Lifeline for local Post Offices

Post offices in towns and villages across South Gloucestershire were thrown a lifeline in December by local MP and pensions minister, Steve Webb.

One of the major items of ‘over-the-counter’ business for small sub post offices is the payment of pensions and benefits, particularly to people using the special “Post Office card account”. This account is accessed using a plastic card and PIN number and was set up some years ago particularly for those for whom a traditional bank account was not suitable. However, the contract to provide these accounts was due to expire in March 2015 and there were concerns that if it was not renewed it could result in a major loss of business to the post office network. But on 16th December Steve Webb told MPs that a new seven-year deal has been agreed between the Government and Post Office Limited which will provide a long-term guarantee of business for local sub post masters.

Commenting on the announcement, Steve Webb said, “I have always fought hard to support local town and village post offices across my constituency, so it was great to be able to use my role as a minister to make sure that the Post Office Card Account is continued for at least another seven years. This means convenience for local pensioners and others who want to use the post office and a boost for local postmasters who had told me of their concerns if the service were to be ended.”

The news has been welcomed by local sub postmasters, including Sue Baines of Cromhall post office who said, “The Post Office Card Account is well used by many pensioners who come in to my post office. I am delighted to hear that it is going to be continuing, as many local people have no other place where they can access their cash easily and with privacy as in a local post office”.

In addition to the handling fee which postmasters receive for each transaction, post offices and shops also benefit from the increased ‘footfall’ as people spend some of the cash which they have withdrawn in the local shop, helping to keep them open.

Changes at Abbotswood Post Office?

The Post Office is consulting about changing the arrangements at Abbotswood Post Office. There would no longer be the screened counters. Instead there would be a till on the main retail counter.

This would mean that Post Office services would be available for much longer (Mon – Sun 06:00 – 22:00) but a few facilities would be lost, for example you wouldn’t be able to pay by cheque.

You can comment online at postofficeviews.co.uk quoting branch number 16351199, write to “FREEPOST Your Comments” (Yes, that’s it, the shortest address we’ve ever seen!), phone 08457 22 33 44 or textphone 08457 22 33 55.

"Green giros" to move away from Post Offices

The Department of Work and Pensions has announced that benefits cheques – commonly known as Green Giros - will be moved from Post Offices to PayPoint locations from 2012. In some cases the change will just mean picking up the payment from a different counter in the same shop, but it represents a loss of business to small Post Offices.

Around 350,000 people use the system each week to to receive payments by cashing a cheque at their local post office. Of these, about 60,000 users are pensioners and 38,000 are on Disability Living Allowance and could have difficulties if their only local payment location is withdrawn.