asked the Minister for Posts and Telegraphs if there is machinery in operation in his Department for compensating persons whose property is lost in course of post; and, if so, if he will give the relevant details.
Written Answers. - Postal Lost Property.
208.
Compensation for the loss of postal packets in course of post may be payable as follows:
Inland Service (including the service to Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Channel Islands and Isle of Man).
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Registered Letter or Parcel |
Compensation up to a maximum of £400 according to the registration fee paid. |
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Unregistered Parcel |
Compensation up to a maximum of £5. |
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Unregistered Express Postal Packet conveyed by special messenger throughout its whole course. |
Compensation up to a maximum of £4. |
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Service to other Countries |
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Registered Letter |
Compensation up to a maximum of £5.44. |
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Insured Letters, Boxes and Parcels. |
Compensation up to a maximum of £400 (the maximum is lower in the service to some countries) according to the insurance fee paid. |
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Uninsured Parcels |
Compensation in accordance with the following scale is payable in the service to most countries: |
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Weight of Parcel |
Maximum Compensation |
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Not over 2 lb. |
£2.05 |
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Not over 7 lb. |
£3.40 |
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Not over 11 lb. |
£5.45 |
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Not over 22 lb. |
£8.20 |
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(No compensation is payable in the service with some countries, e.g., United States). |
Except as indicated, compensation is not payable in respect of the loss of unregistered or uninsured items.
The principal conditions governing the payment of compensation are that:
—the loss did not arise wholly or in part through the fault of the sender, e.g. inadequate packing
—compensation will in no case exceed the value of the article lost
—compensation in respect of the loss of money of any kind in the inland service will be paid only where the envelope used for its transmission is one of the registered letter envelopes sold by the Department and the packet is handed to an officer of the Department for transmission by registered letter post
—compensation will not be payable in respect of the loss of any packet containing a prohibited article.
Comprehensive information on the matter is given in Eolaí an Phoist, Post Office Guide, Volumes I and II.