Another tariff day, another dollar

New NVI and OV stamps plus a Horizon label 

Monday 30th March 2015 – ‘Tariff Day’ ,  the day that Royal Mail change their prices.  Some up and some down -including some significant drops in the Medium Parcel rates and penny or increases so most other rates.

One of the main changes to interest to collectors is related to the introduction of a new international ‘Large Letter’ size and related increases to the international weight bands for Letters.

But what does this mean to collectors of Postagelabels and Post and Go Stamps  ?

With the demise of the Wincor-Nixdorf Post and Go we are left with the NCR units in the Post Office network plus the IAR units in Royal Mail operational and fixed ‘Philatelic’ locations.

NCR and IAR NVI Stamps

These have been updated to include the two new “100g Letter’ stamps for the new weight bands (replacing the previous 60g step). The collectors set has been updated accordingly.

 

NCR OV Stamps 

To reflect the introduction of the new International Large Letter size, new Large Letter text has been added to create new OV stamps as applicable.

These appear with a ‘LgLetter’ description and are available in the A, IS, IT and ITS versions.

Our catalogue has been updated accordingly. Please ask for a copy.

Horizon Labels 

One Horizon label has been updated. For details of this change watch this space.

Horizon Label Accounting Codes-The Definitive Guide

On Monday 29th September 2011,  two new ‘accounting codes’ were added to the existing printed overprint applied at the time of posting to the Horizon label.

These codes are solely for the easy identification of the VAT rate/ product combination for each label, where a subsequent refund has to be made, ensuring any VAT is accounted for correctly.

There are 33 different “Royal Mail” codes and 4 different ‘Parcelforce’ codes- the table below shows the different codes that apply to each Label Identifier.

The ‘RM/PF ‘ Code maps to the Indicia- The ‘PPUK ‘Code maps to the VAT Rate.

Label Identifier

VAT Rate

Royal Mail Code

PP

UK Code

No.

1st

Exempt Rated VAT

a

4

1

1st

Zero Rated VAT

a

5

2

1L

Exempt Rated VAT

b

4

3

1L

Zero Rated VAT

b

5

4

1LL

Exempt Rated VAT

c

4

5

1LL

Zero Rated VAT

c

5

6

1PK

Exempt Rated VAT

d

4

7

1PK

Zero Rated VAT

d

5

8

2L

Exempt Rated VAT

e

4

9

2L

Zero Rated VAT

e

5

10

2LL

Exempt Rated VAT

f

4

11

2LL

Zero Rated VAT

f

5

12

2PK

Exempt Rated VAT

g

4

13

2PK

Zero Rated VAT

g

5

14

A

Exempt Rated VAT

h

4

15

A

Zero Rated VAT

h

5

16

AX

Zero Rated VAT

r

5

17

AX

Standard Rate VAT

r

6

18

RSF

Exempt Rated VAT

i

4

19

BL

Exempt Rated VAT

m

4

20

BLL

Exempt Rated VAT

n

4

21

BPK

Exempt Rated VAT

p

4

22

FF

Exempt Rated VAT

t

4

23

SU

Exempt Rated VAT

x

4

24

SU

Zero Rated VAT

x

5

25

SD

Exempt Rated VAT

y

4

26

SD

Zero Rated VAT

y

5

27

SD

Standard Rate VAT

y

6

28

SP

Exempt Rated VAT

z

4

29

SP

Standard Rate VAT

z

6

30

FP

Zero Rated VAT

o

5

31

FP

Exempt Rated VAT

o

4

32

FP

Standard Rate VAT

o

6

33

Label Identifier

VAT Rate

Parcelforce Code

PP

UK Code

BF

Exempt Rated VAT

5

7

34

PE

Zero Rated VAT

6

8

35

PS

Zero Rated VAT

7

8

36

PS

Standard Rate VAT

7

9

37

How do I work out what VAT is applicable to my item?

The applicable VAT rate for a particular postal item is determined by its destination.

For items being sent inland or within the EU then most items are ‘Exempt’ –

However, some Premium services are Standard Rate -e.g.-Special Delivery Next Day where

any ‘Add-ons’ are applied (Such as Saturday Guarantee) plus Airsure and Parcelforce “Express” services.

Outside of the EU then items are ‘Zero’ rated (including the Channel Islands).

Example codes:-

Special Delivery’ – Next Day would be ‘y4’,

Next Day with Sat G’tee is ‘y6’ and

SD to Channel Islands is ‘y5’

Please do not copy this information without attributing the source – Copyright Postagelabelsuk.com 2011

 

Horizon Label overprint ‘dashed and slashed’ resulting in Welsh truncations!

In what appears to be  software changes to the Post Office counter printer software, which became visible around 30th December 2010, the “date seperator” overprinted on the Horizon Postage label has changed from ‘-‘  back to its ‘Horizon’ setting of   ‘/’. Thus giving a new date format of dd/mm/yy.

As well as the chnages to the format of the printed date , this change appears also to have had the effect in some Welsh branches  with the bilingual version of the overprint of causing the ‘l’ of Post Brenhinol (The Welsh equivalent of ‘Royal Mail’)  to be omitted from all labels printed in those offices that print the Bilingual version of the Horizon Postage Label in Wales. This has resulted in labels issued with the text  “Post Brenhino ”

It will be interesting to see how long this configuration lasts. Watch this space..

Another step taken in the introduction of Machin gold Imperforate Labels

Yesterday (Sept 13th)  was the first day of sale for the much anticipated  new Gold Imperforate Horizon labels in Chesterfield.. A first day cover is shown ..

The next stage is believed to be their introduction in Wales..

Full Listing of UK Postage Label Indicators ~How big are your gaps?

One of the most common requests I get is for a “simplified listing” of the Horizon Postage Labels currently available (as well as the ones that have been withdrawn), in order that collectors can determine how ‘complete’ their collections are . Shown here is the full list of the 29  Postage Label Indicators, showing the 22 currently being used (and so available on the two different variants of Gold Labels) as well as the 7 types that have already been withdrawn.

For each label shown there is/was a Welsh ‘Bilingual’ version available and two label overprint types- Thin and Thick lettering as well as two Machin gold label types (Original and the “August 10” type).

This makes 44 label overprints (22 English 22 Welsh)  in 2 print styles (Thick and Thin)  on 2 different gold Machin label types as well as the existing white labels whose stocks are currently being rundown ~ who said that ‘The modern collecting alternative’ of UK Postage Label collecting was boring, easy or without variation?..

Don’t forget, however, that many of these labels already have a limited lifespan of future availability- The original white labels are no longer available for Post Offices to order , the ‘Thick’ style (From the original Horizon software) overprint only has a matter of weeks left before it is completely removed – the first variant of the Machin gold label will be not replaced and rumors of plans (apparently)  to remove some of the ‘rarer’ indicators before Xmas ’10 have been circulated…So..fill those gaps now!

Gold Horizon Machin Labels appear outside of Wales!

It has been reported today that a distribution of the Gold Machin Horizon Labels has taken place outside of Wales!-to some Branches in Kent – Further details to follow- in the meanwhile-check with your local PO to get some before they are withdrawn..

Welsh Gold Machin Horizon Label~FDC 20th April 2010

It has now been confirmed that the First Day of use of the Gold Horizon Labels in Wales was yesterday, April 20th 2010.

 Some branches having received their stock yesterday and all others in Wales receiving it  today.

Shown below is a FDC produced yesterday ‘machined’ (sic) into an inch of its life by the Cardiff FCT.

Please contact me if you would like to purchase a similar cover.

New Horizon Labels launched as part of Post Office software upgrade

This week, the Post office have commenced its roll-out of its latest  software upgrade  (Known as “Horizon Online“). This will result in the appearance of all items printed in a Post Office changing slightly in appearance, which obviously includes Clerk-printed postage labels.

The noticeable features of the new labels include thinner lettering and the removal of the final digit  showing the  batch number indicator. (transaction counter).

“Post Office Ltd told us that the Horizon technology is being upgraded in a project called ‘Horizon Online’, which it expects to produce a fully automated system…”

Obviously once this upgrade is complete, the current series of Horizon Postage labels is expected to become obsolete-So fill those gaps now!

2009 LAST DAY COVER GOLD MACHIN HEAD HORIZON LABEL

Last Day covers of the Camden Town Trial are still available here:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360210964612

2004 Trial Of ‘All In One’ Special Delivery Horizon Label

Cover showing example of ‘all in one’ Horizon postage label incorporating a Special Delivery barcoded label which was inserted into the printer in one piece.  Trialled in one branch (Albemarle Street , London W1) in June 2004.