The change will come into effect this month
Millions of Royal Mail customers are being warned about a significant postal overhaul set to arrive later this month.
Originally scheduled for October 18, the new rule has since been delayed and will now take effect from October 25. In a sweeping shake-up to its services, Royal Mail has confirmed it is cutting the length of time it will hold parcels at local collection points. From this date, items delivered to a Post Office branch or a Royal Mail Parcelshop at the request of either the sender or recipient will only be available for collection for 10 days - a reduction of eight days from the current 18-day window.
This significant change applies to items specifically chosen for delivery to a Post Office or Parcelshop at the checkout, as well as parcels redirected there following an unsuccessful delivery attempt at your home by a postie. However, Royal Mail has made clear that items held at a Customer Service Point, including Post Office branches acting as a Customer Service Point, will continue to be held for the full 18 days.
What is a Royal Mail Parcelshop?
For those unfamiliar with the terminology, a Royal Mail Parcelshop - often referred to as a Royal Mail Shop or designated drop-off point - is a physical location such as a local convenience store, a standard Post Office branch, or a parcel locker where customers are able to send, collect, or return their items. The postal service operates a sprawling network of more than 24,000 drop-off and collection points throughout the UK.
This extensive network encompasses rebranded Collect+ outlets, traditional Post Office branches, parcel lockers, customer service points, and handy parcel postboxes.
The parcel collection update forms just one element of a broader package of reforms designed to bring the UK's postal service into the modern era. In a landmark move, standard second-class letters will now be delivered on alternate days only.
Meanwhile, standard bulk business letters - which usually comprise vital mail such as household bills and bank statements - are moving to a three-day delivery target. Royal Mail has assured that first-class deliveries will continue as a six-day-a-week service, operating from Monday through Saturday.
The postal operator anticipates the new delivery schedules will be fully rolled out across all of its 1,200 delivery units by year's end . Along with the schedule alterations, Royal Mail is also revising its performance targets.
The company will now strive to deliver 90% of first-class letters by the next day , a modest drop from the previous 93% target. For second-class mail, the target is being reduced to 95% delivered within three days, down from 98.5%.