Any update on Benefits contract?

[mrbounce]

Does anybody know whats happening with the benefits contract or when a decision is going to be made?

[mygeneration]

More to the point, has anyone had sight of the tender document?

In a previous life I used to manage contracts for British Gas, so I'm familar with some of the European Procurement Regs.

I have serious reservations that govt are doing all they can to retain this business for Post Offices, .

[PostalOfficer]

I have serious reservations that govt are doing all they can to retain this business for Post Offices, .

I have no such reservations...after all the gov't recently said they would find more work for us to do
Incidentally has anybody else had the idea of barcoding green giros to save all the bother of stop lists etc?

[POSTMAN]

Bit here the other day...
http://www.royalmailchat.co.uk/communit ... 18&t=32168" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[subbie]

Hi Postal Officer

The new contract (should POL win it) is for a plastic swipe card that will also have ATM functionality should the customer choose it, Horizon will produce a slip which the customer will sign, we will have to verify ID, and pay out.

You can guess who will take the blame if customer says it wasn't them who drew the cash cant you, it will be us for not allegedly checking ID properly. Happy Days.

Let Pay Point have this crock of ***** I say.

Subbie

[PostalOfficer]

The new contract (should POL win it) is for a plastic swipe card that will also have ATM functionality should the customer choose it, Horizon will produce a slip which the customer will sign, we will have to verify ID, and pay out.

You can guess who will take the blame if customer says it wasn't them who drew the cash cant you, it will be us for not allegedly checking ID properly. Happy Days.

Let Pay Point have this crock of ***** I say.

Subbie

So it's the same system as now, but with a plastic card instead of a bit of paper! Same old aggro about ID etc. If it has ATM functionality, it must have the capability of using a PIN, so why not make it like a card account. They talk about saving money and then invent an archaic system like this!

If it wasn't for losing the last substantial bit of work my office has, I would say PayPoint are wellcome to it, or maybe an investment bank would like to tender for the work

[subbie]

>>>>They talk about saving money and then invent an archaic system like this! <<<<

The savings are in the removal of paper based cheques, and all the associated processing and fraud costs.

Good innit?

Subbie

[PostalOfficer]

>>>>They talk about saving money and then invent an archaic system like this! <<<<

The savings are in the removal of paper based cheques, and all the associated processing and fraud costs.

Subbie

Hmm. I can see cheques being costly to print and store and understand the savings that can be made replacing them with plastic. I was thinking more of the difficulties we experience with stop lists, cheques that are stolen and maybe found and presented at a later date. They used to call it 'instrument of payment' fraud with benefit books.

Re-reading the posts, I presume that both green giros and POCA are up for tender?

From previous experience I would assume that if there is any money to be made, somebody else will get it. If there is no money in it we will win the contract and then get blamed for not making enough profit.

[newsubbie]

So it looks like the contract is going to PayPoint. So much for making the Post Office a 'front office' for government and offering more contracts. First opportunity and them take work away! Oh, but they wont announce it until the current bill has become law to avoid any slip ups

[kathleen1]

Does anybody know whats happening with the benefits contract or when a decision is going to be made?

Oh dear! All green giros from 2012 will be dealt with by PAYPOINT, they won the contract from the government today not good news for the postoffice network.Under eu regulations it had to be put out to tender,paypoint was cheaper and thats why they won it. No more fights over identification anymore.

[Mad Max]

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has today announced that the Post Office has not been awarded the contract to provide Simple Money Transmission Services (SMoTS), the replacement for the Green Giro service.

[billyhayes]

WE'RE DOOMED!!!

frazer.jpg

LOL at the paypoints, I say.

Yes I know, before anyone states the bleedin' obvious, we have lost a LOT of income on this, but with every cloud...

They will have all the 3:30 jobcentre kick-outs descending on them now.

They will have a queue of 'em all nicking their lagers etc out of the fridge while waiting to be served.

They lift stuff out of our office and there is NOTHING worth taking here, but they still take whatever they can. Envelopes, pens etc etc....WTF!????

Good riddance.

Now lets hope Dickie and the rest of 'em have got great plans ahead for the network in place of the giros, if not... Well, I'll see you in the Paypoint queue

[DGP1]

Will the Paypoint outlets carry enough cash to pay people? I personally can't see them carrying more than £200 because they're such easy robbery targets.

[kitkat]

I've heard paypoint have also got the parcel contract as well. Simple drop offs at set prices for upto 5kg and 10kg and local collect.

[The BFO]

Will the Paypoint outlets carry enough cash to pay people? I personally can't see them carrying more than £200 because they're such easy robbery targets.

They will use the cash they receive from Bill Payments which will be more than enough. It's probably good for them because they will not have so much surplus cash to dispose of.

Your point about security is a good one though - our equipment is expensive.