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Independent Communications Authority of South Africa Act, 2000 (Act No. 13 of 2000)

Regulations

Customer Care Standards Amendment Regulations applicable to the Postal Service Licensee, 2021 : Effective 29 January 2022

2. The Customer Care Standards for Postal Services

[Regulation 2 heading substituted by section 4 of Notice No. 1464, GG45415, dated 29 October 2021: effective 29 January 2022]

 

2.1 VISIBILITY

 

The customer care standards for the Postal Service Licensee to be adhered to at all times are the following:

(a) The post office name and postal code must be displayed at the entrance of all post offices.
(b) Business hours must be displayed at all post offices.
(c) All post offices must display mail collection frequency and clearing times.
(d) Products and services currently on offer must be displayed at all post offices.
(e) Up-to-date posters of complaints procedures and dispute resolution mechanisms must be displayed at all post offices and on the Licensee’s website.
(f) All post offices must display the share call number, telephone number, and email address, as well as the fax number of the Licensee’s contact centre.
(g) All post offices must display the area manager’s contact details e.g., telephone number and email address.
(h) Directional signage must be visible on main access routes within a three (3) kilometre radius of all post offices.
(i) All post offices must have their Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates displayed on the Licensee’s website.

 

2.2. ACCESSIBILITY

 

(a) Post offices and postal services must be made accessible to persons with disabilities, and to older persons.
(b) Customer service time should not exceed seven (7) minutes for postal services.
(c) In the instance that queuing time exceeds seven (7) minutes, a Licensee, or the person delegated by the Licensee, must intervene to address the issue in the interest of customers.
(d) The Licensee must implement an electronic system for payment of postal services.
(e) In the event that a post office is to relocate or permanently close, the Licensee must display such a notice for the customers at least sixty (60) days before such closure or relocation.
(f) The post office relocation or closure notice must include the location of the nearest alternative post office.
(g) Should a post office be temporarily closed, the Licensee must immediately display such a notice, which must include information of the nearest post office.

 

2.3. LANGUAGE

 

A post office must communicate with its customers in English and in any other official language that is dominant in the area where the post office is situated.

 

2.4. REPORTS

 

(a) A Licensee must submit to the Authority quarterly reports on customer complaints it receives.
(b) Reports must be detailed and include, but not limited to:
(i) Number of complaints received per month, including unresolved complaints from previous months;
(ii) Name and surname of the complainant;
(iii) Date on which the complaint was received and resolved;
(iv) Nature of complaint received;
(v) Number of items lost per month;
(vi) Average turn-around times for all complaints resolved; and
(vii) Number of applications on the waiting list for post boxes.

 

2.5. STAFF

 

A Licensee must ensure that:

(a) Staff at all post offices have a thorough and accurate knowledge of their products and related services; and
(b) Staff wear corporate clothing and name tags.

 

2.6. CONSUMER CONFIDENTIALITY

 

Personal information of a customer must be processed in accordance with the requirements as set out in the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act No 4 of 2013).

 

2.7. INSURANCE POLICIES

 

Customers must be made aware of insurance facilities for lost or damaged letters or parcels, when entering into postal services transactions.

 

[Regulation 2 substituted by section 4 of Notice No. 1464, GG45415, dated 29 October 2021: effective 29 January 2022]