MILLIONS of customers are facing a rise in insurance premiums after Australia Post increased the price of a general stamp. 
Consumers yesterday unleashed on Australia Post for making its slowest form of mail even slower, and charging more for the service.
The cost of a regular stamp increased from 70Â¢ to $1, and regular mail will take up to six days to deliver.
Suncorp has warned an increase would leave its nine million customers with higher premiums after the price rise.
Suncorp's public policy general manager Jonathan Davies told the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission last year that the increase would cost Suncorp and its brands - Apia, AAMI, GIO, Vero, Shannons, Just Car Insurance, Insure My Ride, and Bingle - more than $6 million a year.
Insurers are required to obtain express client consent in order to deliver disclosure documents electronically. Eighty per cent of Suncorp's customers still receive their disclosure statements via regular mail.
Mr Davies said Suncorp would have to pass on the extra costs to consumers by raising premiums.
Australians yesterday took to the internet - one of the reasons why Australia Post's mail service is unprofitable - to lay on the criticism.
Australia Post spokeswoman Michelle Skehan said fewer people were sending letters and even with the changes, the service would be unprofitable.
"While the stamp price increase and services changes introduced today will reduce the losses, they will not return stamp mail to profit," Ms Skehan said.
Under the new system customers can buy a priority service if they pay an extra 50Â¢.Christmas cards will remain at 65Â¢ and concession holders are exempt.