Royal Mail is to be allowed to scrap Saturday second-class stamp deliveries, below a sequence of reforms proposed by the communications regulator.
From 28 July, Royal Mail will even be allowed to ship second-class letters on alternate weekdays, Ofcom mentioned.
The publish will nonetheless be delivered inside three working days of assortment from Monday to Friday.
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The proposals had already been raised by Ofcom after a session was introduced in 2024, and the size again was proposed early this 12 months.
Royal Mail had repeatedly failed to fulfill the so-called common service obligation to ship publish inside set durations of time.
These supply targets at the moment are being revised downwards.
Moderately than having to have 93% of first-class mail delivered the subsequent day, 90% might be legally allowed.
The goal for second-class mail deliveries might be lowered from 98.5% to reach inside three working days to 95%.
Unsurprisingly, the corporate welcomed the announcement.
“It follows extensive consultation with thousands of people and businesses to ensure that the postal service better reflects their needs and the realities of how customers send and receive mail today.”
Altering habits
Lower than a 3rd of letters are despatched now than 20 years in the past, and is forecast to fall to a couple of fifth of the letters beforehand despatched.
In line with Ofcom analysis, folks need reliability and affordability greater than speedy supply.
Royal Mail has been loss-making in recent times as revenues fell.
In response to Ofcom’s adjustments, a authorities spokesperson mentioned: “The public expects a well-run postal service, with letters arriving on time across the country without it costing the earth. With the way people use postal services having changed, it’s right the regulator has looked at this.
“We now want Royal Mail to work with unions and posties to ship a service that folks anticipate, and this contains sustaining the precept of 1 value to ship a letter wherever within the UK”
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