Royal Mail fails to offer a first class service across Wales

[TrueBlueTerrier]

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THE Royal Mail missed first class delivery targets in every region of Wales last year as a result of industrial action and severe winter weather.

The postal service failed to achieve its 91.5% next-day delivery target for first class, stamped and metered mail across all postal codes in Wales and the rest of Britain during the four quarters of 2009 – 2010.

Newport was the worst performing area in Wales, according to the quarterly post report by Consumer Focus Wales, failing to reach its target by more than three per cent, with an 88.2% success rate.

Although 87.9% of overall first class mail arrived the day after posting, it was more than 10% above the 78.9% figure in the autumn during a period of several national one-day strikes by the Communication Workers Union.

Royal Mail’s latest quality of service report has also shown standard parcels, European international delivery and some business bulk mail have beaten their targets.

Liz Withers, principal policy advocate at Consumer Focus Wales, said: “Royal Mail needs to raise its game if it is to satisfy the needs of consumers in Wales and hit the targets it has been set. Consumer Focus Wales will be talking to Royal Mail about these results to challenge it to at least meet its post code area targets with immediate effect.

“We will be continuing to monitor their performance closely this year, but believe the results should improve following the agreement that was signed between Royal Mail and the Communication Workers Union in March.”

Having carried out research to find out what postal service issues are important to consumers, Consumer Focus Wales concluded 83% of people didn’t know the correct price of a standard first class stamp, while only 42% of people were satisfied with the system of paying for letters or packets based on their size as well as their weight.

Ms Withers said: “Our research also shows that Royal Mail still have some way to go to ensure consumers understand the prices of stamps for different sizes of standard packages. Consumers should not lose out because of delays to the delivery of their mail or the recipient forced to pay a surcharge where the wrong postage has been paid.”

Simon Evans, public affairs officer for the Federation of Small Businesses in Wales, said: “It’s disappointing that in every postcode in Wales delivery targets have been missed. It’s doubly disappointing in Cardiff, one of the worst areas.

“Small businesses often receive their payments by post so they are still relying on getting money in by the postal service. Any delay in these things, we said at the time of the postal strikes, would have a knock-on effect and businesses would suffer.

“The Royal Mail is something that small businesses depend on for the growth and efficient running of their businesses.”

Robert Lloyd Griffiths, regional director of the Institute of Directors in Wales, said businesses would be hoping that the level of service improved.

“It’s important that the industrial action and the weather were the key components in the dip,” he said. “The industrial action has now been resolved.

“To my understanding, prior to that, deliveries had achieved record highs. What they now need to do is ensure all the investments that they have made enable that trend to continue. The importance of having your mail on time is essential for business continuity.”

Tony Baxter, Royal Mail regional operations director, Wales, said he was confident that the level of service would improve.

“Everyone in Royal Mail is focused on restoring quality of service to the target-beating levels we achieved a year ago and I’m delighted to say that the modernisation agreement we’ve reached with the CWU provides the stability and framework to complete our transformation to provide consistent, high-quality, efficient service,” he said.

“We are aware that our quality of service results in Wales are all below target, particularly in the Newport postcode area.

“We are determined to improve on these figures.”

[not me]

last year as a result of industrial action and severe winter weather.

so glad there's absolutely no other factors involved..........

[DirtyHarry]

last year as a result of industrial action and severe winter weather.

so glad there's absolutely no other factors involved..........

Absolutely!
Great to know that the wholesale dismantling of a system that worked like a dream, and the putting in it's place, a system introduced entirely by people with no background in Britain's postal service, and guarantees that Britain's post gets to it's destination on a wing and a prayer, has nothing whatsoever to do with the poor levels of service in Wales, nor dare I say it, the rest of the UK.
Great innit, this old "if it 'aint broke, completely destroy it, and then replace with an infinately less reliable, less solid, third class job lot, and nobody will notice a thing" scam.

[Lounge Lizard]

Perhaps the bilingual addresses are slowing the mail down.