decide what mail item you will be sending. If the motive behind mailing is marketing, you can opt for postcards and letters. Using a print and mail API, you can also send invoices, receipts, notices, agreements, statements, cheques, and more.

2. Personalise

After the selection of your mail item, you can move a step further and personalise these items. You can choose to add your brand logo for better visibility and awareness. Similarly, using variable data printing, you can also add your recipient’s name and personalised text. Choose from among PostGrid’s in-built templates and get started.

3. Verify Mailing Addresses

Before you mail on any address, it is important to verify it to avoid lost or returned mail. PostGrid’s automated direct mail solutions offer address verification and validation to help you verify any number of addresses. This way, you can save on reshipping costs and mail accurately. Address verification helps you deliver your mail to the right addresses speedily.

4. Printing and Mailing

Once you are ready with your mail design and mailing lists, printing and mailing come to the picture. Print and mail solutions help you print and mail items directly without you having to contact any printers or mail vendors. PostGrid’s print and mail network can help you print your items through reputed printers and then send them out through Royal Mail.

5. Track Your Mail and Measure Performance

Manual mailing can make tracking hectic. You have to enter all the tracking numbers manually on the Royal Mail’s website. On the other hand, print and mail solutions allow you to track in real-time with the help of an easy-to-use dashboard. It offers a consolidated view of all your sent mail. You can also get campaign insights and measure performance easily.

Bulk Printing and Scalable Campaigns

A print and mail API like PostGrid is scalable and allows you to print and mail in bulk. There are no minimum requirements and no upper limits. You can decide whether you want to conduct a small or large-scale campaign. Print and mail solutions can scale to accommodate your growing business needs. Therefore, you can go on with printing and mailing any number of direct mail items confidently.

Types of Printing and Mailing Solutions

There are several direct mail items that can be printed and mailed as part of your campaigns. From marketing to transactional, PostGrid’s automated solutions can assist you with all your print and mail activities. Some of the direct mail items are listed below:

• Postcards
• Letters
• Cheques
• Compliance Notices
• Invoices
• Statements
• Thank You Notes
• Contracts
• Debt Collection Letters
• Appointment Reminders, and more

5 Print and Mail Marketing Trends for 2021 That Can Upscale Your Business

1. Create a Personal Connection

Aim at creating personal bonds through printing and mailing direct mail pieces. People have always valued a personal touch in marketing communications, and sending thoughtful mail can be a really good gesture. Hence, personalised mail is more likely to catch the attention of your audience. Print and mail items that reflect professionalism and kindness.

2. Offer a Solution

Before explaining the features of your product or service, explain its benefits. It is advisable to reach out to a relevant audience and offer a solution to their problems. For example, banks can reach out to the elderly to offer them beneficial retirement plans. By offering solutions, you can attract more responses and boost engagements.

3. Incorporate Omnichannel Marketing

Companies have started using direct mail marketing along with email marketing, social media marketing, and other digital marketing strategies. Omnichannel marketing helps reach out to your audience using several channels so that no customer is missed. Add trackable features like pURLs and QR codes to trace responses and also drive online traffic through print and mail marketing.

4. Focus on Creating the Experience

Direct mail is no longer old or traditional. In 2021, direct mail is likely to top the list of effective marketing channels. Direct mail can bridge the gap between people caused by the pandemic. Businesses should focus on providing an impressive experience to their prospects and current customers. It can be done by sending thank-you postcards to their existing customers and handwritten letters to their potential customers.

5. Automate

Today, most things are automated, making the work so much faster and easier. Similarly, print and mail can also be automated. Why not make use of the latest technology when it leads to saved costs and effort along with improving results? PostGrid’s automated print and mail API can help you integrate with your CRM speedily and start mailing in no time.

Benefits of Automated Print and Mail Solutions

• Easy Management: No need to spend hours managing direct mail campaigns or guessing the response rates. Automated mail is easy to manage and track.
• Saved Costs: With the ability to mail in bulk, you can avail highly discounted postal rates. Moreover, by verifying addresses beforehand, you can avoid reshipping and wastages.
• 24 x 7 Expert Support: In case you require any assistance or want to solve a query, automated print and mail solutions like PostGrid can help you 24 x 7. Just dial the toll-free number and get in touch.
• Flexibility: Flexibility to mail at any time to anyone and from anywhere can only be offered by automated solutions. Moreover, you can choose a template, add customizations, personalise, print, mail, and track using one single dashboard.
• Security: PostGrid is compliant with the rules of the Data Protection Act, 2018 and is also ISO 9001, 14001, 27001, and 2701 certified. Hence, your data privacy and confidentiality are always protected.

PostGrid’s print and mail API can handle everything from designing to mailing. So, you don’t have to give designing, printing, and mailing contracts to different vendors after weeks of getting quotes and negotiating rates. Simply integrate our API with your system and get started with print and mail effortlessly.

Ready to Get Started?

Start transforming and automating your offline communications with PostGrid

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The post Printing and Mailing Guide in 2023: How to Get Started appeared first on PostGrid UK.

source https://www.postgrid.co.uk/printing-mailing-guide/