OFCOM backs Council's Royal Mail postal delay concerns

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.impartialreporter.com/news/ ... -concerns/

The communications regulator Ofcom has backed Fermanagh and Omagh District Council in its concerns around Royal Mail postal delays.

Councillors have previously discussed the apparent prioritising of parcels over letters, which has led to delays in the delivery of letters, including important medical appointments which are being missed.

The Council recently wrote to Ofcom requesting a meeting to discuss the adverse impact of the reduction in postal deliveries on all citizens, particularly on those awaiting important and time-sensitive information.

A response from Ofcom Director Jonathan Rose was discussed at the most recent meeting, indicating a willingness to re-engage with Royal Mail as well as supporting the Council either in person or online.

Ofcom’s role is to monitor the postal market and hold Royal Mail to account to ensure a universal postal service that meets users’ needs and remains affordable, efficient, and financially sustainable.

In July, 2025, Ofcom introduced changes to Royal Mail’s obligations to better reflect customer needs, place the service on a more sustainable footing, and enable investment to improve delivery performance.

Mr. Rose told the Council: “Royal Mail must now implement these changes effectively and restore reliability.

“Our decisions aim to improve delivery performance, because we recognise that delayed post causes significant frustration and distress.

“To address this, we have introduced new ‘tail of mail’ targets for items that miss the main delivery deadline.

“We will continue to monitor Royal Mail’s progress closely. Compliance with quality-of-service targets is a serious matter, and we remain concerned that performance has fallen short of regulatory requirements and customer expectations.”

The response also provided information on Ofcom’s regulation of Royal Mail, particularly in relation to quality-of-service targets for mail delivery.

In October, 2025, Ofcom imposed a £21million penalty on Royal Mail for failing to meet First and Second Class delivery targets in the 2024/25 financial year.

This is the third consecutive year of non-compliance, following fines of £5.6million in November, 2023, and £10.5million in December, 2024.

In setting the penalty, Ofcom considered the harm caused to customers and the repeated breaches over three years.

Mr. Rose concluded: “Alongside enforcement, we continue to press Royal Mail to publish and implement a credible plan for sustained improvement.

“Without this, further penalties are likely to remain necessary and appropriate.”

Chief Executive Alison McCullagh told councillors: “The response is interesting as [Ofcom] obviously share the concerns we have expressed, and have indicated their willingness to participate in a meeting with Royal Mail.”

Sinn Féin Councillor Sheamus Greene, who first raised the matter at the Council, said he has been informed “overtime in Royal Mail has now been cut, and it is their opinion the problems we have had will now increase”.

He continued: “Initially, I didn’t think the regulator were taking this terribly seriously and appeared to just keep issuing fines.

“Royal Mail doesn’t seem to worry about fines, and just go happily on with what they are doing,” he claimed.

Councillor Greene proposed inviting Ofcom for a meeting, which was seconded by party colleague, Councillor Elaine Brough, and supported unanimously across the Chamber.

[TopperGas]

“Initially, I didn’t think the regulator were taking this terribly seriously and appeared to just keep issuing fines.

Why does he now think any differently when there's no suggestions OFCOM intend doing anything other than issuing fines, which RM just seem content to pay?