Sir, – Millions of euro are lost each year through a flaw in serving summonses by registered post.
When the postman calls at the address of an alleged television licence defaulter, that alleged defaulter can refuse to sign for the registered post containing the summons.
If the alleged defaulter does not answer the door when the postman calls, a “docket in box” note is left to inform the addressee that they can collect that item by calling to their local post office to redeem that item. It is unlikely that there will be a response to that request.
Furthermore, An Post does not apply to the court for a “order of substitute service” to serve the summons by ordinary post.
These flaws create a huge loss of revenue, not alone to RTÉ, but to other corporate bodies too. – Yours, etc,
EDWARD MAHON,
Clonskeagh. Dublin 14.