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Royal Mail has anticipated its busiest day of the year in the run-up to Christmas, and they have warned people to get ahead of the rush and post their cards and parcels early.
Post Office figures have revealed the peak posting day for Britons ahead of the big day.
Figures suggest that December 20 will be the busiest day for the postal service due to festive shoppers sending off last minute cards and gifts.
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Royal Mail has also said that this could be the busiest day because it marks the last full working week before Christmas.
In 2019, post offices saw twice the amount of postal activity two weeks before the big day, and have warned that this may also be the case this year.
Post Office research has shown that 25 per cent of Britons are worried they will be seen not making an effort if Christmas gifts fail to arrive on time.
One in 10 were also anxious that they may have to explain to children why their gifts from Santa did not arrive.
Therefore, Post Office is advising people who are posting internationally or looking to post second class to send their parcels and gifts as soon as possible.
Laura Joseph, Post Office Customer Experience Director revealed some top tips for Britons posting this Christmas.
She said: “Where possible, avoid the lunchtime rush and make use of longer opening hours by popping in early or in the evening, perhaps after work.
“Try to prepare what you can before you head into branch to save time.
“Don’t wait until you’re in a busy branch to pack items, it’s much better to do it in the comfort of your own home.”
Laura also explained that if Britons are posting abroad, they should make a note of the last posting dates as well as make use of the online customs forms, which can be filled out in advance.
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Laura added: “Think about what you’re posting. If you’re uncertain, check the restricted items list to avoid disappointment.
“Many people don’t realise that you can’t post gifts containing alcohol, nail polish, aftershave or perfume internationally so it’s a good idea to check in advance.”
Parcels should also be well packaged as those with bows on the outside will be refused in branch.
Royal Mail also has various different posting options to ensure that goods arrive safely and on time, such as tracking and cover for high-value goods.
Post Office have also shared their last posting dates for the UK.
Those sending via second class need to post their cards and parcels by December 18, while the final posting date for those sending via first-class is December 21.
Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed has a last posting date of December 23.
Britons have also been warned that postal scams are extremely common this time of year because people are expecting lots of different deliveries.
Common Royal Mail scams include fake delivery text messages as well as postage fee texts.
Scams can be identified by looking for spelling and punctuation mistakes and looking for the sender of the email or text message.
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