I parcelled up two aran jackets I’d knitted for my two young grandsons. Having sent similar in the past I knew it would cost me around 7.00 euros. Went to post office, not knowing of the new rules. Parcel went back home with me. For the next 3 days myself and husband attempted to complete the necessary forms. We tried 3 or 4 times each day. It let us fill in all the details, kept letting us go to the next section. Eventually pressed ‘complete’ and it just sent us back to page one to start again. No email with bar-code, nothing. Sent two messages to the dedicated help-line, thinking it must be something simple we’re not doing. Got an automated reply, nothing more. So, I decided I’d send them separately in padded envelopes. Just to be sent normal post. They cost me 3.30 euros to buy. Still had to fill in the customs form! The woman behind the counter could tell I was becoming very frustrated with it all and offered to try and do it. It took her, along with help from her colleague, 20 minutes to do the first one. The second one took 10 minutes because she knew what she was doing. The two envelopes cost me 9.00 euros to send, add on the 3.30 for the envelopes, PLUS 5.00 euros for the customs forms! My original 7 euros is now 17.30!!

They have since arrived safely at their destination, thank goodness.

I would like to thank the staff at the Porta Nova, Tavira, post office for all their help.

DIANNE MEAKIN, Tavira