When users wish to send a package or other postal item, they must take into account the conditions under which it may be accepted by the postal service provider. Proper packaging, compliance with weight and size limits and the accurate provision of the information required for delivery can help prevent issues during the collection, transportation, and delivery process.
In this context, the National Authority for Management and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM) recommends that users verify, before sending an item, the acceptance conditions established by the postal service provider they have chosen. These include rules on packaging and labelling, particularly for fragile goods or items requiring special handling, as well as the list of postal items prohibited from transport.
Verifying the acceptance and packaging conditions before shipment
Before sending a postal item, ANCOM advises senders to verify the general terms and conditions of the chosen provider (available on its website), in particular the information relating to:
- the maximum permissible weight and size limits for the parcel;
- packaging rules;
- goods that are not accepted for transport or for which there are special conditions;
- filling in the identification data and address of the sender and recipient;
- conditions applicable to goods that are fragile or require special handling;
- additional services available, such as declared value or electronic tracking of the shipment route;
- the maximum permissible value of the cash-on-delivery amount and of the postal money order, respectively;
- the specific procedure for the submission of the postal item and the payment of the postal service charge;
- the conditions and deadlines under which compensation may be claimed in the event of loss, theft, destruction or damage to the shipment.
ANCOM recommends users to check this information before preparing the parcel, in particular when shipping bulky, heavy, fragile objects or objects that require special transport conditions.
What shipments can be refused for collection?
There are situations where a postal item may not be accepted. Items whose carriage is prohibited by law cannot be accepted for collection, sorting, transportation and delivery. Furthermore, postal items may be refused if they cannot be processed using the provider’s ordinary staff and equipment or if their transportation is subject to special requirements under administrative, economic, sanitary, veterinary, or phytosanitary regulations.
In general, postal items are also not accepted if their packaging bears inscriptions that are contrary to public order or public morality, or if they carry old labels or markings that have not been removed.
With regard to food products, ANCOM draws attention to the fact that special transport and storage requirements apply to such items, as established, for example, by sanitary-veterinary regulations, or, depending on the nature of the goods, that their transportation may even be prohibited. As a rule, the providers do not accept parcels containing perishable goods for delivery. Furthermore, if an item that is not accepted for transport is nevertheless shipped, the provider assumes no liability for any damage to or destruction of the contents.
ANCOM also recommends that users consult the packaging guidelines (for electronics, glass items, cosmetic products, etc.) made available by postal service providers on their websites.
COMPLAINT-related info
More information on the conditions for submitting postal items is available on ANCOM’s website dedicated to users of electronic, digital and postal communications services, https://infocentru.ancom.ro, in the Postal Services section.
Any complaints regarding the acceptance or non-acceptance and handling of postal items should be addressed first and foremost to the postal service provider, as it is best placed to provide specific explanations and appropriate solutions.
In the absence of an amicable solution with the provider, users who contest the lastter’s refusal to take over a postal item for delivery can contact ANCOM by following the steps described here.