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THE postal strikes have left families and businesses in the Cambridge area out of pocket.
But unions say the disruption has been mounted to save jobs and the service to the public and called for cuts to be made in management instead.
A 24-hour stoppage by workers at the city's Henley Road delivery office, Ely's delivery office and in Soham, Haddenham and Isleham, ended on Monday at midnight.
But another 24-hour strike will take place at the sorting office on Clifton Road, Cambridge, today causing further disruption.
The stoppages are in protest at new working conditions being introduced by Royal Mail, which the Communication Workers Union (CWU) says will lead to later deliveries for customers.
But the industrial action has left some families and businesses facing bank penalty charges and fines for late bill payments.
There is now a backlog of more than 20 million letters nationally and 100,000 in Cambridgeshire.
And the Communication Workers Union (CWU) is holding a ballot on an all-out national strike.
Mark Toner, secretary of the CWU for Cambridge, said: "There is a knock on effect on families and businesses receiving their post late but that will be worsened and permanent if these new working conditions and job cuts are imposed. There just won't be enough people to deliver the mail.
"We are all in fear of losing our jobs. They should get rid of the layers of management who do nothing, instead of those who actually do the job."
The late payment of utility bills could lead to some families threatened with disconnection.
Parking fines will also incur an added cost and possibly legal action.
Small firms risk large overdraft charges as customer cheques fail to reach them.
Royal Mail managing director Mark Higson said: "It beggars belief that CWU chief Dave Ward says that the disruption caused by the CWU strike is hurting customers yet at the same time calls a national strike ballot to step up the damage they are already inflicting on customers big and small."