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The delivery firm is facing criticism over its late deliveries.
Royal Mail has published a service update revealing that postcodes throughout Merseyside are experiencing delays today. The postal service provider typically delivers letters and parcels six days a week, but is currently grappling with disruption.
Against the backdrop of forthcoming stamp price increases next month, the organisation has come under fire for missing delivery targets. Royal Mail has stated it is working to “minimise” the inconvenience to customers.
Nevertheless, it acknowledges that certain delivery offices spanning England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are contending with “high levels of sick absence, resourcing, or other local factors”.
As of Monday, March 23, the Mirror reports delays are affecting 25 delivery offices. Royal Mail commented: “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.”
The company continued: “We’re sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.”
The disruption arrives as stamp prices are scheduled to rise in April. The cost of First Class stamps will climb to £1.80 and Second Class stamps to 91p, effective April 6. A First Class stamp in 2020 cost 76p.
From next month, customers will face a 10p increase, representing a 137% rise over the past six years. Citizens Advice has highlighted that First Class stamp prices have increased eight times since 2020.
Richard Travers, managing director of letters at Royal Mail, explained: “We always consider price changes very carefully, balancing affordability with the rising cost of delivering mail.
“On average, UK adults now spend just £6.50 each year on stamps and there are 70% fewer letters sent than 20 years ago. In the meantime, the number of addresses we deliver to has increased by four million to 32 million addresses across the UK.”
However, the firm received a £21million penalty last October after failing to meet First and Second Class delivery targets during its previous financial year.
Only 77% of first class post and 92.5% of second class were delivered within the required timeframe in its 2024-25 financial year – falling short of the respective 93% and 98.5% targets.
Royal Mail delivery delays today
- Barrhead DO (G78)
- Birmingham East DO (B8 – B10)
- Castle Bromwich DO (B35, B36, B37, B40)
- Cranleigh DO (GU6)
- Erskine DO (PA7, PA8)
- Grimsby DO (DN31-DN37)
- Leicester North DO (LE4, LE7, LE41)
- Lichfield DO (WS7, WS13, WS14)
- Loughborough DO (LE11, LE12)
- Newcastle Under Lyme DO (ST5, ST55)
- New Ferry DO (CH32, CH62, CH63)
- Nuneaton DO (CV10, CV11, CV13)
- Oxford DO (OX1, OX2)
- Patchway DO (BS32, BS34, BS35)
- Pontefract DO (WF7-WF9, WF11)
- Redfern Park DO (B11, B12, B25-B27)
- Shepshed DO (LE12)
- Sleaford DO (NG34)
- Spean Bridge SPDO (PH31, PH34)
- Sutton Bonington SPDO (LE12)
- Syston SPDO (LE7)
- Thatcham DO (RG18-RG19)
- Upton DO (CH30, CH49)
- Whitechapel DO (E1,E1W,E98)
- Yate DO (BS37)
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