Services we provide

Key benefits

• Your front office: a way for you to give the public access to essential local and national services
• Located everywhere: with 11,500 branches and no closure programme planned we’re at the heart of every community
• Efficient and economical: we can help reduce costs and improve services

Why work with us?

We can provide a wide range of application and payment services, and because we’re a trusted and established part of the community you can be sure you’re reaching people in a secure, economical and convenient way.

• 93% of adults live within 1 mile of a branch (99% within 3 miles)
• 92% of adults visited our branches within the last 12 months (78% last month)
• 20 million adults – half of the adult population – visited a branch last week
• All socio economic groups use us – 42% of those who visit weekly are ABC1
• Half of all small businesses use us every week

It’s not just about access though, by using us as your front office you’ll reduce fraud though identity verification, improve the quality and accuracy of applications and reduce paper handling.

We provide a range of services for governmental departments and local councils.

Motorists can use one of our 750 Application, Enrolment and Identification (AEI) booths to renew their Photocard Driving Licence for 10 years.

Anyone applying for a new, renewal or replacement passport can use our Passport Check & Send service. Error rates with this service offered at our branches are consistently between 1% and 2%, compared to over 10% for applications sent direct to the Identity and Passport Service.

Those receiving benefits, state pensions and tax credit payments can collect their cash using our Post Office Card Accounts and over 3 million currently do.

Foreign nationals applying for residency in the UK can now use our advanced biometric data capture booths in around 100 of our branches, to enrol their biometricsYour biometric information (sometimes called 'biometrics') is the set of unique physical characteristics that can be used to identify you. When you apply for permission for a visa or permission to remain in the UK, we will scan your fingers and thumbs (10 digits) and photograph your face digitally. We’ll also capture a digital copy of your signature. and send their application to the UK Border Agency for approval.

We’re also running pilots for the Department of Work & Pensions for verification identity as part of the National Insurance application process, support for jobseekers in rural areas and verification of supporting documents like birth and marriage certificates for customers of the pension scheme.

We currently deliver essential services on behalf of over 300 local councils including an advanced suite of managed services for Westminster City Council. As well as in branch services we can also support online applications.

Rent and council tax services

An efficient and convenient service managed by local authorities or housing associations. This service lets tenants pay their rent or council tax in nominated Post Office branches using cards or vouchers issued by Santander.

Home Care

Many local authorities provide Home Care services that help anyone living on their own maintain their independence. Local authorities can sell stamps for these essential services at selected Post Office branches. People simply pop in branch and buy a stamp to show they’ve bought a Home Care service - simple and effective.

Meals on Wheels

These vouchers are sold on behalf of local authorities at selected Post Office branches in areas where Meals on Wheels is operating. Customers can pop into a branch and buy vouchers in order to pay for this service.   

Westminster City Council

If you're a Westminster City Council resident you can access the following services at one of 26 convenient Post Office branches:  

• Buy parking scratch cards
• Apply for a new parking permit
• Renew or amend an existing permit
• Pay a penalty charge notice (PCN)
• Pay your council tax
• Order commercial waste bags
• Pay rent (CityWest Homes tenants)
• Buy street trading vouchers

Parking scratch cards

Parking scratch cards can be used to pay for parking in a range of pay and display parking areas across Westminster. There are also other ways you can pay e.g. by phone.
Parking scratch cards are available in two values: £2.40 and £4.40 and are supplied in books of 10 and five respectively.

Parking permits

You can process some applications for Residents Parking Permits for Westminster City Council (WCC) through selected Post Office® branches in Westminster and Brent council areas (please see Branch address details below). You can get application forms from WCC either by downloading and printing the form from their website (westminster.gov.uk) or by calling WCC on: 0207 823 4567.

The ONLY services that can be processed at a Post Office branch are:

• First time applications for an on street Residents Parking Permit for one vehicle only
• Renewal of an existing on street Resident Parking Permit
• Change of address for an existing on street Resident Parking Permit
• Change of vehicle for an existing on street Resident Parking Permit

You will also need to provide evidence of residency and vehicle ownership. These documents may be originals or photocopies of originals.

Council tax payments

You can pay your council tax by cash, cheque or debit card at any bank or Post Office. For more details and other ways to pay visit westminster.gov.uk.

Commercial waste bags

Businesses in Westminster are required to pay for the collection and disposal of commercial waste. Businesses which do not have space for a metal rubbish bin can use the rubbish collection service by using special commercial waste bags which are paid for in advance. You can order and pay for pre-paid bags at 26 selected Post Office branches in Westminster and the London Borough of Brent (please see branch address details below). Bags will be delivered within 48 hours after payment has been received.

Street trading vouchers

The following Post Office branches sell casual trader vouchers due to their proximity to markets:

• Broadway
• Edgware Road
• Maida Hill

Each voucher enables street traders to trade for one day at various council operated markets within Westminster.

The table below shows the branches where Westminster City Council services are available