Date: 9th November 2020
Isle of Man Post Office (IOMPO) is pleased to announce details of its last recommended posting dates, opening and closing times, and collection and delivery times across its services for the festive period, along with other important information for customers.
Last Recommended Posting Dates
We would like to emphasise the importance of posting early, especially this year due to the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions and the impact the pandemic has on all postal administrations around the world. Posting as early as possible will avoid any disappointments on Christmas Day and therefore our last recommended posting dates have been brought forward this year.
Last recommended posting dates to international destinations start from Thursday 3rd December; for a full list of posting dates for international destinations customers should refer to www.iompost.com/christmas and regularly check announcements via our social media channels.
For friends and family of HM Forces personnel, mail must be sent by no later than Thursday 19th November for operational British Forces Post Office (BFPO) and for static BFPOs no later than 26th November. Don't forget friends and family can continue to send letters and parcels up to 2kg free of charge to any BFPO address.
The last posting date for sending letters, large letters and packets to the UK via first class mail (no delivery date guarantee) is Thursday 17th December; the last posting date for Special Delivery and Parcelforce express24 to UK as well as Locals to Local Letters, Large Letters and Packets is Monday 21st December. The Local to Local Special Delivery deadline is Tuesday 22nd December.
Customers are also reminded to make sure their letters and parcels are addressed completely with a postcode and a return address included, along with correct postage to avoid any delays. For information about prices and addressing standards and for full details of our Safe to Fly advice visit www.iompost.com/christmas.
Isle of Man Post Office Retail Network
The Post Office network will be open as normal in the lead up to Christmas. For a full breakdown of opening hours for all branches over the festive period visit www.iompost.com/christmas. Please note that on Thursday, 24th December most of our Post Offices close early, Post Office Headquarters will close at 15:00 and Northern Delivery Office will close at 13:00. All Post Offices will be closed on Friday 25th December – Monday 28th December. Branches including the delivery offices will be open as normal on Tuesday 29th December and Wednesday 30th December. On New Year’s Eve most Post Offices will close early, Post Office Headquarters will close at 12:30 and Northern Delivery Office will close at 13:00 and will be closed Friday 1st January and Saturday 2nd January. As of Monday 4th January, all Post Offices and delivery offices will revert to their usual opening hours.
MiCard
During the festive period the Department of Health and Social Care has advised of the early encashment of pensions and allowances for the convenience of customers. Allowances due for payment on Friday 25th December can be collected from Friday 18th December 2020. Allowances due for payment on Thursday 24th, Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th December can be collected from Wednesday 23rd December 2020. Allowances due for payment on Thursday 31st December 2020 or Friday 1st January 2021 can be collected from Wednesday 30th December 2020.
Sending Mail
Customers are kindly reminded to make sure any items being sent are safe to fly this Christmas. Many everyday items and gifts including perfume, nail varnish and toiletry sets containing aerosols are classified as prohibited or restricted under transport legislation therefore some cannot be flown. For a full list of prohibited and restricted items visit www.iompost.com/restricted. Alternatively, if you are unsure about any items you wish to post to the UK or overseas this Christmas, please contact Customer Services on 664664 or ask at your local post office.
Receiving Mail
Customers who miss their parcel delivery are advised that they can request to direct their item to one of nine convenient Island-wide locations for collection by using our online redelivery request service www.iompost.com/collections. Customers will receive a text message notification when the parcel is at their requested location ready for collection. Many of these locations provide extended opening hours allowing customers to collect at a time that is suitable to them. Isle of Man Post Office also encourages customers to sign up for the Authority to Sign service. This allows the post person to leave Signed For items in a Safe Place while you’re out. Details of Authority to Sign services can be found at www.iompost.com/ats or ask at your local post office.
Christmas Stamps
This year’s Christmas stamps, issued on 30th October, feature scenes and artworks inspired by ‘The Story of the Nativity’. They are available to purchase online at www.iompost.com/postal-shop in quantities of 48 self-adhesive stamps or at your local post office.
Letters to Father Christmas
This Christmas Isle of Man Post Office continue to offer a free reply service for all the children that write letters to Father Christmas. Father Christmas will endeavour to respond to each and every letter so these should be sent as soon as possible in an envelope with a first class stamp, so it reaches Lapland in a timely manner. Letters without a stamp will not reach Lapland. Father Christmas letters should arrive no later than Friday 11th December. To ensure children are not disappointed, all letters should also include a return address, so Father Christmas knows who to send a reply to.
Information about Father Christmas letters and sending and receiving Christmas mail can be found on the Christmas page of our website www.iompost.com/christmas.
Self-service kiosks
Customers are also reminded of the Isle of Man Post Office’s self-service Pay & Post Kiosks which are positioned across the Island and offer convenient access to postal services out of working hours without the need to queue. The Pay & Post Kiosks assist those customers wishing to pay to send letters and packets, purchase postage and pay Government rates and rents, fixed and endorsable penalty fines and utility bills. Details of their locations can be found at www.iompost.com/kiosks
All information is correct at the time of publication and subject to change. For up to date information please visit www.iompost.com/christmas or follow Isle of Man Post Office on Facebook and Twitter.
-Ends-
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Connect with the Post Office PR Team to keep up to date with news and press information.