LOL!

SIR - Following the result of using the Royal Mail recorded delivery service, I have a cunning plan to save people money during the credit crunch.

I sent a very important cheque for my tax return to the tax man by Royal Mail recorded delivery.

I went online each day to check the progress of the letter.

After six days the letter had not 'arrived', but my bank statement showed the cheque had been cashed!

I continued to check the progress of the letter, but after 21 days, according to the Royal Mail computer, it still had not been delivered.

I phoned the Royal Mail and was told that large numbers of letters to places like the tax return office were checked only with a list of the recorded letters, so that it only requires one signature for the lot.

My letter was still reported as undelivered, so I sent a letter of complaint and received an apology and a book of six first class stamps.

So here is my cunning plan:

Buy 50 cheap envelopes and send them (empty) to HMRC Accounts Office BD9 88AA by second class recorded delivery. This will cost about £50, including the envelopes.

Wait 21 days and fill in a complaint form at your local post office for each non-recorded delivery (they won't be recorded).

You will receive 50 apologies and 50 books of six first class stamps, valued at £108.

That's a profit of around £58.

What can possibly go wrong?

Cheers.

Bruce Piggott (electronic engineer retired), WGC.

Source Welwyn and Hatfield Times 24.

Tax does have to be taxing.

HMRC Is Shite (www.hmrcisshite.com), also available via the domain www.hmrconline.com, is brought to you by www.kenfrost.com "The Living Brand"