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Many of us regularly use the postal service and courier company to deliver letters, parcels, and more.
An important part of the journey is tracking, ensuring you know where your package is and when it should arrive.
But not all Royal Mail deliveries allow for tracking. Here is all you need to know.
Can Royal Mail first class post be tracked? System explained
If you use first class for Royal Mail post or letters, they cannot be tracked.
According to the Post Office website, it says: “Royal Mail Signed For and 1st and 2nd Class parcel services aren’t tracked throughout their journey.
“They only provide the sender with online delivery confirmation.”
However, it adds that Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed, International Tracked and Signed and International Tracked provide full tracking.
International Signed also offers tracking, but only until the item leaves the UK.
Despite it not being able to be tracked, the Royal Mail website says first class items “aims to deliver the next working day including Saturdays”.
How to track a Royal Mail package
If you have a Royal Mail package able to be tracked, the Post Office outlines how to do so, and when you will not be able to track your item(s).
It says you will need the reference number on your Post Office receipt to track your items, which will usually 9-27 characters long and may be called a barcode or a reference.
You can only track items with a reference number, not with a name, address or other details
If you’ve lost your receipt or tear-off label, Royal Mail won’t be able to give you the reference number.
Parcels cannot be tracked by an address alone, with Royal Mail also not allowing tracking with proof of postage alone.
What to do if I lost my Royal Mail reference number?
If you sent your item at a Post Office and you have lost the receipt or the tear-off section, Royal Mail says it cannot tell you the reference number.
However, it does suggest alternative solutions.
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If you are the recipient and are waiting for a package, you can contact the sender and ask them to give you the number.
If you have ordered the item online, check your order confirmation or invoice as it may contain the reference number.
If you are the sender, you can try and contact the recipient, they will be able to tell you if they have received the item.
