I will only use the Royal Mail if absolutely necessary. We got stung for £5 because the RM claimed a stamp on a Christmas card was counterfeit. Now I'm sure our friends (one a retired tax inspector) weren't complicit in this and, whilst a know the RM does have a problem with fake stamps, penalising one's customers is counter productive. Whenever possible I will use free or cheap electronic services that are often almost instantaneous, or alternative parcel services. Perhaps the RM is perpetuating the attitude of penalising others that caused their sister company, the Post Office, to create to the Horizon scandal. Now, I know one ought to try and notify the RM of the outlet the stamp came from but (a) it's awkward telling a friend in case they think one wants the money back and (b) if they've purchased many stamps over Christmas the may not know which shop they bought a specific stamp from after a couple of weeks. Perhaps they should build in protection, as with bank notes, so one has a chance o identity counterfeit stamps?
Michael Ixer ● 91d