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An Post should hand out jars of this stuff when you go to collect a parcel. 

Went in to An Post today to pick up a shipment from the US of A which I had recently purchased on eBay (more about that later).  So I got caught for VAT / Import duty on it for €26.02.  Fair enough.  But here’s where everyones favourite Petroleum Jelly comes in to it.  I also got charged €6.00 by An Post for collecting the €26.02 from me, on behalf of the Revenue Commisioners.  So I’ve paid (rather handsomely) for the delightful privilege of being charged VAT??!!?  W-T-F !!!!!!!  How the fuck do they justify €6.00 – what did they do in order to generate €6.00 worth of work on their behalf.  Firstly, they told me there was money owing.  I then had to go round to the nearest ATM, because, God forbid, An Post of course don’t do Laser or take Cheques or take Credit Cards (one wonders what would they be charging for the pleasure if they did – for that matter they don’t even open their parcel office on Saturday mornings – that’d really be pushing the boat out in terms of customer service).  I came back, handed the chap behind the counter a €50 note, a €2 coin and 2 cent to make it as easy as possible for them.  He then had to give me €20 change, which he did in the form of 2 €10 notes.  All very strenuous for An post I’m sure you’ll agree.  Presumably there’s some back office work that then happens so that the €26.02 gets to the Revenue.  But €6′s worth????  Even Ryanair don’t charge that much for their hidden charges.

Is it any wonder that the public service is so utterly screwed up in this country.  There was probably a strike looming in An Post when they became the collection agents for the Revenue unless the workers got paid additional money for job changes and training and stress and God knows what other spurrious reasons the unions could think of.  They’re probably getting a couple of euros extra in their pay packet to take on this strenuous activity. 

Plink…

Aaahhh.  The sound of a penny dropping.  Or €6 dropping to be more precise.