A shake-up could see the end of second class letter deliveries on a Saturday, and a switch to every other day during the week

Posties could end up delivering second class letters as little as two a days a week.

Regulator Ofcom is also looking at whether to allow second class deliveries on a Saturday to be ditched after intense lobbying from Royal Mail. The move would save the privatised postal giant up to £300million a year. Royal Mail – whose board is backing a £3.57billion takeover by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky – wants radical reform of the Universal Service Obligation, under which it is legally required to deliver letters six days a week and parcels five days a week.

Under the new plans, first class deliveries would remain unchanged. However, second class letter deliveries on a Saturday would be scrapped – and only happen every other day during the week. It is likely to mean posties delivering these supposedly less urgent letters three days a week by foot on one week and just two days the next. Despite the reduced schedule, Royal Mail will still have a target to deliver second class letters within three working days.

However, many households and businesses are furious about what they see as Royal Mail’s sporadic deliveries, with some items taking a long time to turn up. The company has been fined by Ofcom for missing targets for both first and second class. Royal Mail argues the shake-up is needed given a sharp fall in letter deliveries overall. It says the average household gets just four letters a week now, down from 14 two decades.

Ofcom said no decision had been made, with aims to publish a consultation in early 2025 and make a decision in the summer of next year. Lindsey Fussell, Ofcom’s group director for networks and communications, said: “If we decide to propose changes to the universal service next year, we want to make sure we achieve the best outcome for consumers. So we’re now looking at whether we can get the universal service back on an even keel in a way that meets people’s needs. But this won’t be a free pass for Royal Mail – under any scenario, it must invest in its network, become more efficient and improve its service levels.”

Martin Seidenberg, group chief executive of Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services, said: “Our proposal for the future of the universal service has been developed after speaking to thousands of people across the country, and is designed to protect what matters most for customers. It can be achieved through regulatory change with no need for new legislation. The universal service faces a very real and urgent financial sustainability challenge.”

The group also said its plans would lead to “fewer than 1,000” voluntary redundancies with daily delivery routes cut by between 7,000-9,000 within two years. Amanda Fergusson, head of the Greeting Card Association, said: “We are concerned that (Ofcom’s) proposed timetable takes us one step closer to the dismantling of a postal service that’s affordable and reliable.

“Our members have been clear that moving to a second-class delivery service that’s limited to three days a week, will mean customers buying and sending cards will have little idea when they’ll arrive. Those members, and the consumers they serve, rely on a postal service that’s reliable, affordable, and national – they’ve already told us loud and clear they’re not getting it.”

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