Franking machine (FPmailing) has anybody used.

[Jodergas]

Hi

We are looking at using a franking machine, we have been contacted by these people http://www.fpmailing.co.uk I think also known as FP Direct.

I was wondering if anybody has used these and if so how do they find them. It all seems good to me but I am unsure weather to take the plunge or not or maybe somebody can recommend another company?

[Neil]

I don't understand why anyone would use franking these days?

When RM are asking people to use 2d barcodes more, how does that fit with franking?

[Jodergas]

HI Neil

Sorry I am not up on this. what is 2D barcodes? cheers

[Les78]

Watch this, it explains what 2D barcodes are

https://youtu.be/-svYPBmrx40

Ian

[cheesemouse]

Loads of people still use franking. It can work out cheaper for some, especially if they send out loads of letters.

[Neil]

Loads of people still use franking. It can work out cheaper for some, especially if they send out loads of letters.

When compared to what? Certainly not ppi.

By the time you've paid rental / ink / labels, etc I doubt there is anything in it.

[Jodergas]

The offer is £20+vat a month, ink lasts for 4,200 labels (approx) and you can pick the labels up fairly cheap. Any money savings obviously is a bonus but its making things easier when your sending 200-400 packages out a day at busy periods that appeals to me.

[Neil]

The offer is £20+vat a month, ink lasts for 4,200 labels (approx) and you can pick the labels up fairly cheap. Any money savings obviously is a bonus but its making things easier when your sending 200-400 packages out a day at busy periods that appeals to me.

You really ought to be on ppi royal mail account at that, not franking. - how you sending at the moment?

Given you say packages - I take it you mean small parcels - in which case you'll need to be 2d barcode soon if you want the best RM service as that's what they are setting everything up for.

[KayJay]

The offer is £20+vat a month, ink lasts for 4,200 labels (approx) and you can pick the labels up fairly cheap. Any money savings obviously is a bonus but its making things easier when your sending 200-400 packages out a day at busy periods that appeals to me.

On RMDMO you need a thermal printer (no ink required) and RM supply the labels for free.

[Gillf]

Kayjay is right and no £20.00 a month when you are on DMO. I think you need to speak to RM before you decide and get some costs from them based on your volumes. There is the cost of the thermal printer but you will get that back within a year based on no monthly fee, no consumables costs and probably a discounted rate on your post. Speak to RM!

[cheesemouse]

If they are happy with franking why are you bullying them to change. It's their business and if it works for them, then leave them alone.

[Gillf]

If they are happy with franking why are you bullying them to change. It's their business and if it works for them, then leave them alone.

I am not "bullying" - and Jodergas is not yet on franking yet.

They are considering it.

It makes sense to check out other options to be sure that the final choice is the right one.

Jodergas asked for input from people using franking and Neil queried why Jodergas was considering franking when ppi with Royal Mail looks on the face of it to be a better option.

Apart from "Loads of people still use franking. It can work out cheaper for some, especially if they send out loads of letters" there has not been very much in the way of useful info re franking which might indicate that not a whole load of people on BP use it.

Kayjay gave some additional info about RM ppi which I supported pointing out the benefits and stating that Jodegas should speak to RM.

How any of that can be considered bullying is a puzzle.

[Neil]

If they are happy with franking why are you bullying them to change. It's their business and if it works for them, then leave them alone.

If they are happy with franking why are you bullying them to change. It's their business and if it works for them, then leave them alone.

No one is bullying anyone - jodergas asked a question about franking and I asked a very valid question in return that might possibly avoid an expensive mistake. Which was -

When RM are asking people to use 2d barcodes more, how does that fit with franking?

We investigated franking early on, we went from dropping at the local post office to ppi to 2d barcodes via our own custom solution with net despatch.

Franking was ruled out because of all the hidden costs - +3% on top ups (a lot if you are posting 200 - 400 a day), annual service - which worked out at around £220 per annum at the time and was compulsory.

You also really need to look at how you book on - if you know your weights this could be done in bulk via .csv through rm or netdespatch, and have the labels print straight off, whereas how long will it take to manual frank 300 parcels??

Lots to think about!!

[Jodergas]

Do not worry I do not feel bullied in any way , so not to worry. I simply asked the questions and have some great replies for other options I had not thought of or known about. Thank you very much for that

[PatchworkRabbit]

I have just spent 6 months trying to get out of a contract with FP Mailing (FPDirect). I was never sent any terms and conditions at the time of sign up, but was told there was a 3 month notice period, which I was happy with. When I tried to cancel to move to a Royal Mail OBA, I was told that the 3 month notice period had to be given within the 12 month term of my contract which had automatically renewed. So, it was actually a MINIMUM 3 month notice period and they were trying to hold me for another 9 months, but because I had never received the T&Cs, I had no idea this was the case. They said that I "would have" received them, despite my assurance that I never had and I even sent them the original email that had the front page of the sign up form attached. The moron I was dealing with said that the T&Cs are on the back of the form, so I must have received them. On the back. She couldn't seem to gather that if you only send someone one side of a form, then they CAN'T SEE THE BACK.

The other thing they tell you at the sales point is that you can get a refund for spoiled franks when, in reality, you cannot if the amount of the frank is not legible. So, 99% of the time, you cannot get a refund, which is money down the toilet.

Anyway, it took 5 months of fighting, huge frustration and vast periods of time of being completely ignored by customer services while still receiving invoices and finally threatening them with legal action before they finally cancelled my contract "as a goodwill gesture".

Avoid these total cowboys at all costs.


And PPI is cheaper than franking. PPI postage itself is a little cheaper, and there is no machine rental and no price change fees (£36+ vat per year) and franking machine ink is hugely expensive. Also FP Direct take your money in advance and you are only allowed 12 free top ups per year. If you go over your postage one month and have to do an emergency top up mid month, they charge you for it. I get my PPI labels thermal printed, 1000 at a time for about £7.

There is no conceivable reason to use franking anymore. Sure the OBA website is massively crap and kicks you out from time to time for no reason, but it's very much cheaper. All I would add is that .netdespatch does not work with BPL and BPR codes (i.e. if you're not VAT registered).