Patent ID: 7689519

Claim:
A method of delivering a franking service, comprising the following successive operations performed in the stated order: providing a mail item having a unique identification number carried thereon, connecting via a communications network of a user's communications device ( 10 , 12 ) with a server system ( 18 ) operated by a franking services provider, reading the unique identification number on the mail item and entering, via the communications device, the unique identification number carried by the mail item ( 14 ) , selecting, by a user of a franking service, from the various franking services offered by the server system and entry of postal information in relation to the selected service, determining, by the server systems, on the basis of this information of the cost of the selected franking service and communication of this cost to the user, paying by the user for the selected franking service, and depositing of the mail item in a post box ( 16 ).