Did you receive a registered mail notification? You'll soon know who the sender is

July 31, 2014   

The Knesset plenum approved on first reading a bill requiring Israel Post to indicate the sender's details on notifications delivered to the recipient regarding the receipt of registered mail and large packages, and requiring him to come to the post office to receive the package.

This is a government bill, which was attached to a private bill submitted by MK Uri Maklev.

Maklev, who presented the law in the Knesset plenum, explained: "In order for the recipient to be able to consider his steps regarding the collection of the mail, he should have the right to know who sent him the mail envelope. What happens is that people receive a notice of a mail item, stand in line for a long time, and finally receive a calendar or any advertising item that they do not want at all.".

On the other hand, there are also opposite cases, in which, due to the long lines at post offices, citizens do not have time to go and receive registered mail, and in many cases these are inquiries from lawyers and authorities regarding fines and the like, and sometimes the fines are increased because the recipient did not receive the message at all and did not know about it.

""Obviously, if the recipient has the ability to know who the sender is, he can think about whether it is really important for him to see that email information. This move will save the recipient unnecessary hassle and waste of time," he added.

MK Maklev also noted in the discussion that as postal service declines, the sender's note on the mail is required. "Unlike other courier companies in the economy that have adapted themselves to the absent and carry out distribution in the afternoon and evening hours, today it is almost impossible for the postmen to arrive while the recipient is at home, and therefore the public has no choice but to come to the post office and cause unnecessary congestion," he said, noting that "this amendment to the law is also expected to help streamline service at post offices.".

During the discussion, Communications Minister Gilad Erdan said that while he was a regular Knesset member, he submitted a similar bill, but it failed to advance. "I am glad that today we were able to pass the bill that will prevent the public from wasting their time and money, and at the same time will shorten the lines at the post office.".