An Post - Price hike should be stamped out

EXACTLY a year ago, consumer anger erupted at news that An Post had received the green light to increase the cost of posting a letter.

As a monopoly, the State-owned company has a stranglehold on the Irish postal market. But it seems also to have a monopoly of the brass neck syndrome because 12 months later the State-owned group is once again knocking on the door of ComReg, the communications regulator, seeking yet another increase in postage rates.

Despite, or perhaps because of its exclusive position in the domestic market, An Post has been haemorrhaging money for years.