Covid-19

Update From Franking Machine Ink and the Royal Mail

Franking Machine Ink Current Operational Status - Business as Usual

We wanted to take a moment to update you on the steps we have already taken and continue to plan for in relation to Coronavirus (Covid-19).

Currently its business as normal at Franking Machine Ink however, these are exceptional times and we would like to assure you that our amazing team are working hard to maintain the wellbeing of all staff and customers at this time. Early March 2020 we heightened all our internal and external health & safety procedures, in addition we increased the frequency of spot checks and cleaning in the workplace and onsite at customers premises as a preventative measure.

If our engineers need to visit your site for any reason you will be asked a number of questions relating to Coronavirus to ensure their own safety and welfare. Since early March 2020 our technicians have been taking extra steps to clean the equipment and the area where its located, they’ll also request social distancing where necessary whilst they work. We ask all our customers to respect the actions, requests and personal welfare of our technicians and trust our customers all have similarly high health & safety and hygiene standards.

In addition to your usual franking ink and labels you can now also order other products from us including our new range or packaging and stationary supplies. All these products can be delivered straight to your door, and received without making contact with any external person, making business continuity safer and that little bit easier.

Temporary Change in Royal Mail Service Centre Opening Hours – 02.04.2020

To protect the health and safety of our people and the general public, from Monday 6 April, Royal Mail are changing the opening times of their Customer Services Points in their local delivery offices. Royal Mails largest locations will be open between 07:00-11:00am. All other Customer Service Points will be open between 07:00-09:00am. All will be closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.

To support the Government’s advice to stay at home and avoid non-essential journeys, both the Royal Mail and Franking Machine Ink urge customers to only visit Customer Service Points where absolutely necessary. For up to date information on Royal Mail services and Customer Service Point opening time during COVID-19 click here.

Changes to Royals Mail’s Special Delivery Guaranteed Service – 01.04.2020

Due to increased absence levels, we’ve reviewed our timed guarantees for Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9am and 1pm services and will make the following changes.

For items posted from Tuesday 31 March 2020 onwards, their guarantee delivery for Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9.00am the next working day will change to by 12.00pm the next working day*. Their guaranteed delivery for Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1.00pm will change to by 9.00pm the next working day* (*existing postcode exceptions apply).

Temporary Royal Mail Changes – Using Your Franking Machine From Home – 24.03.2020

Following our partner communications with the Royal Mails Franking Channel team to see how we could both support businesses during this difficult time, we’re pleased to announce that with immediate effect the Royal Mail have temporarily lifted some limitations on only being able to use a franking machine at its licensed address. This now allows customers who are working from home to continue franking where they need to. This is of course as long as customers follow Posting Requirements as per the Operational Requirements and still follow all other requirements under the franking scheme guidelines.

Please note, this currently only applies to Mailmark (2D barcode printing) equipment and only suitable for desktop smaller equipment.

We will also offer technical support for any customer who would like to move their equipment completely free of charge to help get set up at home for top-ups and updates. If you do decide to move your equipment please let us know so we can temporarily update your records and then let us know when you return it to its licensed location. If you do not have a Mailmark machine but would like to frank from home please get in touch and we’ll see what we can do to help.

The Royal Mail have requested where franked mail is processed away from the usual location that they use approved meter posting envelopes. These special oversize approved meter posting envelopes allow you to post up to 30 items per day (including C4 envelopes) in your normal local post-box and avoids a visit to the post office.

Late Meter Posting Envelopes

Get your meter posting envelopes here -> https://frankingmachineink.co.uk/collections/approved-meter-posting-envelopes

Temporary Franking Machine

If you have an enquiry for a franking machine that is to be used to help the fight against Corvid 19 and need flexible simple and sometimes a temporary option please get in touch with our head of Sales Cheryl Fox on info@frankingmachineink.co.uk who’s under guidance from me to support customers as best as we can – if we can, we will.

We will continue to follow and implement the latest Government guidance including NHS England’s guidelines on Covid-19 which can be found:

https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time for all of us, if you have any questions regarding our current Coronavirus policies please feel free to contact myself or my team.

Sincerely Des McManus - Founder, Owner