Royal Mail to scrap second-class post deliveries on Saturday

The delivery business is scrapping Saturday deliveries of second-class post.

The change is part of a wider overhaul and a £500 million investment plan aimed at meeting delivery targets.

Under the new letter delivery model, second-class letters will be delivered every other weekday.

Royal Mail set to scrap second-class post delivery on Saturdays

Alistair Cochrane, chief executive of Royal Mail, said: “We recognise our service hasn’t always been the standard our customers rightly expect and we’re determined to do better.

“The plan we’ve set out today shows how we’ll make a step change in performance across the UK, backed by £500 million of investment over the next five years.”

The changes follow an agreement with the Communication Workers Union (CWU) and Unite, ending a long-standing dispute over the plans.

Ofcom last year gave the green light to Royal Mail’s plans to scale back second-class letter deliveries, starting from July 28, while keeping the first-class and parcels service unchanged.

Royal Mail launched the changes across 35 delivery offices as a pilot, but wider expansion across its 1,200-strong network ground to a halt over the disagreement with the CWU.

Royal Mail says the revised model and investment will help it meet new delivery targets set by regulator Ofcom.

Royal Mail is making changes to its services to meet delivery demands (Image: Getty Images)

The company aims to deliver around 85% of first-class post the next day within nine months of the changes taking effect, reaching Ofcom’s 90% target within a year.

For second-class mail, Royal Mail plans to deliver 93% within three days within nine months, meeting the 95% target by May next year.

The reforms are partially a response to Royal Mail’s failure to meet targets in 2024-25, when it delivered only 77% of first-class and 92.5% of second-class mail on time.

This shortfall led to a record £21 million fine from Ofcom in October last year.

Ofcom has since adjusted its targets, lowering the first-class next-day requirement from 93 per cent to 90 per cent and the second-class three-day requirement from 98.5% to 95%.

The regulator also introduced a new enforceable requirement that 99% of mail must not be more than two days late.

Natalie Black, Ofcom’s group director for infrastructure and connectivity, said: “Now that’s published, Royal Mail needs to get on and implement it.

“Their plan must deliver significant and continuous improvement, with performance getting back on track.”

How to check if your Royal Mail parcel is delayed

To check if your Royal Mail parcel is delayed, use the Royal Mail Tracking tool or app with your reference number.

You can also check the Service Update page for local disruptions, and you should allow 10 working days past the due date before classifying it as lost.

When your parcel or letter will arrive depends on the service used to send it, the Royal Mail website explains.

First-class and Tracked 24 parcels are aimed to be delivered by the next working day, with Tracked 48, Tracked Returns and second-class within two to three working days.

Customers are advised to add an extra working day if there’s a redirection in place.

If first-class or second-class parcels are not delivered 10 working days after the due date, the sender might be able to claim compensation.

If you’re the recipient, please contact the sender, who will contact Royal Mail to enquire on your behalf.

For tracked items, this is the case if the item hasn’t been delivered seven working days after the due date.

The website adds: “There are occasions when we deliver an item separately from your usual delivery.

“For example, a large item or a Special Delivery Guaranteed item, meaning your item may still arrive today.

“If you have a reference number, you can check the status of your delivery using Track your item.

“If your item is ready for delivery, it should arrive with you the next time we deliver to your address.”

Have you been affected by Royal Mail delivery delays? Let us know in the comments.