POS Malaysia is going to stop selling postal orders (PO) when the current stock runs out. That’s a business decision.

But what’s not fair is that the existing stock of PO are not being sold at the face value stated on them, and not even according to the notice to customers dated December 28, 2020. For instance, the commission as printed on a PO for RM2 is RM0.20 and on a RM10 is RM0.50.

I had a very rude shock when I purchased RM12 worth of PO and was charged a commission of RM7.80 (I wonder why it is not a round figure of RM8.00?)    

Surfing the internet, I found out that the new commission rate on Money Orders (MO) has been increased as from January 1, 2021. The notice to customers states that “The revised fees are also applicable for Postal Orders beginning January 1, 2021, for the same value stated above.”

The revised rate for MO value of RM0 to RM49.99 is RM3.90 and for above RM50, it is RM5.90.

Thus, when I purchased PO valued at RM12, the commission (now termed “issue fee”) should have been RM3.90 and not RM7.80 as charged.

PO’s are in denominations of RM1, RM2, RM3, RM4, RM5, RM10, RM20 and RM30. So to get RM12.00, one needs to buy a RM2 and another RM10.

To get RM49 of PO, one would need to purchase each of RM30, RM10, RM5 and RM4. According to the notice, the commission should be RM3.90 so as to be the same as for a MO of the same value. But one will be charged RM3.90 x 4 = RM15.60. Is this what the notice dated December 28, 2020, means?    

I was charged RM3.90 for each of them. This is not according to the circular which talks of “value” and not per piece. The value of my purchase was below RM49.99 for which the charge is RM3.90 for an MO. The language is clear, i.e. if the value of the POs purchased is not more than RM49.99, then the commission or fee (whatever the name) should be the equivalent charged for an MO of the same value. So, who interpreted the notice to mean RM3.90 per piece (even for a RM1 PO!)  when they are bought in a single receipt?  

Secondly, the staff attending to me never informed me of this beforehand, and that it would be cheaper to purchase a MO instead and pay RM3.90 instead of RM7.80.

Further, when one is doing a “stock clearance” sale, one does not increase prices! They are usually reduced. I don’t expect PO commission prices printed on the PO’s to be reduced, but they should be maintained and all the existing stock sold off at the face values. It smacks of profiteering to increase the commission on PO that are being phased out and then not even complying with the circular that commission will be based on VALUE and not number of pieces of PO needed to make the required sum.

Should Pos Malaysia not refund the excess of RM3.90 charged? – June 21, 2021.

* Ravinder Singh reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.