Royal Mail explains why it’s common to not get post for several days

The group said recent trends have affected how much post people receive

Royal Mail has provided an update regarding its procedures when a person appears to be receiving no postal deliveries. The statement follows a social media post from someone claiming they had received no letters for nearly two weeks.

They claimed that they decided to visit their local delivery office, where they were given 12 pieces of mail. Following this incident, Royal Mail was asked about what people should do if their post appears not to be reaching their address.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We understand how frustrating it can be when letters are delayed. We want to reassure customers that the vast majority of First Class mail arrives the next working day.”

The company said that where First Class items are delayed, 92 per cent will arrive within two days, while 99 per cent of items will be delivered within five days. However, the postal service also cautioned that customers may experience several days without any deliveries.

You can go several days without receiving any post

The spokesman said: “As the volume of letters has fallen dramatically over the past decade, it is now increasingly common to go several days without receiving any post if nothing is expected. However, if you have concerns about missing mail, please get in touch and we will investigate.”

First Class items are expected to arrive by the following working day, plus an extra day if redirection is necessary. Royal Mail targets delivery of Second Class items within two to three working days, plus an extra working day when redirection is required.

If an item has not arrived by the expected date plus a minimum of 10 working days, you might be eligible to claim compensation. This can be done through the Royal Mail website.

If you have a reference number, you can monitor the status of your delivery using the ‘Track your item’ feature on the Royal Mail website. In such instances, if your item’s status is ‘ready for delivery’, it should reach your address during the next delivery round.

Royal Mail may also choose not to deliver an item if it’s considered unsafe, such as in adverse weather conditions or if there’s a dangerous dog on the property. Another reason it may not be possible to deliver your mail is if the address is inaccessible, for instance, if the letterbox isn’t reachable. The postperson may also not be able to post your item if there’s a door entry security system installed.