Latvijas Pasts ensures universal postal services through intermediation already at 65 locations

09.01.2014

Latvijas Pasts ensures universal postal services through intermediation already at 65 locations

From January 2014, the universal postal service in the form of intermediation is provided already at 65 locations in Latvia, and residents of sparsely populated areas are thereby able to continue receiving high-quality postal services. From now on, postal services in Ķepova and Zalve parishes each working day will be ensured by the company's mail carrier, who best understands the postal service usage habits of the local residents. Provision of the universal postal service through intermediation is stipulated by the Postal Law, and Latvijas Pasts, in cooperation with local governments, ensures it in sparsely populated places where the low postal service usage level does not allow maintaining a traditional post office.

Until the end of 2013, residents of Ķepova parish were able to receive postal services through intermediation at Saulīte GD SIA, but due to cessation of the store's work, from January 2, 2014, postal services are provided by the local mail carrier in the parish administration building in Neikšāni, Ķepova parish. In Zalve parish, it was not possible to find a new post office employee to replace the postal operator who left the position, so from January 10 postal services in this area will be provided by the local mail carrier. Starting from that date, postal services to residents each working day will be provided at Atpūtas, Zalve parish. Informative notices regarding the upcoming changes will be posted at the post office and delivered to each resident of the area.

Taking into account the low level of postal service usage in Ķepova and Zalve parishes, where up to six postal services per day are processed on average, it is expected that provision of the services through intermediation of a mail carrier will be the optimal solution in these areas.

In places where the functions of post offices are provided in the form of intermediation by mail carriers, all universal postal services are available. At the postal service provision locations, residents have an opportunity to receive and submit domestic and international correspondence (letters, parcels, packets, etc.), pay for utilities and other invoices (Latvenergo, Latvijas gāze, Lattelecom, LMT, Tele2, Bite), make deposits in a Postal Payments System account or a credit institution account, subscribe for press, purchase stamps and other products.

Upon receiving a notice regarding the receipt of registered mail, residents who live in an area where postal services are provided by a mail carrier have an opportunity to receive the mail at the post office that services the respective area or at the mail carrier, notifying the relevant post office in advance and specifying the date when the customer wishes to receive the mail. Residents of Ķepova must contact the Dagda post office by calling 65653069; residents of Zalve must contact the Nereta post office by calling 65176233.

For a separate fee - € 2.82 - the mail can be delivered to the customer's place of residence. Alternatively, by using the service Ekstra Pasts, products ordered from online stores can be picked up at one of 59 Statoil fuel stations throughout Latvia; the list is available here.

Latvijas Pasts reminds that several postal services are available to customers at their place of residence: it is possible to receive money transfers, pensions, pay for utilities and other invoices, purchase the products available at post offices (including calling cards, household and hygiene products, etc.), subscribe for press, submit postcards and letters, and apply for delivery of mail at home.

The need to ensure efficient provision of postal services to customers in sparsely populated areas - while at the same time stabilizing the financial performance of Latvijas Pasts - is envisaged also by the Latvijas Pasts business plan approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. Therefore, in regions where postal services are used little and it is impossible to cover the expenses of maintaining a post office without generating losses for the company, postal services are provided by the local mail carrier.

The disposition of postal service locations is determined in accordance with the regulatory documents and the universal postal service quality requirements established by the Public Utilities Commission.

In accordance with this decision, there must be at least 30 fixed postal service locations in Riga, and at least one fixed postal service location in each republican city or municipal city; if there are more than 20,000 permanent residents, an additional fixed service provision location must be established for each subsequent 20,000 residents. In each municipality, if it has no territorial classification, or in each territorial unit of a municipality, there is at least one postal service provision location.

At present, Latvijas Pasts in the largest cities maintains up to eight post offices more than required by the Public Utilities Commission.

About SJSC Latvijas Pasts

Latvijas Pasts ensures the widest availability of postal services throughout Latvia by maintaining more than 600 post offices. The primary function of the company is provision of the universal postal service; Latvijas Pasts also provides commercial transport, express mail, payment, press subscription, retail and philatelic services. Latvijas Pasts is a wholly State-owned company with more than 4,200 employees.

Additional information:
Zane Plone,
Public Relations Specialist
Phone: +371 67608504
E-mail: zane.plone@pasts.lv
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