Royal Mail may increase the price of first-class stamps in early April, potentially frustrating customers already dissatisfied with slow service. While no official decision has been announced, the company has a history of raising stamp prices around this time each year.
In the previous year, the cost of a first-class stamp rose by 5p to £1.70, marking a significant increase from 76p in 2020. Second-class stamp prices have also seen an uptick, going from 65p in 2020 to 87p last April.
There have been reports from Royal Mail whistleblowers alleging that mail delivery routes are being missed regularly and parcels are given priority over letters due to operational strain. Despite Royal Mail denying claims of parcel prioritization, postal workers across the UK have highlighted delays in mail delivery.
Adverse weather conditions and higher sick leave rates have caused temporary disruptions in mail delivery routes. Royal Mail assures customers that efforts are being made to address delays promptly and enhance delivery performance.
Royal Mail is expected to release quarterly figures before the end of February, likely indicating missed delivery targets. The company faced a £21 million fine in the previous year for failing to meet first and second-class delivery goals, marking the third-largest fine imposed by regulator Ofcom on any company.
In the 2024-25 financial year, Royal Mail only managed to deliver 77% of first-class mail and 92.5% of second-class mail on time, falling short of its service targets for the third consecutive year. The company, now under the ownership of Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky, has been fined repeatedly for service deficiencies.
Royal Mail has been granted permission to reduce second-class letter deliveries to five days every two weeks, transitioning away from Saturday deliveries to optimize operations as mail volumes decline.
Despite ongoing negotiations with the Communication Workers Union regarding operational changes, concerns persist about service improvements. Craig Anderson from the CWU expressed doubts about Royal Mail’s ability to enhance services, labeling the company as being in a state of crisis.
Inclement weather and staff absences have led to potential service delays in over 100 UK postcodes, as Royal Mail grapples with operational challenges.