SMS postage stamp
The SMS postage stamp ( French timbres-poste SMS , Italian francobollo SMS ) is an offer from Swiss Post , with which letters can be franked using a mobile phone.
history
In 2013, Swiss Post started a trial phase of the SMS postage stamp; it was finally introduced on September 1, 2014 after the offer had been used over 100,000 times during the trial phase.
functionality
An SMS is sent to a short value-added service number provided by Swiss Post . Swiss Post replies with a code that is written by hand on the letter at the top right.
The SMS postage stamp is only valid for A Mail letters in Germany up to B5 format, up to 100 g and up to 2 cm thick. The costs incurred are debited via the mobile phone subscription or prepaid credit.
criticism
As a consumer protection organization , the consumer forum criticized the higher price of an SMS postage stamp compared to a normal postage stamp when it was introduced.
Ulrich Giezendanner ( SVP ) addressed in an interpellation on the one hand the higher costs of an SMS postage stamp (1.20 francs at the time of the interpellation) compared to a postage stamp on paper (1 franc) and on the other hand, that one of the three national mobile phone providers does not offer this service. The Federal Council takes the position that both the costs incurred by short-code value-added service numbers and the provision of such “premium SMS” are left to the mobile phone providers.
Swiss Post responded to this criticism and, on January 1, 2017, adjusted the amount to the normal postage for A Mail letters to CHF 1.00.
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Tages-Anzeiger: Swiss Post is testing the SMS postage stamp
- ↑ Thurgauer Zeitung: Popular SMS stamp remains ( memento of the original from March 9, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ SRF: SMS should replace postage stamps
- ↑ Curia vista: Interpellation 13.4064: Discrimination when buying A Mail stamps by SMS
