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Households face losing second-class deliveries on Saturdays.
Ofcom yesterday unveiled proposals to let Royal Mail reduce the cheaper post to every other weekday. First-class deliveries would still be six days a week.
Royal Mail’s owner International Distribution Services (IDS) is in the process of being bought by Daniel Kretinsky, known as the Czech Sphinx.
The £3.6billion deal would see the postal service fall into foreign ownership for the first time since it was established by Henry VIII in 1516.
Ofcom said the changes would not be ‘a free pass for Royal Mail’, which ‘must improve’ after repeatedly failing to meet delivery targets.
Ofcom yesterday unveiled proposals to let Royal Mail reduce the cheaper post to every other weekday, (Stock image)
Under the proposed new regulations, second-class letters would be delivered within three working days but not on Saturdays. (Stock image)
But businesses, unions and consumer groups slammed the plans, saying reforms should not prioritise profits over customer service.
Currently, Royal Mail must deliver letters six days a week to 32 million homes for the fixed price of a stamp under the Universal Service Obligation.
The postal service has been lobbying for change for four years, saying the commitment costs it up to £2million a day.
Under the proposed new regulations, second-class letters would be delivered within three working days but not on Saturdays.
They would only be delivered every other working day. This means half of addresses would receive second-class mail on Monday, Wednesday and Friday one week, Tuesday and Thursday the next.
Ofcom said the reforms would allow Royal Mail to improve reliability, save money and redeploy resources. The watchdog will launch a consultation on the proposals early next year and make a final decision in the summer.
Ofcom’s Lindsey Fussell said: ‘This won’t be a free pass for Royal Mail. Under any scenario, it must invest in its network, become more efficient and improve its service levels.’
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