COVID-19 Domestic Delivery Updates

Please find below a summary current information relating to the impact of Coronavirus on domestic deliveries.

We will continue to work with our customers and suppliers to ensure our normal level of service through our collection and delivery network is maintained. We are closely monitoring guidance by the World Health Organization and Public Health England. For further information please read our business update here.

Temporary changes to Royal Mail postal deliveries on a Saturday.
30.04.20

The changes:

• From the 2nd May we will temporarily no longer deliver letters on a Saturday, apart from all “Signed For” items, irrespective of format.
• We will continue to provide a letter delivery service from Monday to Friday as normal.
• We will continue to deliver Special Delivery, Tracked, all non-account services and most other parcels from Monday to Saturday across the country. However, from the 16th May we will temporarily cease delivering Royal Mail 48 Parcels and International Import Untracked Services on a Saturday.
• Customers may continue to post both letters and parcels as usual on Saturday.
• We will continue to collect all mail from businesses, post offices and post boxes.

Services delivered on a Saturday Services not delivered on a Saturday

• 1st Class Parcels
• 1st Class Signed For Parcels, Large Letters and Letters
• 2nd Class Parcels
• 2nd Class Signed For Parcels, Large Letters and Letters

From 2nd May:

• 1st Class Letters and Large Letters
• 2nd Class Letters and Large Letters
• Royal Mail 24 Parcels and Large Letters
• Royal Mail Tracked 24 & 48 Parcels and Tracked Letterboxable formats
• Royal Mail Tracked Returns

From 16th May:

• As above plus
• Royal Mail 48 Parcels and Large Letters**
• Access Parcels**
• Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9am* (all formats)
• Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm* (all formats)
• International import tracked services (all formats) International untracked import services (all formats)**

* We currently have some temporary changes to the timings of our guarantees on Special Delivery Guaranteed services in force.
** Royal Mail 48 Parcels and International untracked parcels will be delivered on Saturday 2 and 9 May. They will not be delivered on Saturdays from 16 May.

Why we are doing this:

We said from the beginning of this crisis that there would be a reduction in service levels as we implement necessary social distancing measures and deal with coronavirus-related absences.

We are also experiencing an increase in parcel volumes as more people shop online and need to redeploy resources appropriately to help manage the demand on our people.

So, we have decided to redeploy resources from Saturday deliveries to Monday to Friday deliveries in order to improve the service during the working week.

This temporary measure is designed to take the strain from our colleagues. Our postmen and postwomen are working very hard across the UK in challenging conditions.

Hermes Update
07.04.20

Due to increased eCommerce volumes driven by the increase in online shopping, coupled with the social distancing requirement to keep their staff safe and delivering your goods, Hermes are experiencing minor delays outside of their normal service levels, please allow an additional 1-2 days for deliveries to me made during the current crisis. Please make us aware of any issues if your delivery is delayed by more than 2 working days, also if you would like to speak to us about switching your deliveries to an alternative carrier at this time, understanding most carriers are operating under the same pressures, please contact your Account Manager who will be happy to help.

Royal Mail
31.03.20

Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm and by 9am – reinstatement and changes to guaranteed time of delivery.

Key points from Royal Mail

• Following the suspension of the guarantee of Special Delivery by 1pm on 19 March, Royal Mail are reintroducing a time guarantee to this service. After monitoring performance during the last 10 days, they are confident they can deliver a next day guarantee.
• The new guaranteed delivery time for Special Delivery by 1pm, will be 9pm, This applies to items posted from Tuesday 31 March.
• Additionally Royal Mail are changing the guarantee time for Special Delivery by 9am to by 12 noon for items posted from Tuesday 31 March
• Both Special Delivery services now have a next day guarantee in place, but at different times than usual; By 9am is guaranteed by 12 noon. By 1pm is guaranteed by 9pm.
• Saturday Guarantee still applies, as do the usual postcode exceptions
• Fee refunds for delay and consequential loss will be available for items posted from Tuesday 31 March if items are delivered outside the new guaranteed times.
• Fee refunds and claims for consequential loss will not be available for Special Delivery by 1pm items posted between Thursday 19 March up to including Monday 30 March

There may be more changes in the coming days and weeks. For additional information please refer to the below.

• Please visit royalmail.com/serviceupdates for more information or https://www.royalmail.com/coronavirus  for the latest update.

UK
25.03.20

There are potential service delays in the following areas due to reduced capacity. However parcels will continue to be delivered in these impacted areas:

Mitcham
Hayes
Gatwick
Borehamwood
Waltham Cross