Royal Mail and Ofcom bosses to be called to Parliament over letter delivery failures

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9dnx445w4do



Royal Mail executives will be called to Parliament to answer questions about issues with the firm's letter delivery service, the BBC has learned.

The Business and Trade Committee had given Royal Mail two weeks to respond to allegations, reported by the BBC, that parcels were being prioritised over letters, resulting in delays to important, time-sensitive mail.

While that deadline technically ends on Monday, the BBC understands committee chair Liam Byrne has decided the service is so poor that bosses need to provide answers to MPs.

Royal Mail said attending the committee would allow it to discuss the work it was doing to transform the company.

It comes after hundreds of people contacted the BBC to express frustration over late deliveries, saying they had missed hospital appointments, and had not received important documents including school certificates and bank statements.

More than a dozen Royal Mail postal staff from different delivery offices claimed rounds were being missed on a daily basis and parcels were being prioritised over letters as they are stretched beyond capacity.

In a letter earlier this month, the committee gave the company two weeks to respond to the allegations, and asked for commitments to improve what it described as "chaos".

On Thursday Byrne said: "The Committee is very concerned by consistent and growing reports, and now many direct representations, about significant failures in Royal Mail's letter delivery service."

Royal Mail was bought by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky's EP Group last April, with Kretinsky promising to "put employees and customers at the heart of everything".

Byrne said: "EP Group's takeover was approved on a legal undertaking that it would maintain the Universal Service Obligation that is the bedrock of the UK's postal service. But one year in, even first-class deliveries are way off track."

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "Attending the Business and Trade Committee will give us the opportunity to discuss the work we are doing to transform Royal Mail and the urgent need to implement changes to the Universal Service to deliver the services our customers want and ensure we are financially sustainable for the long term."

In response to the BBC's previous reporting, Royal Mail had said the "vast majority" of mail was delivered as planned, and poor weather and staff sickness had caused some short-term disruption that it was looking to resolve.

[scoobydo79]

Been here before haven’t We? Union need to get their version in or it will be more RM B.Sh1t

[Gary55]

They're lying fuckwits. With all the sickness we're meant to have we must still be in the pandemic. They'll bring up the Black Death next

[POSTMAN]

https://www.itv.com/news/2026-02-26/roy ... ery-delays

The bosses of Royal Mail and Ofcom will be called into Parliament to face questions about letter delivery delays, ITV News understands.

The executives are being hauled in to face questions from MPs on the Business and Trade Committee after complaints that parcels were being prioritised over letters.

Chair of the committee and Labour MP Liam Byrne said on Thursday: "The Royal Mail service is now so poor that the Committee has resolved to call executives in to account for these issues in Parliament, along with Ofcom.

"The Committee is very concerned by consistent and growing reports, and now many direct representations, about significant failures in Royal Mail’s letter delivery service.

Royal Mail issued a warning last week that deliveries would be late in more than 100 UK postcodes, blaming staff sickness and the weather.

It listed 38 delivery offices in the UK, covering over 100 postcodes, that would be most affected by a slower service.

Royal Mail's parent company was sold to EP Group in April last year, which is owned by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky.

“EP Group’s takeover was approved on a legal undertaking that it would maintain the Universal Service Obligation that is the bedrock of the UK’s postal service. But one year in, even First Class deliveries are way off track," Byrne said.

The committee had given Royal Mail two weeks to respond to the complaints, with a deadline of Monday 2nd March, but has now taken further action by bringing the bosses in to face questions.

Ofcom is the independent regulator responsible for overseeing Royal Mail.

[scotchy1962]

https://www.itv.com/news/2026-02-26/roy ... ery-delays

The bosses of Royal Mail and Ofcom will be called into Parliament to face questions about letter delivery delays, ITV News understands.

The executives are being hauled in to face questions from MPs on the Business and Trade Committee after complaints that parcels were being prioritised over letters.

Chair of the committee and Labour MP Liam Byrne said on Thursday: "The Royal Mail service is now so poor that the Committee has resolved to call executives in to account for these issues in Parliament, along with Ofcom.

"The Committee is very concerned by consistent and growing reports, and now many direct representations, about significant failures in Royal Mail’s letter delivery service.

Royal Mail issued a warning last week that deliveries would be late in more than 100 UK postcodes, blaming staff sickness and the weather.

It listed 38 delivery offices in the UK, covering over 100 postcodes, that would be most affected by a slower service.

Royal Mail's parent company was sold to EP Group in April last year, which is owned by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky.

“EP Group’s takeover was approved on a legal undertaking that it would maintain the Universal Service Obligation that is the bedrock of the UK’s postal service. But one year in, even First Class deliveries are way off track," Byrne said.

The committee had given Royal Mail two weeks to respond to the complaints, with a deadline of Monday 2nd March, but has now taken further action by bringing the bosses in to face questions.

Ofcom is the independent regulator responsible for overseeing Royal Mail.

Everything reads like they are gonna get taken too task at long last, and it's time to use that legal undertaking and beat them with it firmly.
Make them supply the service they are already signed up too and fine them hefty amounts to get them to toe the line.
Maybe then the few remaining posties will get something more achievable for a while anyway until the next USO change.

[jessicarabbit]

I once heard it summed up this way.

If you go into Tescos and buy a 4 pint carton of milk and when you get home measure it out and find it only has 3 pints in it. You are entitled to complain and go back and get a full refund.

When you go into a PO and buy a 1st class stamp and after you have posted it you are informed that it will only arrive next day 3 times out of 4 you would likely complain and demand a refund.

Royal Mail are selling a service they have no intention of fulfilling 25% of the time. They should be hauled over the coals for this....yet we all know they will wriggle and squirm and blame everyone else but themselves.

Nothing changes see you here again in 3 years.

[Beanyjazz]

I once heard it summed up this way.

If you go into Tescos and buy a 4 pint carton of milk and when you get home measure it out and find it only has 3 pints in it. You are entitled to complain and go back and get a full refund.

When you go into a PO and buy a 1st class stamp and after you have posted it you are informed that it will only arrive next day 3 times out of 4 you would likely complain and demand a refund.

Royal Mail are selling a service they have no intention of fulfilling 25% of the time. They should be hauled over the coals for this....yet we all know they will wriggle and squirm and blame everyone else but themselves.

Nothing changes see you here again in 3 years.

Absolute nail on the head, it is fraud.

When a first-class delivery service (which has rocketed in price, and should be 85/90p with inflation) ISN'T even attempted, and sits on a frame for 2-14+ days, that is fraud.

It'll just be another grandstanding 'everybody look at me, my name is Darren Jones'. Nothing will happen. Maybe a £10m fine, which is £200m+ less than being properly staffed.

[WalkerX]

"A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "Attending the Business and Trade Committee will give us the opportunity to discuss the work we are doing to transform Royal Mail and the urgent need to implement changes to the Universal Service to deliver the services our customers want and ensure we are financially sustainable for the long term."

"urgent need to implement changes to the Universal Service" is the key phrase. This is purposeful managed failure in order to go crying to the government to change the USO.

[Mr Rush]

Byrne said: "EP Group's takeover was approved on a legal undertaking that it would maintain the Universal Service Obligation [...]

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "Attending the Business and Trade Committee will give us the opportunity to discuss [...] the urgent need to implement changes to the Universal Service [...]

The two statements are not contradictory - the ODM is a technical workaround to maintaining a six day delivery spec while simultaneously reducing service. The USO is a legislative instrument and parliament currently exhibits no intention of altering it.