Royal Mail fee to pay?

[Lucan Unlordly]

I'm receiving cards at my home address requesting payment to Royal Mail as the sender did not pay the full postage.
The first was for one of my businesses that has no obvious connection to my home address. I didn't hit the deadline for payment so it was presumably returned to sender.
The second was for my other business that is registered to my home address. I know I need to pay the fee to find out what the latest letter contains but if feels very much like a scam in progress?

 

[StrategyDoctor]

I'm receiving cards at my home address requesting payment to Royal Mail as the sender did not pay the full postage.
The first was for one of my businesses that has no obvious connection to my home address. I didn't hit the deadline for payment so it was presumably returned to sender.
The second was for my other business that is registered to my home address. I know I need to pay the fee to find out what the latest letter contains but if feels very much like a scam in progress?

A couple of quick checks before assuming anything:

Are your business names and home address publicly linked anywhere (e.g. Companies House)? That could explain why both businesses are being used.
When you go to pay, are you being directed only to official Royal Mail channels (no QR codes or third-party links)?
Do you have the option to collect from the depot instead of paying online? If so, you can ask them to bring the item to the counter and decide then. I've done that before.

Could be a genuine sender error, could just be junk mail. I think the only real red flag is if the payment route isn’t clearly Royal Mail?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Checking the links and phone numbers would be the first thing I would do!

 

[DontAsk]

Do you have the option to collect from the depot instead of paying online? If so, you can ask them to bring the item to the counter and decide then. I've done that before.

I've done that too but some time ago and I'm not sure they take payment over the counter these days.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Do you have the option to collect from the depot instead of paying online? If so, you can ask them to bring the item to the counter and decide then. I've done that before.

When this happened a couple of years ago they wouldn't show me the letter until I'd paid.

Could be a genuine sender error, could just be junk mail. I think the only real red flag is if the payment route isn’t clearly Royal Mail?

It's clearly Royal Mail...

I've done that too but some time ago and I'm not sure they take payment over the counter these days.

The options are pay online for re-delivery or collect from depot, so I guess they will take payment?

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

Did you check the parcel reference? That would tell you if it is a real delivery and you might keep that reference for tracking.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Did you check the parcel reference? That would tell you if it is a real delivery and you might keep that reference for tracking.

The reference is a 4 figure number followed by a hyphen and the letters SU. I'm sure it's genuine.

I can go to the local Delivery Office and view the Letter but cannot open it until paid for. I'll do that tomorrow and report back.