Ofcom to intervene in Royal Mail-Whistl dispute over access to postal services

UK communications regulator Ofcom has been asked to intervene in the dispute between Royal Mail and logistics company Whistl over access rights to Royal Mail’s letter delivery network.

Ofcom’s access regime requires Royal Mail to offer access, on reasonable request, to its postal network for bulk mail “fair and reasonable terms, conditions and charges”.

Whistl has requested a tracked large letter service from Royal Mail but has raised concerns about the terms offered by Royal Mail. 

Whistl alleges that Royal Mail broke these requirements when the latter attempted to pass certain costs associated with the access requirement onto Whistl.

Ofcom has accepted the dispute for resolution and will determine whether Royal Mail can pass on the costs of complying with its obligations to Whistl via the charges for the requested tracked large-letter service.

Ofcom intends to resolve this dispute using its powers under Schedule 3 of the Postal Services Act.