Royal Mail delivers mail less than once a week, say angry households

It has emerged that Royal Mail is delivering mail less than once a week in some cities across the UK.

Letters for hospital appointments, birthday cards, packages and important bills have been lost due to delays due to a staffing crisis.

In one city, households report receiving mail only once every two weeks.

Postal workers say delivery rounds have been halted and letters are piling up in sorting offices as they are told to prioritize the more lucrative, trackable, signed-for deliveries.

They branded the situation “diabolical” and said they were facing an “angry backlash” on their doorstep.

Missed deliveries: Letters from hospital appointments, birthday cards, packages and important bills have been lost due to delays due to a staffing crisis

One resident in Brighton said: “It’s absolutely horrible. “I get my mail about every 10 days and ended up missing a hospital appointment. “The postal service in this city is not fit for purpose.”

Another said that after the mail didn’t arrive, they went to the sorting office and found seven letters and a package waiting for them.

Caroline Lucas, Green MP for Brighton, said: “My constituents are experiencing very real problems with the delivery of postal items, which is causing them to miss hospital appointments because letters do not arrive on time, and the delays are adding to their grief and distress. “

“This was the case with the mother, who received beautiful letters intended for her adult son. “He never saw them because they came after his death.”

Tim Loughton, Conservative MP for Worthing, said his constituents are seeing major problems with delivery.

Deborah Bennett, from West Sussex, said a hospital appointment letter sent out by her local hospital arrived a full 12 days after the hospital posted it.

She tweeted: “We haven’t received our mail every two weeks if we’re lucky.” Where is our mail? Complained to Royal Mail three times months ago.’

Ofcom has launched an investigation into delivery failures and has the power to fine Royal Mail.

The delivery delays come after Royal Mail recently caused outrage when it increased the price of a first class stamp by 14 percent from £1.10 to £1.25.

The crisis is being repeated in cities across the UK, with residents and businesses complaining that service has “dropped like a cliff”.

In Bath, one customer said: “My wife celebrated her birthday without receiving several cards and gifts that arrived a full two weeks later, despite being sent a week before her birthday.” “The system is broken.”

A resident of Widnes, Lancs, said there were two-hour queues outside the sorting office just to receive mail that should have been delivered.

Low priority: Postal workers say rounds have been canceled and letters are piling up in sorting offices as they are told to prioritize the more lucrative tracked-and-signed deliveries

Social media platform X – formerly known as Twitter – has been flooded with complaints about the frequency of deliveries over the past two weeks.

David Marsh in Newbury said: “Has Royal Mail completely given up on deliveries in my part of Newbury?” We used to get 4-5 a week. In the last few months it has been one delivery per week. This week: nothing.’

Anna Arnone said: “Royal Mail’s letter delivery services appear to be unraveling. “It feels like the service is being destroyed.”

Another angry father, John Bridgman, said: “When it’s my daughter’s birthday there will be no postal delivery all week.” Royal Mail, your service levels are terrible. “The fact that you are still selling stamps is a joke. People might as well stick their cards on a pigeon and cross their fingers.”

Jamie Derrick said: “Can someone explain to me why I’m still waiting for delivery 14 days after the packages were delivered?” No post for a week. It’s amazing that a service I’m paying for takes so long to provide. Not good enough.’

Another resident said: “My mail fell off a cliff.” If I’m lucky, I’ll get mail once a week now. “Some of these letters are very important to me – for example, appointment letters for hospitals.”

Royal Mail is tied to the Universal Postal Service, which is required to deliver letters six days a week (Monday to Saturday) and parcels five days a week (Monday to Friday) to any address in the UK at affordable prices throughout the United Kingdom Kingdom uniform are UNITED KINGDOM.

These minimum requirements are set out in legislation and changes to them can only be made by the UK Government and Parliament.

Ofcom, whose role is to ensure the delivery of the universal service, said Royal Mail had failed to meet delivery targets.

A spokesman said: “We know how frustrating and disruptive it can be if your post is delayed.” “We assess Royal Mail’s performance each year against annual delivery targets and are currently investigating whether the company is meeting its targets for 2022/23 not reached.”

Ofcom has the power to impose a fine if Royal Mail fails to provide a proper service.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We have dedicated teams responsible for identifying delays at our delivery offices and taking immediate action.”

“This includes extensive recruitment – ​​6,000 new postmen and women have been taken on in the last 12 weeks – and detailed plans to improve quality and provide a reliable service for the future.”

“These measures complement the extensive plans we have in place to ensure a successful festive period.” We are recruiting 16,000 seasonal workers, increasing our vehicle numbers and increasing our operational capacity with additional parcel sorting locations to meet expected demand.

“These and other measures are already making a difference.” “We are confident they will further improve our service, limit delays and contribute to delivery for our customers.”