While in the queue, I observed the types of transaction that took place. I would say 80 per cent of customers were there to pay a bill (telco, utilities, TV licence and so on) or a fine (parking fines mostly). Most of these transactions could easily be carried out via Internet banking, ATM, SAM machine, mailed cheque, credit card, Giro, AXS machine or at a 7-Eleven store. But these were the people who formed the queue.

The point I wish to raise is, has the core business of Singapore Post become bill collection (perhaps more profitable than postal services)? If yes, it is a misnomer to call itself Singapore Post as my observations (albeit anecdotal) show most people were there for non-postal services.

If the answer is no, should Singapore Post not accord priority (as in a separate, dedicated queue) to serve customers who are there for postal services (such as sending parcels, collecting registered mail and buying postage stamps)? For the latter service, I have no choice as I cannot go elsewhere to collect my registered mail. Of course, customers can choose to go to Singapore Post to pay their bills or fines for their convenience, but they should not be accorded the same priority as customers who are there for the sole purpose of postal services.

On hindsight, I should have asked for my registered mail to be re-delivered to my home, but as I needed the item urgently I chose to go to the post office to collect it personally. However, my point remains that Singapore Post, as the national postal agency, should stick to its postal business and stop inconveniencing postal services customers. Or it should be renamed to better reflect its true business.

Cindy Tan Hui Cheng (Ms)