It stands to add to the complication of what is already a complicated operation Marcus Young, National Provincial Bank

At one central London post office, there were long queues as counter clerks explained the new system - to the dismay of some customers.

"I just don't think it's worth the increase," said one man. "Not when you see all these queues here, a number of positions not manned and people standing around. I just don't think it's worth it."

The biggest impact has been on businesses, which account for about 75% of all mail.

John Pegnall, the secretary of the National Chamber of Trades, said most were angry at what he called a "confidence trick" played on them by the Postmaster General, John Stonehouse.

"He's rather hidden the fantastic increase in charges - 33.3% in that particular rate... in the pretence that there's a fantastically good new service being introduced, when there's nothing of the kind," he said.

At the National Provincial Bank, which sends out millions of letters each year and spends over �500,000 on postal charges, there was concern over the extra costs in addition to the expense of a first-class service.

"A decision has got to be taken for every letter for which post it should go by, the envelope has to be marked, the postal clerk has to see this mark and stamp it accordingly, and so on," said the bank's deputy Chief General Manager, Marcus Young.

"So it stands to add to the complication of what is already a complicated operation."

Several businesses, including the BBC, Esso, British Petroleum, and Gillette, have instructed staff not to send letters by the 5d rate unless absolutely necessary.

But after the first day, the Post Office said it was encouraged by the take-up for the new rate of postage.

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