Isle of Man Post Office (IOMPO) is pleased to announce details of its Christmas arrangements for 2021 including last recommended posting dates, opening and closing times, and collection and delivery times across its services for the festive period, along with other important information for customers.
Last Recommended Posting Dates
We would like to reiterate the importance of ordering and posting early, especially this year due to the effect leaving the EU has on supply chains and also due to the impact the pandemic has on all postal administrations around the world. Posting as early as possible will avoid any disappointments on Christmas Day and therefore our last recommended posting dates may be earlier than they have been in previous years.
Last recommended posting dates to international destinations start from Monday 29th November; for a full list of posting dates for international destinations customers should refer to www.iompost.com/christmas and regularly check announcements via our social media channels.
For friends and family of HM Forces personnel, mail must be sent by no later than Thursday 25th November for operational British Forces Post Office (BFPO) and for static BFPOs no later than 2nd December. Don't forget friends and family can continue to send letters and parcels up to 2kg free of charge to any BFPO address.
The last posting date for sending letters, large letters and packets to the UK via first class mail (no delivery date guarantee) is Monday 20th December; the last posting date for Special Delivery and Parcelforce express24 to UK as well as local to local letters, large letters and packets is Wednesday 22nd December. The local to local Special Delivery deadline is Thursday 23rd December.
Customers are also reminded to make sure their letters and parcels are properly addressed including a postcode and a return name and address included and correct postage is applied to avoid any delays. For information about prices, packaging and addressing standards visit www.iompost.com/christmas.
Isle of Man Post Office Retail Network
The Post Office network will be open as normal in the lead up to Christmas. However, on Friday, 24th December and 31st December most of the sub-post offices and delivery offices will close early; Post Office Headquarters will close at 15:00 and Northern Delivery Office will close at 13:00. All Post Offices will be closed on Saturday 25th December – Tuesday 28th December and Saturday 1st January - Monday 3rd January 2022. Branches including the delivery offices will be open as normal on Wednesday 29th December and Thursday 30th December. As of Tuesday 4th January 2022, all Post Offices and delivery offices will revert to their usual opening hours.
For a full breakdown of opening hours for all branches over the festive period visit www.iompost.com/christmas. Opening times may vary.
MiCard
During the festive period the Department of Health and Social Care has advised of the early encashment of pensions and allowances for the convenience of customers. Allowances due for payment on Friday 24th December and Monday 27th – Wednesday 29th December can be collected from Thursday 23rd December 2021. Allowances due for payment on Friday 31st December 2021 and Monday 3rd January 2022 can be collected from Thursday 30th December 2021.
Sending Mail
Customers are kindly reminded to make sure any items being sent are safe to fly this Christmas. Many everyday items and gifts including perfume, nail varnish and toiletry sets containing aerosols are classified as prohibited or restricted under transport legislation therefore some cannot be flown, particularly those items over 100ml in size. For a full list of prohibited and restricted items visit www.iompost.com/restricted. Alternatively, if you are unsure about any items you wish to post to the UK or overseas this Christmas, please contact Customer Services on 664664 or ask at your local post office.
Customs Declarations for International Items
Customers are kindly reminded that since 1st January 2021 it has been a legal requirement that all items containing goods being sent to destinations beyond the UK, including Channel Islands, must have a fully completed customs declaration (CN22/23 or CP72 if using Parcelforce services) detailing the contents of any mail, packets and parcels. To avoid any unnecessary additional time when customers visit a post office, the form can be printed from our website in advance by visiting www.iompost.com/ecd allowing customers to complete the form in advance, handing it to the post office staff with the parcel. For those customers unable to do this, copies are available to complete at all post offices.
Receiving Mail
Customers who miss their parcel delivery are advised that they can request to direct their item to one of fourteen convenient Island-wide locations for collection by using our online redelivery request service www.iompost.com/collections. Customers who provide a mobile phone number will receive a text message notification when the parcel is at their requested location ready for collection. Many of these locations provide extended opening hours allowing customers to collect at a time that is suitable to them.
Isle of Man Post Office encourages customers to sign up for the Authority to Sign service. This allows the post person to sign for any items requiring a signature on behalf of the customer and leave them in a safe location on the property while customers are out. Details of Authority to Sign services can be found at www.iompost.com/ats or ask at your local post office for a form.
Christmas Stamps
This year’s Christmas stamps “Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends at Christmas”, issued on 27th October, feature Thomas and Friends wintering on the Isle of Man. They are available to purchase online at www.iompost.com/postal-shop in quantities of 48 self-adhesive stamps or at your local post office. There are also a number of collectable items that would make wonderful Christmas gifts which are available from www.iompost.com/Thomas.
Letters to Father Christmas
This Christmas Isle of Man Post Office continue to offer a free reply service, on behalf of Father Christmas, for all the children that write letters him. Father Christmas will endeavour to respond to each and every letter so these should be sent as soon as possible in an envelope with a first class stamp, so it reaches Lapland in a timely manner. Letters without a stamp will not reach Lapland. To ensure children are not disappointed, all letters should also include a return address, so Father Christmas knows who to send a reply to. Information about Father Christmas letters and sending and receiving Christmas mail can be found on the Christmas page of our website www.iompost.com/christmas.
Self-service kiosks
Customers are also reminded of the Isle of Man Post Office’s self-service Pay & Post Kiosks which are positioned across the Island and offer convenient access to postal services out of working hours without the need to queue. The Pay & Post Kiosks assist those customers wishing to pay to send letters and packets, purchase postage and pay Government rates and rents, fixed and endorsable penalty fines and utility bills. Details of their locations can be found at www.iompost.com/kiosks.
All information is correct at the time of publication and subject to change. For up to date information please visit www.iompost.com/christmas or follow Isle of Man Post Office on Facebook and Twitter.
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