Homes and businesses across the UK are facing delays to their mail this weekend
Royal Mail has warned that postcodes across the UK won’t receive their mail on time this weekend. The delivery service aims to post letters and parcels six days a week.
However, it has faced criticism over its delivery delays amid an increase in stamp prices. Weekend delivery and collection services are due to take place today, Saturday 21st March, while parcel deliveries will take place tomorrow, Sunday 22nd March.
Yet, a number of delivery offices have reported delays, which has a knock-on effect on certain postcodes. Royal Mail said: “We aim to deliver to all addresses we have mail for, six days a week.
“In a small number of local offices, this may temporarily not be possible due to local issues such as high levels of sick absence, resourcing, or other local factors. In those cases, we will rotate deliveries to minimise the delay to individual customers.
“We also provide targeted support to those offices to address their challenges and restore our service to the high standard our customers would normally receive.”
It added: “We’re sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.” As of this weekend, 25 delivery offices across the UK are experiencing delays.
It means homes and businesses in 62 postcode areas. Places impacted include Birmingham, Leicester, Grimsby, Oxford, Pontefract and Whitechapel.
The company was handed a £21million fine last October for missing first and second class delivery targets in its last financial year. Just 77% of first class mail and 92.5% of second class were delivered on time in its 2024-25 financial year – short of its respective 93% and 98.5% targets.
It comes as Royal Mail is increasing the price of stamps next month. The price of First Class stamps will go to £1.80 and Second Class stamps to 91p, from 6th April.
The cost of a First Class stamp in 2020 was 76p. Next month, customers will have to pay £1.80 (up 10p), which is a 137% increase compared to six years ago. Since 2020, the cost of a First Class stamp has risen eight times, Citizens Advice has said.
Richard Travers, managing director of letters at Royal Mail, said: “We always consider price changes very carefully, balancing affordability with the rising cost of delivering mail.
“On average, UK adults now spend just £6.50 each year on stamps and there are 70% fewer letters sent than 20 years ago.
“In the meantime, the number of addresses we deliver to has increased by four million to 32 million addresses across the UK.”
Royal Mail delays this weekend
- Barrhead DO (G78)
- Birmingham East DO (B8 – B10)
- Castle Bromwich DO (B35, B36, B37, B40)
- Cranleigh DO (GU6)
- Erskine DO (PA7, PA8)
- Grimsby DO (DN31-DN37)
- Leicester North DO (LE4, LE7, LE41)
- Lichfield DO (WS7, WS13, WS14)
- Loughborough DO (LE11, LE12)
- Newcastle Under Lyme DO (ST5, ST55)
- New Ferry DO (CH32, CH62, CH63)
- Nuneaton DO (CV10, CV11, CV13)
- Oxford DO (OX1, OX2)
- Patchway DO (BS32, BS34, BS35)
- Pontefract DO (WF7-WF9, WF11)
- Redfern Park DO (B11, B12, B25-B27)
- Shepshed DO (LE12)
- Sleaford DO (NG34)
- Spean Bridge SPDO (PH31, PH34)
- Sutton Bonington SPDO (LE12)
- Syston SPDO (LE7)
- Thatcham DO (RG18-RG19)
- Upton DO (CH30, CH49)
- Whitechapel DO (E1,E1W,E98)
- Yate DO (BS37)
