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Business reporter Tom Espiner reported that Royal Mail is set to change its delivery schedule for second-class letters in an effort to reduce costs, according to the industry regulator Ofcom. With a decrease in the volume of letters being sent each year leading to rising stamp prices, the move to only deliver second-class letters every other weekday, excluding Saturdays, will take effect on 28 July. This means that letters will be delivered either on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, or on Tuesday and Thursday, on a two-week cycle.
Despite welcoming these changes, Royal Mail faced criticism from MPs and consumer groups following the announcement. Under the current Universal Service Obligation, Royal Mail is required to deliver post six days a week while parcels are delivered on five days from Monday to Friday. Although Ofcom stated that Royal Mail must continue to deliver first-class letters six days a week, there are concerns about whether simply changing obligations will improve the overall postal service.
In addition to the delivery schedule changes, Royal Mail’s parent company, International Distribution Services (IDS), expressed support for Ofcom’s decision, stating that it will benefit customers across the UK by enhancing the reliability, efficiency, and financial sustainability of the Universal Service. However, consumer groups like Citizens Advice raised doubts about the effectiveness of the changes, given Royal Mail’s past failures to meet delivery targets while increasing postage costs. They emphasized the need for a service that prioritizes paying customers and delivers on expectations consistently.
The UK Greeting Card Association also weighed in on the matter, expressing concerns that a reduction in second-class services could lead to increased reliance on unregulated first-class mail, which may be financially burdensome for both businesses and consumers. With the decline in the volume of letters being delivered by Royal Mail over the years, alongside the steady increase in stamp prices, stakeholders are closely watching how these changes will impact the postal service’s performance and financial viability moving forward
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