Royal Mail has issued a stark warning just days before Christmas, revealing that residents in 117 specific postcodes across the UK are facing significant postal delays. The company has stated that it cannot guarantee a six-day-a-week delivery service in these areas, raising serious concerns that gifts and cards may not arrive in time for the festive period.
Which Areas Are Affected by the Delays?
The update, released on December 19, confirms that none of the impacted postcodes are within London itself. However, Londoners sending parcels to friends and family in other parts of the country are urged to check the list carefully. The disruptions are widespread, affecting delivery offices from Scotland to Northern Ireland and across England and Wales.
Some of the key delivery offices experiencing problems include:
- Belfast West DO (BT10, BT11, BT12, BT17)
- Bristol East DO (BS5)
- Glasgow G52 DO (G52, G53)
- Warrington DO (WA1, WA2, WA4, WA5, WA55)
- Wigan DO (WN1, WN2, WN3, WN4, WN5, WN6)
The full list encompasses areas such as Aboyne, Ashington, Dundee East, Kettering, Nottingham South, and Plymouth, among many others.
Background of Service Issues and Ofcom Fine
These pre-Christmas delays occur against a backdrop of ongoing performance challenges for the postal service. Royal Mail recently reported that only 73.4 per cent of first-class mail was delivered the next working day between late June and late September. For second-class mail, the figure was 90.4 per cent arriving within three working days.
These figures have already had serious consequences. The communications regulator, Ofcom, imposed a substantial £21 million penalty on Royal Mail for failing to meet its delivery targets during the 2024-25 financial year. During that period, the company delivered just 77 per cent of first-class and 92.5 per cent of second-class mail on time, missing its required targets of 93 per cent and 98.5 per cent respectively.
Royal Mail's Response and Future Changes
A Royal Mail spokesperson stated that the company is taking action to improve reliability. This includes the recruitment of around 20,000 extra seasonal workers to handle the festive rush, as well as providing more support to local delivery centres.
Looking ahead, Royal Mail is preparing for a major shift in its service model. The company plans to trial a new delivery framework that will see the end of second-class Saturday deliveries. Instead, these will be moved to other weekdays. These trials are underway ahead of a planned rollout next year.
Jamie Stephenson, Royal Mail's Chief Operating Officer, sought to reassure customers, emphasising that postal workers are "working hard to make sure every item arrives on time and with care." Nevertheless, for those in the 117 affected postcodes, the Christmas post remains uncertain.
