Royal Mail has introduced a major and permanent change to how it delivers Second Class letters and cards in the UK, following approval from the industry regulator, Ofcom
Royal Mail has introduced a major permanent overhaul to its Second Class letter and card delivery service, following approval from industry regulator Ofcom. Leaflets are currently being distributed to households across the country outlining how the new system operates. Royal Mail has now abolished Saturday deliveries altogether for Second Class letters, which will henceforth only be delivered on alternating weekdays (Monday to Friday).
For instance, your household might receive Second Class post on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday one week, followed by Tuesday and Thursday the next. First Class letters remain unaffected and will continue to be delivered six days a week (Monday to Saturday), with a next-day delivery target.
All parcels — whether First Class, Second Class, or Tracked — will continue to be delivered up to seven days a week.
The “one-price-goes-anywhere” principle remains in place, meaning stamp prices will not vary depending on where you are sending mail within the UK.
However, the changes have not been welcomed by all Royal Mail customers, with one user declaring on Reddit: “That is a CUT. NOT a small change.”
Another agreed: “I’d hate to see what a big change will look.”
A third commented: “Great, we struggle to get our appointment letters out on time and now they make it harder!”
Despite this, another person commented: “If it happens like this and we get deliveries every other weekday it will be a massive improvement from where we are now. I send many 2nd class letters and I know they can take up to 2 weeks to arrive. A few years ago the majority were received within 3 days.”
Royal Mail still targets Second Class mail delivery within three working days, though this may take slightly longer depending on when your alternative delivery days fall.
The change received approval from Ofcom, allowing Royal Mail to cut costs and modernise its services in response to a significant, ongoing decline in letter volumes.
British households now receive an average of just four letters each week, down from 14 letters per week two decades ago. These operational adjustments are expected to save the postal service between £250 million and £425 million annually.
To keep Royal Mail accountable under this revised schedule, Ofcom has modified the statutory reliability targets. Royal Mail must now ensure that 95 per cent of Second Class mail arrives within three working days, with a strict backstop requirement that 99 per cent is delivered within five days.
What do you think about the change? Let us know in the comments…
