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International Signed For

International Signed For is a cost-effective and secure delivery service that requires a signature on delivery. It is available to all worldwide destinations with standard compensation of £50 or the content value, whichever is lower. There is also the added option of extra compensation of up to £500 (£250 for some destinations) upon payment of an additional fee.

Discounted International Signed For is available to business customers with an Online Business Account who qualify for the contract.

Please note that International Signed For is not available to PO boxes.

Customer benefits

  • Secure - International Signed For mail travels through a separate and secure network. Each item is individually listed and accounted for before being handed over to the airline. Proof of posting is provided as standard and deliveries are made by domestic postal operators who provide a universal service in those destinations.
  • Signature on delivery - You can be sure that the item will be handed over only after it is signed for (however please be aware that a copy of the signature is not currently part of this service)
  • Additional peace of mind - There is extra compensation of up to £500 (sometimes £250, dependent on the destination) available to you for more valuable items.
  • Availability - International Signed For is available to every destination in the world.
  • Cost effective - International Signed For provides great value for money.
  • Visible - Royal Mail’s Track & Trace provides up to date visibility until the item leaves the UK. But please be aware this works for Airmail only and is not available when sending by Surface Mail.
  • Accessible - International Signed For can be purchased at the Post Office,via franking machines and via your online business account.
  • After sale service - Overseas postal operators are obliged to investigate any potential loss or damage claim raised by the customer, which is not the case with standard Airmail or surface delivery services.

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Track & Trace

To ensure fast and secure handling, International Signed For items are scanned at the following points in the UK:

  • Post Office® (for those items paid for and posted at your local branch)
  • Local mail centres
  • Royal Mail International processing centres

We are also currently working closely with our overseas partners to improve the availability of Track & Trace information abroad, which is, as yet, not generally available with International Signed For. From June 2011, the following countries will have tracking overseas; a scan on arrival into the country and on delivery: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland.

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Access

Customers can buy International Signed For:

  • At over 11,000 Post Offices® nationwide
  • Via meter franking machine
  • Via Online Business Account (OBA)

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How to post - requirements and mail supplies

Please note that International Signed For can be posted together with Airsure® and domestic Special Delivery™ but it is important that all documentation is completed correctly to avoid delays.

Account customers

If you use manual posting cheques (CA83 and CA84):

  1. Apply International Signed For (P4723) barcoded label to each of your items as well as CN22/CN23 customs declaration for non-EU items.
  2. Complete CA84 posting cheque ensuring each item barcode is recorded and counted. Customers posting International Signed For as an add on to International Unsorted or Format Sort products must complete CA83 posting cheque in addition to CA84 to account for the postage element.
  3. Place the signed CA84 posting cheque in the priority service pouch and retain a yellow copy for your records. Hand over the CA83 posting cheque, if applicable, to the collection driver, retaining the yellow copy.
  4. Place all your International Signed For items in the priority service pouch (SS950) and secure with blue tamper-proof seal (SS956) or a grey bag (MB8) which needs to be secured with a blue seal (SP61).
  5. In the event you hand over your mail to the Post Office® directly, repeat the steps 1-4 above but do not seal the bag/pouch. Same documentation checks apply.

If you have an Online Business Account (OBA):

  1. Select to purchase the appropriate service from the online menu:
    a. International Signed For as add on fee to OLA (Airmail) or OLS (Surface Mail).
  2. Apply International Signed For barcoded label (P4723) to each item as well as CN22/CN23 customs declaration for non-EU items.
  3. Complete Despatch Receipt P6565 and place an upper copy in the priority service pouch or a grey bag.
  4. Place all your International Signed For items in the priority service pouch (SS950) and secure with blue tamper-proof seal (SS956) or a grey bag (MB8) which needs to be secured with a blue seal (SP61). Ensure that the despatch receipt matches the items in the bag/pouch. Please keep your International Signed For items separate from your standard Airmail items.
  5. Complete the OBA sales order and hand over to the driver together with your mail.
  6. In the event that the OBA sales order is not available, a Customer Collections Receipt (CCR) must be completed and given to the driver. In the event you hand over your mail to the Post Office® directly, repeat the steps 1-4 above but do not seal the bag/pouch. Same documentation checks apply.

If you use Despatch Express:
 

  1. Select to purchase the appropriate service from the online menu:

    International Signed For as an add on fee to Airmail (OLA) or Surface Mail (OLS):
    Print off and complete Despatch Express Collections Manifest and OBA Sales order. Place the signed collections manifest in the priority service pouch (SS950) and secure with blue tamper-proof seal (SS956) or a grey bag (MB8) which needs to be secured with a blue seal (SP61).

    i. Ensure that the despatch receipt matches the items in the bag/pouch. The collection driver signs the customer copy as a proof of posting.

    ii. In the event that the OBA sales order is not available, a Customer Collections Receipt (CCR) must be completed and given to the driver. In the event you hand over your mail to the Post Office® directly, repeat the steps 1-4 above but do not seal the bag/pouch. Same documentation checks apply.

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Non account customers

Business meter customers:

  1. Ensure you apply the correct postage for each item using your franking machine.
  2. Apply International Signed For barcoded label (P4723) to each item as well as CN22/CN23 customs declaration for non-EU items.
  3. Complete Despatch Receipt P6565 and place an upper copy in the priority service pouch or a grey bag.
  4. Place all your International Signed For items in the priority service pouch (SS950) and secure with blue tamper-proof seal (SS956) or a grey bag (MB8) which needs to be secured with a blue seal (SP61). Ensure that the despatch receipt matches the items in the bag/pouch. The collection driver signs the customer copy as a proof of posting.
  5. Complete the customer collection receipt as proof of collection.
  6. Should you choose to take your mail to the Post Office® counter directly, you should follow steps 1-4 but should not seal the bag. The Post Office clerk will sign the P6565 despatch receipt as proof of posting.

Personal customers:

  • You can buy International Signed For at any Post Office® - simply take your item to the nearest Post Office branch and everything will be taken care of for you.

    Summary of mail supplies for business users when posting International Signed For:

    Product Product Code Description
    International Signed For barcoded label P4723 Must be applied to each item to enable tracking and provide security
    Despatch Book P6565 Provides proof of posting and collection
    Priority Services pouch SS950 Ensures your items are kept separate and secure
    Grey bag MB8  
    Pouch tamper proof seal SS956 Used to secure your priority services pouch
    Grey bag seal SP61 Used to secure your grey bag
    CN22 Customs Declaration Label Can be downloaded from our website (see customs requirements link above) For goods up to £270 in value going to non-EU destinations
    CN23 Customs Declaration Label Can be downloaded from our website (see customs requirements link above) For goods over £270 in value going to non-EU destinations

    You can order mail supplies:


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    Acceptable size and dimensions

    Items in the form of a letter or packet
    Minimum: One surface at least 90mm x 140mm
    Maximum: Length plus depth plus width 900mm
    No single side must be longer than 600mm.

    Postcards
    Minimum: 90mm x 140mm
    Maximum: 120mm x 235mm
    Non-rectangular postcards must be enclosed in an envelope and posted at the Airmail or Surface Mail letter rate.

    Items in the form of a roll
    Minimum: length plus 2 x diameter should be at least 170mm
    No single side can be shorter than 100mm
    Maximum: Length plus 2 x diameter should not be more than 1040mm. Length not over 900mm.

    There is a weight limit on ISF items of 2kg for letters and small packets (1kg for small packets to Saudi Arabia) and up to 5kg for Printed Papers.

    Additional restrictions on Printed Papers:
    • Worldwide - only books and pamphlets accepted up to 5kg
    • Republic of Ireland - only books accepted up to 5kg
    • Cambodia/Canada - the maximum weight allowable for all items is 2kg

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    Customs requirements

    Customs authorities around the world are cracking down on mail arriving in their country without the required customs declarations correctly completed. If you’re posting packets or parcels outside the EU and fail to complete the CN22 or CN23 correctly, your items may be delayed, returned to you or even seized.

    For everything you need to know on customs requirements, please visit our customs page.

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    General restrictions and prohibitions

    • The Royal Mail Keeping Mail Safe lists all the items that are restricted or prohibited items in the UK or internationally.
    • Make sure that you label and pack your item correctly if the contents are restricted.
    • If your item doesn’t appear on the list, you can ask in person at your nearest Post Office® or call us on 08457 740 740.

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    Your compensation entitlement

    Compensation can only be claimed in the event of loss or damage. International Signed For is not a guaranteed product so no compensation can be claimed in the event of delay. If you require a guaranteed service, try Parcelforce.

    The maximum compensation for loss or damage to an International Signed For item is £50 or the item value whichever is the lower, unless extra compensation has been purchased. Extra compensation is available on payment of an additional fee up to £250 or £500, depending on the country destination (but please see exceptions for cash and mobile telephones below). Consequential Loss is not available for International Signed For items.

    The maximum compensation payable when extra compensation has been purchased for items containing coins, banknotes or currency notes, securities or instruments payable to bearer (e.g. cheques, bankers drafts, travellers cheques) has been limited to £100 per item.

    Extra compensation is not available for mobile telephones (or PDAs or Blackberries, etc) sent via International Signed For. Therefore, the maximum compensation payable for loss or damage to a mobile telephone is £50.  PLEASE NOTE that when International Signed For is used to send a packet containing a mobile telephone together with other items, additional compensation can be purchased but this will only cover the other contents.

    Items containing coins, banknotes or currency notes, securities or instruments payable to bearer (e.g. cheques; bankers drafts; travellers cheques), platinum, gold or silver (whether manufactured or not) and other precious stones, jewels and other valuable articles must be sent by either Airsure® or International Signed For (availability depending on country).

    Please check individual country entries to ensure that the particular destination will accept such items and to check whether there are any other specific requirements for sending valuables to a particular country.

    When to claim
    We allow 20 working days for items to arrive at European destinations and 25 working days for the rest of the world, so we cannot accept a claim for loss until at least 20 or 25 working days have passed since the item was posted. All claims must be submitted by the sender within six months of posting the item.

    Claims can be made by visiting our Customer Service page or completing the P58 form for lost or damaged mail which is available at Post Office® branches.

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    Customer Services

    If you are unable to find information you need, you can visit our Customer Services section where you will find additional information and who to contact for further assistance.

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    Useful links

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    Document Library

    Download product information, from application forms to user guides.

    All the documents are available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you don't already have it you can download the free Acrobat Reader.

    Terms & Conditions inc Appendices Last Updated

    General terms and conditions

    These are Royal Mail's general terms and conditions of trading, applicable from April 2012
    Version April 2012, File Size 127 kb

    		 02/04/12

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