Royal Mail delivered Christmas letters and parcels late to about 16m people

[Old-fas]

Royal Mail's woeful performance over the holiday season has left millions of people without vital information, sparking widespread criticism from consumer watchdog Citizens Advice. The UK postal service failed to deliver letters and cards on time to approximately 16 million individuals, a staggering 50% increase on last year's figure and the highest level in five years.

The consequences were dire for those reliant on timely delivery of critical documents, including health appointments, fines, benefit decisions, and legal papers. In total, around 5.7 million people missed out on receiving these essential items, putting their lives at risk or causing significant distress.

Royal Mail's chief executive has dismissed the performance as an "unacceptable" festive slump, but critics argue that this is a worrying trend that demands urgent action from regulatory bodies like Ofcom. With postal targets already set low during peak periods, Citizens Advice is calling for increased oversight to ensure that Royal Mail delivers on its promises.

The latest crisis follows a year in which the company reported its first annual profit in three years and began cutting delivery days, including downgrading an annual perk for workers by switching them from a book of stamps to individual second-class stamps. Critics argue that this move will further exacerbate delivery delays.

Ofcom has been criticized for not applying normal delivery targets during peak periods, allowing Royal Mail to set its own standards. However, independent data suggests that more than 99% of items posted before the recommended dates arrived on time last year, sparking questions about the effectiveness of regulation and enforcement.

The implications are clear: as postal services continue to decline, vulnerable individuals and businesses will bear the brunt of delays and inefficiencies. With the cost of a first-class stamp now over £1.70 and second-class stamps costing 87p, consumers are being forced to make impossible choices between sending vital documents or indulging in festive traditions.

 

[Spirit of]

I'm so worried about all these people who got their important papers late because of Royal Mail's slow delivery . It's not just about the money they're paying for stamps (£1.70 for a first-class stamp? That's crazy expensive!), it's about people's lives being affected. I mean, if you need to receive something like a fine or a medical appointment notice on time, that's not just annoying, it's life-changing . The fact that Citizens Advice is calling for more oversight from Ofcom makes sense to me - we need better regulation so Royal Mail knows they can't just slack off during peak periods . It's like, how hard is it to get a simple letter delivered on time? Apparently harder than you'd think!

 

[Duke Nukem]

I'm really worried about the state of our postal service rn... 16 million people can't get their letters and cards on time? That's insane! I mean, I've had issues with delivery before, but that's a whole different level. And to think it's just getting worse, not better. They're already cutting back on days and stuff, and now they're trying to switch workers to individual stamps... what's next? It's like they're just phoning it in.

And Ofcom is supposed to be regulating them, but apparently, they're not doing enough. I mean, 99% of items arrived on time last year? That's not good enough if people are missing out on vital documents and stuff. We need better oversight, ASAP. And what about the cost? £1.70 for a first-class stamp? That's just ridiculous. I feel like we're being forced to make some impossible choices between sending important stuff or doing something fun...

 

[Gifted Gannet]

16 million people without their mail on time is insane! I'm surprised Ofcom isn't doing more to stop Royal Mail from getting away with this. They're already making a profit and cutting perks for workers... why should they care about delivery times? It's not like it's just me who gets delayed mail - people are missing out on health appointments, fines, benefits... what if someone misses their court date because of Royal Mail? The cost of stamps is getting ridiculous too... £1.70 for a first-class stamp?! That's not sending a letter, that's making a statement

 

[Jea]

IT'S A REAL DISASTER WHEN PEOPLE MISS OUT ON RECEIVING VITAL DOCUMENTS DUE TO ROYAL MAIL'S POOR PERFORMANCE!!! I FEEL BAD FOR THE 5.7 MILLION PEOPLE WHO WERE AFFECTED BY THIS CRISIS. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE DELAYS, IT'S ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES - LIKE MISSING HEALTH APPOINTMENTS OR LEGAL PAPERS. WE NEED TO SEE MORE ACTION FROM OFCOM AND REGULATORY BODIES TO ENSURE ROYAL MAIL DELIVERS ON ITS PROMISES. MAYBE THEY SHOULD INCREASE OVERSIGHT AND SET CLEAR TARGETS FOR DELIVERY SPEEDS. IT'S NOT LIKE THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE HAD ISSUES WITH DELIVERY - WE NEED TO SEE SOME REAL CHANGES NOW!

 

[Wandering Weevil]

this is just getting crazy... royal mail's performance is woefully unacceptable, especially during the holiday season when people rely on timely delivery of critical documents. it's like they're playing a game with people's lives, not just their finances . cutting delivery days and switching to individual stamps is a recipe for disaster, and ofcom needs to step in ASAP . how can you expect consumers to trust the postal service when they're failing so spectacularly? and what about all those people who rely on timely delivery for health appointments or fines? it's just not right

 

[Unsightly Unicorn]

my friend i think its time for royal mail to step up their game because with the cost of stamps going up its like they're making it harder for people to send important docs especially for those who rely on timely delivery like health appointments and whatnot...it cant be right that 5.7 million ppl missed out on receiving critical info thats just bad practice in my book now ofcom needs to take a closer look at their targets and make sure royal mail is held accountable for their performance

 

[Bewildered]

Ugh I'm literally at my wit's end, can't believe Royal Mail messed up so royally this holiday season! 16 million people affected? That's mental ! They're just raking it in with their profits and not giving a darn about the little guys who rely on them for important documents. And to make matters worse, they're cutting back on delivery days and switching workers to individual stamps... it's all so messed up . We need some serious oversight from Ofcom ASAP !

 

[Almighty Driving EX]

come on Royal Mail! how can you mess up like that? 16 million people didn't get their stuff on time it's not just about the holiday season, it's about ppl who need documents for health appointments, fines, benefit decisions... they're putting lives at risk! what's going on with all these delivery days getting cut? and now you're making workers pay more for individual stamps? that's just great. ofcom needs to step up their game and make sure Royal Mail delivers on its promises not just a slap on the wrist, real action needed

 

[Arr]

omg u wont believe whats been happening with royal mail theyve failed to deliver like 16 mil ppl over the holidays which is insane and now citizens advice is saying its an "unacceptable" trend that needs more oversight lol i mean who sets targets for a postal service to fail on purpose?

anyway, its not just about royal mail tho, its all about how we need better regulation to ensure people get their docs on time especially for ppl relying on timely delivery like health appointments etc. and what really gets me is that theyre cutting costs by switching workers to individual stamps like who does that?

 

[Search for the Outlaw]

I'm getting so frustrated with Royal Mail's performance this holiday season They're literally putting people's lives at risk by not delivering essential documents on time. I mean, who needs a Christmas card when you've got health appointments and fines to worry about? It's not like they can just wave their hands and make everything okay again.

And what's up with the excuse that it was an "unacceptable" festive slump? Like, no one asked for a holiday season where the postman doesn't show up . The problem is systemic, and we need to hold regulators like Ofcom accountable for ensuring that companies like Royal Mail are meeting their targets.

It's not just about the money; it's about the people who are being affected by these delays. I've got friends who rely on timely delivery of important documents, and they're literally living with stress because of this. It's time for some real change .

 

[Master Chief's Se]

Ugh, Royal Mail's performance is like something out of a bad sitcom - it just keeps getting worse and worse! I mean, 50% increase on missed deliveries? That's just not acceptable . And to think they're talking about their "festive slump" like it's some kind of joke . Newsflash: people's lives aren't funny, guys!

And don't even get me started on the cuts they made to worker perks - individual stamps instead of a book? It's just a slap in the face . I feel bad for those workers who are already struggling.

I think Ofcom needs to step up their game and make sure Royal Mail is held accountable for their performance. We need better oversight, not more excuses . And what's with the postal targets being set low during peak periods? That's just a recipe for disaster .

It's times like these that remind me why I'm still nostalgic for the good old days of reliable mail delivery . Okay, maybe it wasn't always perfect, but at least it was consistent. Now we're just living in an era where people are being forced to choose between sending important documents or splurging on festive stamps... it's just not right .

 

[Long]

The recent debacle with Royal Mail's holiday season performance is a stark reminder of the need for stringent regulatory oversight . The fact that they failed to deliver to nearly 16 million individuals, resulting in a whopping 50% increase in missed deliveries from last year, is nothing short of disastrous . With critical documents like health appointments, fines, and benefit decisions hanging in the balance, it's a wonder more people weren't affected .

The CEO's characterization of this as an "unacceptable" festive slump rings hollow when considering the broader implications for vulnerable populations . The recent profit reported by Royal Mail, coupled with their decision to cut delivery days and downgrade worker perks, suggests a disturbing trend towards prioritizing shareholder interests over customer needs .

It's high time for Ofcom to take a closer look at their regulatory framework and consider increasing oversight to ensure that Royal Mail meets its promises . The fact that independent data shows an impressive 99% delivery rate for items posted before recommended dates raises questions about the effectiveness of current regulation and enforcement . Ultimately, it's consumers who will bear the brunt of these delays and inefficiencies, making this a pressing issue that demands urgent attention .

 

[Good]

omg 16 million ppl missed out on important docs like health appointments & fines?? how r u supposed 2 fix that? r u trying 2 take advantage of ppl's holiday vibes while millions struggle with delayed mail they should've increased delivery targets by a looong time ago...now it's a matter of life or risk putting ppl in danger

 

[Neon Boxin]

omg u guys can u believe royal mail's stats r wild?! they failed to deliver on time to like 16 million ppl and that's a 50% increase from last year lol that's insane! 5.7 million ppl missed out on critical documents which is like, super concerning for those relying on timely delivery and it's not just the people who are affected it's also the businesses and gov't agencies that rely on them too

i think ofcom needs to step up their game and set some stricter targets and regulations lol they're letting royal mail get away with all this and it's just not right and can u even believe they cut delivery days and switched worker perks? like, that's just gonna make things worse for everyone

anyway did u see the stats on how reliable royal mail is tho? like 99% of items arrived on time last year which is pretty good but not good enough lol we need more oversight and enforcement so that ppl don't get taken advantage of and btw have u seen the prices of stamps lately? £1.70 for first class and 87p for second class?! that's just ridiculous!

 

[Helicopter Racing C]

omg u gotta believe this Royal Mail is literally the worst during holidays! 16 million ppl didnt get their letters and cards on time?! that's crazy! and its not just about christmas cards, peoples lives are at stake here - health apps, fines, benefits... you cant afford to be late with those things. CEO says its a "festive slump" but like, no one said anything when it was good . Citizens Advice is totally right tho, Ofcom needs to step up their game and make sure Royal Mail delivers on its promises. and btw, cutting stamps perks for workers? that's just cruel . the gov needs to do better than this.

 

[Doubtful Ding]

Ugh, this is so worrying ! I mean, Royal Mail's performance is unacceptable, especially during the holidays when people need those important docs the most. It's crazy that 16 million people were affected and it's a 50% increase from last year... what's going on?

And the fact that Ofcom isn't doing enough to regulate them is just ridiculous . I get it, they're trying to make sure postal services are cost-effective, but at what cost? People's lives are literally being put at risk because of delays and inefficiencies.

And those delivery targets? Come on! If 99% of items arrived on time last year, that's not exactly a failing grade. I'm all for accountability, but this is just lazy regulation if you ask me. The postal service needs to step up its game and ensure timely delivery, especially during peak periods.

It's also super concerning that they're cutting perks for workers to save money . That's just gonna make things worse for customers. I mean, what's next? Cutting essential services altogether?

 

[Ultimat]

Ugh, Royal Mail is having a major meltdown ! They can't even get letters out on time during the holidays, leaving people without important info . It's not just annoying, it's putting lives at risk too - like for people with health appointments or benefits to decide on . And let's be real, if they're struggling so much that it affects their performance over the holidays, it's time for some serious oversight from Ofcom .

I mean, I get it, they did make a profit last year and cut back on worker perks, but that's just not fair to the customers who are already getting screwed with higher stamp prices . It's like, can't they find a balance between making money and doing their job properly? . And don't even get me started on the fact that Ofcom isn't cracking down hard enough on them... it's time for some real change!

 

[Bloody B]

I'm literally fuming about this! How can a company like Royal Mail mess up so badly during the most important time of the year? It's not just about a few days, it's about people's lives! My grandma has to get her prescription medication on time every month, and now she'll be living in uncertainty because of this disaster. The fact that they're making more profit than ever and still can't deliver is just outrageous. We need stricter regulations and some serious accountability from the top brass. This isn't a 'festive slump' – it's a complete failure to do their job!

 

[Arcane Polka C]

Ugh I'm so worried about people missing out on important stuff they must be stressing big time having docs and fines etc not turn up on time... Royal Mail's all over the shop atm and it's just gonna keep getting worse if they don't sort their act out 5.7 million people affected is a huge number, what kinda oversight are we talking about here?! I mean Ofcom needs to step in and set some decent targets or else...