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High levels of staff sickness and an unprecedented volume of festive mail have contributed to the disruption
Royal Mail has issued an urgent warning to customers, confirming that deliveries in 60 postcode areas are currently facing delays due to a massive Christmas backlog . High levels of staff sickness and an unprecedented volume of festive mail have contributed to the disruption just days before the big day. Customers in affected regions are being told that their last-minute parcels may not arrive in time for Christmas.
- Massive Delivery Backlog: Royal Mail has officially confirmed that deliveries in 60 postcode areas across the UK are currently suffering from significant delays. The disruption comes at the busiest time of the year for the postal service.
- Key Causes Identified: The delays are being attributed to a “perfect storm” of exceptionally high mail volumes and an increase in staff absences due to seasonal illness. These factors have left many local sorting offices struggling to keep pace with the demand.
- Affected Regions: The warning covers a broad range of postcodes, from parts of London and the South East to areas in the Midlands and the North. Residents in these locations have reported waiting several days for standard first and second-class letters.
- Christmas Delivery Risk: With only a few days remaining until the holiday, Royal Mail has warned that items posted late may not arrive by December 25th . They are urging customers to manage their expectations regarding the arrival of non-tracked parcels.
- Priority for Special Delivery: To mitigate the impact, Royal Mail is prioritising Special Delivery Guaranteed items and NHS appointments. However, they admitted that even these premium services are being tested by the current logistical pressures.
- Advice for Senders: Customers are encouraged to use tracked services where possible to monitor the progress of their festive gifts. The company apologised for the inconvenience and stated they are working “around the clock” to clear the remaining backlog.
- Find out the full list here.
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