Getting an Australia Post refund for unwanted, damaged or incorrectly printed mail

You can apply to Australia Post for a refund if your mail is unwanted, damaged or incorrectly printed.

Occasionally, postage meter marks are printed but unable to be used.

Typical reasons for this may include:

• The postage rate is incorrect. This includes envelopes that may have been metered before a rate change comes into effect.
• The metered mark is illegible or incomplete.

These marks are referred to as spoils. Australia Post have a process to refund the value of spoils. Please note there is a minimum refund amount of $20 in total value.

To apply for a refund:

• Collect all envelopes and labels affected.
• Envelopes must be presented intact, although the contents may be removed, and bundled by value and date order, if applicable.
• Make a written request to Australia Post on your company letterhead for the value of the spoils collected, quoting your meter licence number and your Australia Post Business Credit Account number, if applicable. The licence number can be found printed vertically to the right of the mail barcode printed by your meter.
• The spoils and the written request must be made within six months of the metered mark(s) being made. Allow up to three weeks for processing.

Send compiled spoils and application letter to:

Australia Post Postage meter section
Shared Services (Metered Mail) GPO Box 5091
MELBOURNE VIC 3001

Please note:

• Refunds will not be made for metered marks that have been removed from their original envelopes.
• Illegible metered marks will be refunded for the lowest value that the meter can print.
• Legible metered marks will be refunded at the value minus 2.5 per cent (the postage rebate).
• If you have elected to have your postage meter resets charged to your Australia Post Business Credit Account, approved refunds will be deducted from your next account statement.

For full details please refer to the latest Australia Post – Postage Meters Condition of Use document.