Help with royal mail online business account

[hassanomar]

Hello

Sorry if this has been mentioned before, its my 1st post so go easy.

I have set up a online business account with royal mail to post out using BPL (business post letter) what im looking to do is pay for my postage and print off the shipping label to stick to my large letter / parcel.

I have created a new order and completed a order form but I cant find where I can print the labels off. Sorry if I seem a bit dopey just need to post 20items first thing Monday morning and starting to panic.

Help would be really appreciated.

thanks
Hassan

 

[brat42]

You cannot print off the 'shipping label' in the OBA. You need to generate a PPI stamp:

http://www.royalmail.com/produce-ppi

You should have been advised of your number.

After that, paste in Word and paste multiple times, so that you have many PPI labels all on one page. Print it off and then just cut them up and apply to each letter.

In the long term, you may wish to consider labels.

 

[hassanomar]

Hello

Thanks so much for your reply.

I'm slightly confused I had a email today saying that the online business account was set up and I can log in but no ppi number was mentioned.

After I have this do I need to use the online business account or do I just create the Ppi using the link you shared.

I have already purchased a label printer (brother QL700) so was going to print it off using that.

Thank you so much
Hassan

 

[brat42]

There are two parts to sending.

Everytime you send a consignment (i.e every day), you need to log on to the OBA and define the quantities and types of mail you have to send. This is the receipt so that Royal Mail know you have logged all of the packages you are sending (you take this with to the post office).

Each letter / packages needs the postage mark (in the form of a stamp, PPI label or franked). Now I presume your account was setup on a PPI? It could be franked which is slightly different. If you definitely do not have a PPI number, just give Royal Mail a call first thing on Monday and they will clarify.

 

[hassanomar]

Thanks again

It's a normal online business account so should have a ppi number.

If I create a order (just to see) would it be on the order recept?

Hassan

 

[brat42]

Sorry but I can't recall until I am back in on Monday, but I am 80% sure it is on the receipt that you need to print off. You might as well do it now as you have to do it at some point.

 

[hassanomar]

Yes just found it on the order receipt. Wonder why they didn't sent it to me.

Thanks so much
Final question (for tonight!) printing off the Ppi is the BPL a separate option or do I choose normal first or second and just choose BPL on the order in the OBA?

I'm so grateful for your help
Thanks
Hass

 

[brat42]

If they are all letters, then type BPL for the code, Update Order, and then fill the details in, including which class they are leaving and quantites.

When you generate the PPI label at the above link I gave, you can then choose whether you print first or second class.

 

[hassanomar]

What's the difference between first class /second class and 24/48? Sorry this is my final final question!

 

[brat42]

24 = First Class
48 = Second Class

It's a bit silly but I think they are moving over to 24 / 48 stamps, over 1st and 2nd.

It doesn't matter which option you go for really, apart from the price differing. BPL is cheaper on letters but 24 / 48 (code: CRL) is cheaper for packages.

By the way, as soon as you click "Confirm Order" on OBA, your account is charged.

 

[hassanomar]

Brilliant thanks so much

So if I print off 10 2nd class large letter labels then I go on OBA and pay for them print off the receipt.

When I go to the post office to drop them off do I need to stand in the queue to give them to the people on the desk for them to check?

Or can I just put them in the letter box outside the post office?

Thanks
Hassan

 

[brat42]

Yes, you'll need to take them to the post office as your receipt will accompany the post from the sending depot. You can't put them in the postbox. They packages should all go in a mail bag provided by Royal Mail. You'll need to order them if you haven't got them but not an absolute necessity.