Sir, - Last week I wrote a letter to friends in America and posted it off with the appropriate stamp and aerphost sticker. On the back of the envelope I wrote, my own name and address, clearly marked "From".
The following morning the letter arrived back at my home. There was a postal mark on the back on the envelope (where of course there were no stamps). I phoned An Post to discover how this error had occurred to be told that the letter had apparently been put into the sorting machine "the wrong way up".
I pointed out that it was the normal custom, and recommended by An Post, that overseas letters should carry the sender's name and address and was told that this should be written on the left corner of the front of the envelope - this was An Post policy.
I asked why this was the case, the public had not been informed about it and suggested that An Post should make a point of doing this as it could avoid letters being returned to the sender. The spokesperson said there had been a campaign about two years ago to instruct the public on this matter.
If there ever was such a campaign I have yet to meet anyone who is aware of it but perhaps on behalf of An Post, and in view of my own experience, I should warn the public of the possibility" of having their post returned to them if they make the "mistake I did! Before I re posted my letter I simply deleted my name and address from the back of the envelope and sent it on its way again - hopefully, this time, with better results! - Yours, etc.,
Knocknashee, Goatstown,
Dublin 14.