Old commission rate on postal orders leave customers baffled

Even 15 years after implementation of revised commission rates, the Indian Postal Orders (IPO) being issued at various post offices in the city still carry the old commission rate as 50 paise, leading to confusion and quarrels.

The rate was revised to `1 in 1999 for IPOs up to `10.

As per information obtained by a city-based resident under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the head post office of Ludhiana had confirmed that `1 was the new commission rate for IPOs up to `10 and 10% for other IPOs. But as the post offices still have stock of old IPOs, they have been issuing them, while charging `1 commission.

As a result, visitors can often be seen arguing with officials at the post offices in the city.

Ramesh Srivastav, a resident, said he bought 10 IPOs from the head post office near Bharat Nagar Chowk. “An official demanded `110 for 10 IPOs from me, while the commission was listed at 50 paise on each IPO, making the total `105. When I asked him how the total came to `110, he replied that `1 was charged as commission.”

A visitor, requesting anonymity, said, “I bought IPO of `5 on which commission was mentioned as 50 paise. But the official concerned demanded `1 commission, even as the information is not displayed anywhere at the post office.”

The staff at the head post office claimed that commission rates were revised in 1999, but the old stock had not finished.

According to a source, the employees concerned were directed to use stamp of revised commission to avoid confusion, but the stamp was not being used.

The head post master was not available for comments. The staff refused to share contact details of the post master.