Royal Mail may soon increase the price of first class stamps, potentially aggravating already dissatisfied customers due to slow service. While the decision is pending, historical patterns suggest a likelihood of another price hike in early April.
In the previous year, the cost of a first class stamp rose by 5p to £1.70, a significant increase from 76p in 2020, marking a 124% surge. Second class stamp prices, although restricted, also escalated from 65p in 2020 to 87p the following April.
Concerns have been raised by Royal Mail insiders, alleging that daily mail rounds are being missed and parcels are being prioritized over letters due to overextended resources. Despite denials from Royal Mail, more than 20 postal workers across the UK reported delays in their offices, with parcels consistently taking precedence over letter deliveries.
Adverse weather conditions, such as storms Goretti, Ingrid, and Chandra in January, coupled with above-average sick leave, have led to temporary disruptions in certain mail routes. Quarterly reports expected before the end of February may reveal further missed delivery targets, following a £21 million fine imposed on Royal Mail last October for failing to meet first and second class delivery goals in the previous financial year.
In the 2024-25 financial year, Royal Mail only achieved on-time delivery rates of 77% for first class mail and 92.5% for second class, falling significantly short of the set targets. This marked the third consecutive year the company, now under Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky’s ownership, faced penalties for service failures.
Royal Mail has been authorized to reduce second class letter deliveries to five days every two weeks, transitioning to alternate weekdays. Although this change, implemented since last July, aims to adapt to declining letter volumes, full agreement with the Communication Workers Union is still pending.
Despite efforts to improve relations with the union, concerns persist regarding service quality. Craig Anderson from the CWU expressed skepticism about future improvements, citing ongoing challenges since the Christmas period and describing Royal Mail as a company grappling with crises.
Additionally, Royal Mail has issued warnings about potential service disruptions in more than 100 UK postcodes due to storms and increased employee absences.