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Frequently Asked Questions Postal Queries Frequently asked questions (FAQ's) - Op TELIC & Op HERRICK
Frequently asked questions (FAQ's) - Posting to BFPO's
FAQ'S - Op TELIC & Op HERRICK
Q. Can items of mail be sent free of charge to troops serving on Op TELIC & Op HERRICK? Yes. A free mail service was authorised to operate from 03 Sep 07 until further notice. The maximum weight limit for this service is 2kg. Please note that items exceeding this weight cannot be sent even if payment is offered . For more information on this service click here This service is available from the UK to the qualifying BFPO address only. Please note that there are NO Parcel services for these locations. Please take all items to your local post office. From there they will be automatically be delivered to our sorting office for the onward delivery to the BFPO location. Q. Is the enduring freepost service for items under 2 kgs available when sending from a BFPO address to the UK ? A. No, please be advised that the freepost service is available for family and friends sending mail to HM Forces personnel at qualifying BFPO locations only. Q. Can welfare parcels be sent to the troops serving on Op TELIC & Op HERRICK? No, please be advised that an item of mail up to the maximum weight of 2kgs can be sent to named personnel only. Due to the surge of mail during the freepost period to these operational areas BFPO does not wish to delay personal mail to loved ones by accepting mail to unnamed personnel. Please telephone BFPO Enquiries for further information. Q. We were told by our local post office that all mail for Iraq and Afghanistan has been suspended, is this correct? No, military mail continues to be sent regularly. Please note that all items of mail must not exceed 2 kgs. Any items received at our BFPO sorting office that exceeds this weight will be returned to sender.
Q. Is there a Parcel service for Op TELIC & Op HERRICK? Due to limitations on airfreight space, a BFPO Worldwide parcel service is not available for these operations. This is to prevent any congestion in the delivery of critical stores and supplies to the theatre.
Q. Is a customs label required on items of mail to and from a BFPO address for Op TELIC & Op HERRICK? All items posted via BFPO's to and from theatre must comply with British and overseas foreign national Customs regulations. Therefore a customs label is required (CN 22 label) which is available at all post offices.
Q. Is a return address required on items to Op TELIC & Op HERRICK? Yes, in the unusual event of a non-delivery a return address is required. Please be assured that this does not cause security implications; other than Royal Mail your mail is not handled by anyone other than HM Forces.
Q. Can Special Delivery and Recorded Delivery services be used when sending mail to an Op TELIC & Op HERRICK address? Yes, both these services can be used and are charged at the relevant Special Delivery/Recorded Delivery Royal Mail UK rate. Maximum weight 2 kgs. Please use the Special Delivery pre-paid plastic envelope for jewellery and/or money. Please see your local Post Office or Forces Post Office for further details. Telephone track and trace information is available for Special Delivery only. Please contact BFPO Enquiries for details. Please note that next day delivery for Royal Mail's Special Delivery service is not applicable to or from BFPO addresses. For items sent to the BFPO address next day delivery is guaranteed to the BFPO sorting office only; not the final BFPO location.
Q. Can purchases made from the Commercial sector over the Internet be sent directly to Op TELIC & Op HERRICK? Personnel serving on Op TELIC & Op HERRICK can successfully receive goods from the Commercial sector but the companies in question have to use one of the following procedures in order for this to be done:-
All items must also comply with the weight and size limitations for Op Telic & Op Herrick mail. PLEASE NOTE THAT COMMERCIAL MAIL DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THE FREEPOST SERVICE AND 2 KGS IS THE MAXIMUM WEIGHT LIMIT FOR ANY ONE ITEM.
Q. Why is the freepost service not available to commercial companies and support groups? The scheme is specifically designed to provide support to the families and friends to servicemen and women in these theatres and is not a replacement for existing BFPO services. Q. Why is the freepost service limited to only certain BFPO addresses? The list of eligible BFPO addresses has been agreed with MoD as those that are presently in, or directly supporting operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Q. Why must I post the item over a post office counter? Items must be posted over a Post Office Counter to be eligible for free postage. Items posted via post boxes may be identified as underpaid and delayed or surcharged.
Q. Is there a size limit for items of mail to Op TELIC & Op HERRICK? Yes. Please be advised that the overall dimensions are as per Royal Mail letter service:- Length + Depth + Width = 900mm with greatest single dimension not greater than 600mm. Max weight 2 kgs. Shoe box size items are ideal.
Please refer to the list of prohibited items for an extensive list of prohibited items. In particular please note that aerosols and perishable food items cannot be sent. For more information on mail prohibitions please click here.
Q. Can I send a letter or parcel to an individual serving on Op TELIC & Op HERRICK from outside the UK ? Yes. After the BFPO number please include in the address c/o BFPO HQ, United Kingdom as the below format:- Service No Rank Name Postal rates to the UK apply only as this charge incorporates delivery to the BFPO location. Maximum weight 2 kgs. Q. Can I send mail to an individual who is serving in Iraq or Afghanistan with the American army to a BFPO Op TELIC & Op HERRICK address? Yes. However arrangements between the individual and the respective Forces Post Office will have to be made for mail to be kept to one side and for the individual to collect. Deliveries cannot be made to the individual.
Frequently Asked Questions - Posting To BFPOs Q. How should I address my mail? Please use the format below: Service No Rank Name Please be advised that the Town and Country must not be included in the address. For more information on how to address your mail click here.
Q. Can I order goods from a UK company for delivery to my BFPO address? Yes. Personnel serving overseas can successfully order from the Commercial sector for onward delivery to a BFPO address, however the company must use one of the following procedures in order for this to be done:-
*Service not available for Op Herrick and Op Telic
Q. Can I order goods from a Company outside the UK for delivery to my BFPO address? Personnel would have to ensure that the company in question use the postal service of that particular country rather than a courier. For example, if goods have been ordered from China to your BFPO address then the Chinese Postal service would have to be used to ensure delivery. If an international courier is used the goods will, unfortunately, be returned by BFPO for not being in contract with the BFPO sorting office for onward delivery to your BFPO address. If the company are willing to use their countries postal service then please add 'c/o United Kingdom ' under your BFPO number.
Q. What can I do if the goods have already been despatched by courier? Contact the relevant courier and arrange delivery to a UK civilian address (for example a relative or friend) who can then post the item to you at your BFPO address over the Post Office counter.
Q. Is an airmail label required on items of mail to and from a BFPO address? For BFPO locations inside Europe an airmail sticker is not required, however, locations based outside Europe do require an airmail label.
Q. What service do I use to send letters and parcels to a BFPO address? For items weighing under 2kg's you should use the Royal Mail HM Forces Letter service (please note there are size restrictions on this service). This service equates to a UK cost to post items to any BFPO address. For items weighing from 2kgs up to a maximum of 30kgs you should use the Parcelforce BFPO Worldwide Parcel service (please note this service is not available for Op TELIC or Op HERRICK). Please be advised that the Royal Mail Standard Parcel service is not accepted for BFPO addresses.
Q. Can I use the Royal Mail Special Delivery and Recorded Delivery services? Yes. Please be advised that when sending money and/or jewellery to a BFPO address, you should use the Special Delivery pre-paid plastic envelope. Items sent using the Special Delivery service in customers' own envelopes containing the aforementioned items are not covered in the event of making a claim for loss or damage. The Special Delivery service is registered and traceable. UK compensation levels apply. Recorded Delivery is a signed for service and is not registered. Tracking information for Recorded Delivery cannot be obtained until delivery to the destination BFPO address.
Q. Is there a size and weight limit for items of mail to a BFPO location? Yes. Please be advised that the overall size and weight limits are:- Parcelforce BFPO Worldwide Parcel service:- 1.05m in length x 2m length and girth combined Max weight 30kgs (to static BFPO locations only) Royal Mail HM Forces Letter Service:- Length + Depth + Width = 900mm with greatest single dimension not greater than 600mm. Max weight 2kgs
Q. How do I send mail to an APO address? If the addressee is a member of HM Forces attached to the American army then please include c/o BFPO HQ, BFPO 777 after the APO number in the following format:- Service No Rank Name If the addressee is a member of the American army please include USA under the APO number as all mail items addressed to members of the American army are sent to the APO sorting office in New York for the onward delivery to the APO address. Please note that BFPO does not have any involvement with the delivery of this mail.
Q. Is a return address required on items to a BFPO address? Yes, in the unusual event of a non-delivery a return address is required in order for your item to be returned to you.
Q. Can I send an item of mail to a BFPO address from outside the UK ? Yes, please use the following format: Service No, Rank, Name Postage rates to the UK apply only.
Q. What can I do if I know that my mail hasn't arrived at its destination? Please allow at least four weeks for delivery before contacting BFPO Enquiries to make an official enquiry. This time parameter takes into consideration excessive mail volumes during peak periods. Should you after this time has elapsed, wish to make an official enquiry please complete a P58 enquiry form available at all Post Offices and Forces Post Offices and hand it over to the counter clerk. Upon receipt of this form at the BFPO Enquiries Office an official investigation will be initiated on your behalf.
Q. Is a customs label required on items of mail to and/or from a BFPO? All items posted via BFPO's to and from theatre must comply with British and overseas foreign national Customs regulations. Therefore a customs label is required (CN 22 label) which is available at all Post Offices and Forces Post Offices.
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