@Edent I had assumed #RoyalMail signed a hash of the stamps information (unique serial, issue data etc), hash it with SHA-3 and use ECC to encrypt the combined output and some MAC bits, then some redundancy in the QR code. Back of napkin math says 1200-1400 bits which you should able to hold in a QR code.
I’m just surprised that the fakes a slipping through in bulk buys. You’d think whoever is buying 15000 scans a few stamps to verify they’re authentic and unused.
The looming end of #RoyalMail as we know it, it (for Aditya Chakrabortty) symbolic of (exemplary of) a more general crisis in the UK & its institutions:
The crisis for the #postalservice, parallels 'a country [that] sinks into complacent underachievement: with false promises from its politicians, with poor management by its corporate leaders, with a lazy regulator – and moneymen who rake off as much as they can before running for the exit'.
Enter any post code, and it'll then say that one needs to pay to reschedule a delivery---I assume to get ones credit/debit card details. Please beware of this website.
In 1980 a First Class stamp cost 12p which equates to about 50p today. The actual cost is now £1.25. Can anyone explain why it now costs more than double?
Whilst it's tempting to assume that privatisation is to blame and that shareholders are the beneficiaries, I wonder whether there are other reasons?
Quick postal tip... #RoyalMail will (currently) do free collection from home for post if you pay online (they'll even bring labels).
Quite useful if you've any overseas #ChristmasCards to send and you don't want to take that trip to a #PostOffice to post...
> We’re expecting it or Item despatched to Royal Mail - The sender has advised they’ve despatched their item to us. We'll update the tracking information when we've processed your item.
#UK folks, does this mean that the seller has actually sent the item to Royal Mail, or is Royal Mail still waiting for the package to actually arrive to one of their offices... It seems quite odd that a package would still not arrive after 4 days incl weekend...
Royal Mail Stamps & Collectibles have produced a very special set of stamps to commemorate 40 years of Terry Pratchett's Discworld series of books.
With a variety of items to buy featuring this set of 7+1 stamps, which are all lavishly illustrated by Paul Kidby, there are options for all pockets including some first day covers and postcards !
You can pre-order now, release date is the 10th August 2023.
I sent 1st tracked mail to Canada on the 17th, RM tracking has been saying "Sorry, there was a problem, please try again" for days but Canada Post received it on the 20th and it's due to be delivered tomorrow.
An untracked 1st UK Large Letter hasn't arrived a week after posting.
Another signed for 1st UK LL is still "In Transit" after 2 weeks.
🆕 blog! “Ways in which Royal Mail could save its business”
With the news that Royal Mail wants to end Saturday delivery, I got to thinking about how I'd try to innovate a way out of the mess they're in. The facts are that the critical mass of letter delivery has gone. It isn't coming back. Yes, I know your grandad likes receiving his bank statements …