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Postal Strike - How to avoid hassle
The Postal Strike may well be happening next week and undoubtedly will effect small businesses. Cheque payments in and out, contracts or government forms and customer orders may all be delayed. There are a few simple things you can do to avoid hassles.
1) Keep all lines of communication open. If you need to put something in the post let the recipient know by phone, email or SMS that it is on the way but maybe delayed due to the strike.
2) If you use the post to send or receive payments then look at alternatives. All the banks have online and phone banking services. Speak to your branch about setting this up if you if do not have access already. Ask your customers to pay invoices directly into your bank account rather than sending cheques.
3) To send goods to customers ask at your post office about using the Special Delivery or Parcel services as they may still be running with a skeleton staff. Alternatively use a courier, these vary widely from company to company and location to location so try and get a recommendation from another business near to your distribution point.
Alternatively let your customers know that to avoid items going missing during this period you will wait to after the strike to post their goods out via Royal Mail.
4) If you are sending in a VAT, Corporation Tax or other official form that requires a deadline to be met. Send in plenty of time and retain a photocopy of the document in case you need to send a replacement. Investigate the opportunities to file these returns online, your accountant or bookkeeper should be help with this.
The most important thing is not to rely solely on one provider for anything, always have a back up. This strike can offer you the opportunity to research those alternatives, trial them and then assess which is the best option for your business going forward.
Written by
Hannah Lewis
Providing virtual office support to swamped and stressed businesses, allowing the business to get on with what they are good at and grow.
Fish in Custard
T: 07759 721055
E: hannah@fishincustard.co.uk
W: www.fishincustard.co.uk
W: www.adminknowhow.co.uk
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