AN POST has lodged a complaint with communications regulator ComReg claiming private post company Erin Swift Post has moved into its monopoly area.

In the past week, Erin Swift Post has trebled its business, according to managing director Danny Duggan. The company has specialised in business-to-business mail for the past 12 years, but in February was authorised by ComReg to deliver mail.

The delivery of letters weighing less than 100g, and of items costing more than three times the standard rate, is still the monopoly of An Post. But Erin Swift Post has begun delivering letters on a 'daycertain' basis, guaranteeing to deliver Dublin letters on the day, and believes this is permitted by ComReg.

The company is "growing by the hour", according to Duggan. "We took on six staff this week, and are getting more enquiries by the hour." Interest is coming from companies of all sizes, he said. "A lot of them know now that there is an option for business." At present, Erin Swift Post is charging companies the same rates as An Post, he said.

"In normal circumstances, we would try to profile a company and offer them packages." This is a learning curve for the company, he said. "We don't want to annoy anyone." A spokesman for An Post confirmed that the disputeriven company lodged a complaint with ComReg claiming Erin Swift Post was operating in its protected business.

"ComReg does not comment on any enforcement activities we may engage in, " a spokesman said.

Meanwhile, there is little confidence of an early resolution to the dispute at An Post that has led to severe disruption in service and the suspension of over 500 workers at the Dublin Mail Centre. It is understood that efforts are still being made by the Labour Relations Commission to establish some basis for discussions involving management and the Communications Workers Union.

The company's head of corporate and regulatory affairs Larry Donald said this weekend that An Post would "not accept anything less than the delivery of change that we have already bought and paid for".

The seriousness of An Post's financial situation ? communications minister Dermot Ahern told the Dáil last week the company was losing ?600,000 a week ? has led to questions about how management will react to the dramatic drop in revenue caused by the dispute. Around 90 casual and temporary workers have been let go but it is believed that management is anxious not to take any further action that will inflame an already tense situation.

However, close observers are warning that the dispute will "get worse before it gets better".