Royal Mail fined £21m by Ofcom for missing delivery targets | Royal Mail

Royal Mail has been fined £21m for missing its annual first- and second-class mail delivery targets, leading to millions of letters arriving late across the UK, the regulator Ofcom has said.

This represents the third-largest fine ever imposed by the UK communications watchdog.

Royal Mail delivered 77% of first class-mail and 92.5% of second-class mail on time during the 2024-25 financial year, Ofcom found. This was short of its respective 93% and 98.5% targets.

Ian Strawhorne, the director of enforcement at Ofcom, said: “Millions of important letters are arriving late, and people aren’t getting what they pay for when they buy a stamp.

“These persistent failures are unacceptable, and customers expect and deserve better. Royal Mail must rebuild consumers’ confidence as a matter of urgency. And that means making actual significant improvements, not more empty promises.”