01st March 2010 
 
 
 
Mr James Argent  
Freedom of Information Unit  
 
2nd Floor 
By Email: [FOI #28247 email] 
Royal Mail Sheffield 
 
Pond Street 
 
Sheffield 
 
S98 6HR 
 
 
 
[Royal Mail Group request email] 
www.royalmail.com 
 
Dear Mr Argent 
 
Re: Freedom of Information Request 
 
I am writing in response to your request for information which was submitted online on 2nd 
February 2010.  We have considered your request under the terms of the Freedom of 
Information Act 2000.  You requested the following information: 
 
“Could you please tell me what The Royal Mail ''official'' policy is with regards to letter's 
addressed RETURN TO SENDER NO CONTRACT ADDRESSEE NOT RECOGNISED.  I have 
been informed by my local sorting office that letters addressed NO CONTRACT RETURN TO 
SENDER ADDRESSEE NOT RECOGNISED are destroyed.” 
 
The phrase or label ‘RETURN TO SENDER NO CONTRACT ADDRESSEE NOT RECOGNISED’ 
is not used by Royal Mail in its operations.  This is not a term used in Royal Mail’s own 
Return to Sender categories and there is therefore no policy or procedure document which 
covers this phrase.  . 
 
Any undeliverable inland mail items which bear an external return address, regardless of 
the type of mail, would have a sticker attached showing the reason that the item could not 
be delivered, and would be returned to the sender.  Items of mail bearing this phrase would 
be categorised by Royal Mail, and marked as – ‘Addressee Unknown’ 
 
Where no external return address is provided on stamped mail items, these will be 
forwarded to the National Returns Centre in Belfast, where items are opened in order to 
identify a sender, and then returned, where appropriate. Where no sender can be found, 
items of sentimental, legal or financial value are stored for a period of 3 - 6 months 
Royal Mail Group Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered number 4138203. Registered office: 100 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0HQ. 
 
© Royal Mail Group Ltd 2010– Page 1 of 2 
 

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Cont… 
 
awaiting enquiry.  Business or direct mail (Meter, Franked, PPI or Mailsort mail) with no 
external return address displayed will be disposed of securely by Royal Mail.  Further 
information and advice for customers can be found on our website – www.royalmail.com.   
 
I hope that this suitably answers your request.  However, if you are not satisfied with this 
response, you do have the right to request a review.  If you wish to do so please set out in 
writing your grounds of appeal and send to The Head of Information Compliance, Royal 
Mail Group, Company Secretary's Office, 100 Victoria Embankment, LONDON, EC4Y 0HQ.  
An internal panel will then review your request, and you will be advised of the outcome. 
If you decide to request an internal review and are still not satisfied with our response you 
also have a right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at: 
Information Commissioner’s Office 
Wycliffe House 
Water Lane 
Wilmslow 
Cheshire 
SK9 5AF 
Telephone: 01625 545 700 
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk 
 
Yours sincerely 
 
 
Daniel Tulp 
Freedom of Information Case Officer 
[Royal Mail Group request email] 
  
Royal Mail Group Ltd is registered in England and Wales. Registered number 4138203. Registered office: 100 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0HQ. 
 
© Royal Mail Group Ltd 2010– Page 2 of 2 
 

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