Revised tariff structure for postal redirection services

The Malta Communications Authority (MCA) has approved a revised tariff structure proposed by MaltaPost plc, increasing postal redirection services from €4.66 to €10.

Under the previous rates, inland mail and outbound cross-border mail were levied €4.66 on normal redirections and €23.29 when the redirection is to a post office box or branch.

Under the new rates, general mail address to local addresses will be free for the first six months for individuals, NGOs and not-for-profit organisations, and €5 for the second six months thereafter.

Businesses and other entities will be charged €10 for the first 12 months.

The decision follows a public consultation process that was initiated on 23^rd May 2012.

The postal redirection service allows an addressee who has moved to a new address to continue receiving mail, bearing the previous address, for a period of time.  MaltaPost, as the designated Universal Service Provider, is required to provide redirection services as part of its Universal Service Obligation. The following table outlines the previous rates and the new rates to be applied following this decision.

MaltaPost had proposed that the company should enjoy freedom to price and operate all other redirection requests. After taking into consideration the responses received following the consultation process, the MCA concluded that other redirection services shall continue to be provided as part of the universal service, but the prices to be charged by MaltaPost for such other redirection services shall be as established by MaltaPost from time to time.

In its assessment, the MCA recognised that postal redirection services are primarily intended as an interim solution to customers' relocation needs, and that multiple-tier prices should be sufficient to screen users genuinely using the service as a temporary solution for relocation purposes. It also considered the costs involved in providing the service and the impact on postal operations.

In order to ensure that users of the service are protected from sudden changes to the prices of redirection services, the MCA has required that new tariffs be introduced after 30 days from when such tariffs are published by MaltaPost.

The Decision Notice outlines the work undertaken by the MCA in assessing the proposed pricing structure, gives an overview of the consultation responses received and presents the MCA's final decisions with respect to the review of the tariff structure of postal redirection services.

The decision may be viewed on the MCA website at http://www.mca.org.mt.