It comes amid a stamp price hike next month. Royal Mail received a £21million penalty last October after failing to meet First and Second Class delivery standards during its previous financial year. Only 77% of First Class post and 92.5% of Second Class arrived punctually in its 2024-25 financial year – falling short of its respective 93% and 98.5% aim.
In April, the cost of First Class stamps will rise to £1.80 and Second Class stamps to 91p. In 2020, a First Class stamp cost 76p, and the price has climbed eight times since then.
As of Wednesday, March 25, there are multiple delays across the UK. 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.”
Over the past 24 hours, Royal Mail’s air and road network operated to schedule. However, there has been issues at Birmingham and Norwich Mail Centres.
Birmingham Mail Centre reported that some mail posted yesterday in the B, HR and WR postcode areas were out for delivery today in other parts of the UK.
Meanwhile, Norwich Mail Centre saw some mail posted in the NR postcode area for delivery today in other parts of the UK.
Currently, 18 delivery offices are reporting delays across the UK in places including Birmingham, Luton, Lochgelly and Whitechapel. It has had a knock-on effect on 40 postcode areas.