Midlands towns facing Royal Mail ‘backlog’ with postmen ‘not seen for two weeks’

Royal Mail has issued an apology to households following a ‘two-week backlog’ – but said most customers were ‘receiving deliveries at least every other day’

Royal Mail has issued a statement after residents claimed they haven’t received post for 11 days.

Residents have reported issues in the West Midlands, including in Northfield, Birmingham, and Halesowen in Dudley.

A man from Halesowen, who wished to remain anonymous, told BirminghamLive: “Since the New Year and before the storm, I have not seen a postie in the Halesowen area since before Christmas.

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“I have been alerted that correspondence was sent to me on January 5 to my home address – but as yet this is still to arrive.

“Eleven days have passed and still there’s been no delivery.”

The resident added that the wait time to speak to an agent via customer services was around ‘one hour’.

Meanwhile issues have been experienced in the Northfield area of Birmingham, with Royal Mail issuing an apology to households there.

In response to the story, Royal Mail said that it had been dealing with a backlog for the past two weeks.

The backlog has been caused by sever weather conditions – with the region recently hit by Storm Goretti – and resourcing challenges relating to sickness, absence and recruitment.

However Royal Mail said “that does not mean that customers are experiencing 11-day delays”.

It said that the vast majority of customers across the region are ‘receiving deliveries at least every other day, if not daily’.

Meanwhile, high-volume senders such as NHS trusts or banks are using the Royal Mail’s ‘economy’ service, rather than first class or second class services.

“Items sent using this service are only delivered alongside a First- or Second-Class item or after five working days from posting,” said Royal Mail.

“As a result, some customers may see a number of items arrive at the same time, in line with the specification of that service.”

A Royal Mail spokesperson added: “Severe weather conditions and resourcing challenges have had an impact on deliveries in the last two weeks.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused, and our posties are going above and beyond to ensure deliveries return to normal as quickly as possible.”