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International Signed For™

International Signed For™ is a cost-effective and secure delivery service (airmail and surface) that requires a signature on delivery, available to all worldwide destinations with the standard compensation covering the value up to 100 times the price of the 1st class or content value, whichever is lower. Added option of extra compensation up to £500 (£250 for some destinations) is available upon request.

Customer benefits
Track and Trace
Access
How to post - requirements and mail supplies
- Account Customers
- Non-Account customers
Acceptable size and dimensions
Customs Requirements
General restrictions and prohibitions
Your compensation entitlement
Customer Services
Useful links

1. Customer benefits

Secure - Product travels through a separate and secure network. Each item is individually listed and accounted for before being handed over to the airline. Proof of posting provided as standard and deliveries made by domestic postal operators who provide a universal service in those destinations.
Signature on delivery - Customers can be sure that the item will be delivered only if the recipient signs for it. Valuables may be included if the destination country permits. Please be aware that copy of the signature is not currently part of the service offering.
Additional peace of mind - additional compensation up to £250 or £500 (dependent on destination) available for more valuable items.
Availability - available to every destination in the world.
Cost effective - provides good value for money.
Visible - Royal Mail track trace provides up to date visibility until the item leaves the UK (airmail only).
Accessible - Service can be purchased via POL, Meters, Online and Account.
After sale service - overseas postal operators are obliged to investigate and provide response on any potential loss or damage claim raised by the customer which is not the case with standard airmail or surface delivery services.

2. Track and Trace

To ensure priority and secure handling, International Signed For™ items are scanned at the following points in the UK:

Post Office (for those items paid for and posted at the post office branch)
Local mail centre
Royal Mail International processing centre

We always strive to improve the quality of service for our customers and we are currently working closely with our overseas partners to improve availability of track and trace information abroad which is currently not generally available with International Signed For™.

3. Access

Customers can buy International Signed For™:

At over 12,000 Post Offices^® nationwide
Online via the price finder
Via meter franking machine
Via Online Business Account (OBA)

4. How to post - requirements and mail supplies

Please note that International Signed For™ can be posted together with Airsure^® and domestic Special Delivery but it is important that all documentation is completed correctly to avoid delays.

Account Customers

If you use manual posting cheques (CA83 and CA84)
- 1. Apply International Signed For™™ (P4723) barcoded label to each of your items as well as CN22/CN23 customs declaration for non-EU items.
- 2. Complete CA84 posting cheque ensuring each item barcode is recorded and counted. Customers posting International Signed For™ as an add on to International Unsorted or Format Sort products must complete CA83 posting cheque in addition to CA84 to account for the postage element.
- 3. Place the signed CA84 posting cheque in the priority service pouch and retain a yellow copy for your records. Hand over the CA83 posting cheque, if applicable, to the collection driver, retaining the yellow copy.
- 4. Place all your International Signed For™ items in the priority service pouch (SS950) and secure with blue tamper-proof seal (SS956) or a grey bag (MB8) which needs to be secured with a blue seal (SP61).
- 5. In the event you hand over your mail to the Post Office directly, repeat the steps 1-4 above but do not seal the bag/pouch. Same documentation checks apply.

If you have an Online Business Account (OBA)
- 1. Select to purchase the appropriate service from the online menu:
  - a. International Signed For™ as add on fee to:
    - i. Airmail (OL)
    - ii. International Unsorted (OZ)
    - iii.International Format Sort (OF)
- 2. Apply International Signed For™ barcoded label (P4723) to each item as well as CN22/CN23 customs declaration for non-EU items.
- 3. Complete Despatch Receipt P6565 and place an upper copy in the priority service pouch or a grey bag.
- 4. Place all your International Signed For™ items in the priority service pouch (SS950) and secure with blue tamper-proof seal (SS956) or a grey bag (MB8) which needs to be secured with a blue seal (SP61). Ensure that the despatch receipt matches the items in the bag/pouch. Please keep your International Signed For™ items separate from your standard airmail items.
- 5. Complete the OBA sales order and hand over to the driver together with your mail.
- 6. In the event that the OBA sales order is not available, a Customer Collections Receipt (CCR) must be completed and given to the driver. In the event you hand over your mail to the Post Office directly, repeat the steps 1-4 above but do not seal the bag/pouch. Same documentation checks apply.

If you use Despatch Express
- 1. Select to purchase the appropriate service from the online menu:
  - a. International Signed For™ as an add on fee to:
    - i. Airmail (OLA)
    - ii. International Unsorted (OZ)
    - iii. International Format Sort (OF)
- 2. Apply International Signed For™ printed label to each item as well as CN22/CN23 for non-EU items.
- 3. Print off and complete Despatch Express Collections Manifest and OBA Sales order. Place the signed collections manifest in the priority service pouch (SS950) and secure with blue tamper-proof seal (SS956) or a grey bag (MB8) which needs to be secured with a blue seal (SP61). Ensure that the despatch receipt matches the items in the bag/pouch. The collection driver signs the customer copy as a proof of posting.
- 4. In the event that the OBA sales order is not available, a Customer Collections Receipt (CCR) must be completed and given to the driver. In the event you hand over your mail to the Post Office directly, repeat the steps 1-4 above but do not seal the bag/pouch. Same documentation checks apply.

Non account customers

Business Meter Customers
- 1. Ensure you apply the correct postage for each item using your franking machine.
- 2. Apply International Signed For™ barcoded label (P4723) to each item as well as CN22/CN23 customs declaration for non-EU items.
- 3. Complete Despatch Receipt P6565 and place an upper copy in the priority service pouch or a grey bag.
- 4. Place all your International Signed For™ items in the priority service pouch (SS950) and secure with blue tamper-proof seal (SS956) or a grey bag (MB8) which needs to be secured with a blue seal (SP61). Ensure that the despatch receipt matches the items in the bag/pouch. The collection driver signs the customer copy as a proof of posting.
- 5. Complete the customer collection receipt as proof of collection.
- 6. Should you choose to take your mail to the Post Office counter directly, you should follow steps 1-4 but should not seal the bag. The post office clerk will sign the P6565 despatch receipt as proof of posting.

Personal customers
Customers have the option to buy International Signed For™ online or to go to their nearest Post Office branch.
- 1. Buying International Signed For™ online - follow this link to our online shop.
- 2. Buying International Signed For™ at Post Office^® - simply take your item to the nearest post office branch and everything will be taken care of for you.

Summary of mail supplies for business users when posting International Signed For™:

Product	Product Code	Description
International Signed For™ barcoded label	P4723	Must be applied to each item to enable tracking and provide security
Despatch Book	P6565	Provides proof of posting and collection
Priority Services pouch	SS950	Ensures your items are kept separate and secure
Grey bag	MB8
Pouch tamper proof seal	SS956	Used to secure your priority services pouch
Grey bag seal	SP61	Used to secure your grey bag
CN22 Customs Declaration Label	Can be downloaded from our website (see customs requirements link above)	For goods up to £270 in value going to non-EU destinations
CN23 Customs Declaration Label	Can be downloaded from our website (see customs requirements link above)	For goods over £270 in value going to non-EU destinations

You can order mail supplies:

From online mail supplies
By contacting 08457 950 950

5. Acceptable size and dimensions

Items in the form of a letter or packet
Minimum: One surface at least 90mm x 140mm
Maximum: Length plus depth plus width 900mm
No single side must be longer than 600mm.

Postcards
Minimum: 90mm x 140mm
Maximum: 120mm x 235mm
Non-rectangular postcards must be enclosed in an envelope and posted at the Airmail or Surface mail letter rate.

Items in the form of a roll
Minimum: length plus 2 x diameter should be at least 170mm
No single side can be shorter than 100mm
Maximum: Length plus 2 x diameter should not be more than 1040mm. Length not over 900mm.

There is a weight limit on ISF items of up to 2kg for letters Airmail Printed Papers and Airmail Small Packets (1kg for Airmail Small Packets to Saudi Arabia) and up to 5kg for Printed Papers.

Additional restrictions on Printed Papers:

Worldwide - only books and pamphlets accepted up to 5kg
Republic of Ireland - only books accepted up to 5kg
Cambodia/Canada - the maximum weight allowable for all items is 2kg

6. Customs Requirements

Customs authorities around the world are cracking down on mail arriving in their country without the required customs declarations correctly completed. If you’re posting packets or parcels outside the EU and fail to complete the CN22 or CN23 correctly, your items may be delayed, returned to you or even seized.

For everything you need to know on customs requirements, please visit our customs page.

7. General restrictions and prohibitions

The Royal Mail Keeping Mail Safe lists all the items that are restricted or prohibited items in the UK or internationally.
Make sure that you label and pack your item correctly if the contents are restricted.
If your item doesn’t appear on the list, you can ask in person at your nearest Post Office^® or call us on 08457 740 740.

8. Your compensation entitlement

Compensation can only be claimed in the event of loss or damage. International Signed For™ is not a guaranteed product so no compensation can be claimed in the event of delay. If you require a guaranteed service, please go to www.parcelforce.com.

Maximum compensation for loss or damage to an International Signed For™ item is 100 times the price of a first class stamp (currently £39), unless extra compensation has been purchased. Extra compensation is available up to £250 or £500 (but please see exceptions for cash and mobile telephones below). Consequential Loss is not available for International Signed For™ items.

The maximum compensation payable when extra compensation has been purchased for items containing coins, banknotes or currency notes, securities or instruments payable to bearer (e.g. cheques; bankers drafts; travellers cheques) has been limited to £100 per item.

Extra compensation is not available for mobile telephones (or PDAs or Blackberries, etc) sent via International Signed For™. Therefore, the maximum compensation payable for loss or damage to a mobile telephone is 100 times the price of a first class stamp. Please note that when Airsure^® is used to send a packet containing a mobile telephone together with other items, additional compensation in excess of £39 can be purchased but this will only cover the other contents.

Items containing coins, banknotes or currency notes, securities or instruments payable to bearer (eg cheques; bankers drafts; travellers cheques), platinum, gold or silver (whether manufactured or not) and other precious stones, jewels and other valuable articles must be sent by either Airsure or International Signed For™ (availability depending on country).

Please check individual country entries to ensure that the particular destination will accept such items and to check whether there are any other specific requirements for sending valuables to a particular country.

When to claim

We allow 20 working days for items to arrive at European destinations and 25 working days for the rest of the world, so cannot accept a claim for loss unless at least 20 or 25 working days have passed since the item was posted. All claims must be submitted by the sender within six months of posting the item.

Claims can be made by visiting our customer service page or completing the P58 form for lost or damaged mail which is available at Post Office branches.

9. Customer Services

If you are unable to find information you need, you can visit our customer services section where you will find additional information and who to contact for further assistance.

10. Useful links

Document Library

Download product information, from application forms to user guides.

All the documents are available to download in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you don't already have it you can download the free Acrobat Reader.

Schedule	Last Updated
International Services Specific Terms Specific terms for international services, for use in conjunction with Royal Mail General Terms and Conditions (www.royalmail.com/termsandconditions) Version June 2009, File Size 98 kb	29/06/09

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