When Royal Mail announced changes from the 7th of July 2025, in emails to business customers, telling them that daily delivery and Saturday deliveries for 2nd Class will be scrapped, Ofcom weren’t too happy – even though Royal Mail said that the change would be subject to Ofcom’s decision.
Ofcom were apparently hit with media enquiries about Royal Mail’s announcement… so many that they publicly published their letter of chastisement to quell the confusion. Ofcom say in their letter that ‘For the avoidance of doubt, no decisions have been taken on the proposals for reform of the universal service contained in our consultation. We will publish a statement setting out our decisions in summer 2025. Until that point, the existing regulations remain in place.’
They go on to say Royal Mail’s announcement of changes to Second Class delivery speeds incorrectly assumes an outcome in relation to Ofcom’s decisions on the future of the universal service and that any reference by Royal Mail to specific dates, either in relation to Ofcom’s decisions or the implementation of any potential reforms, is premature.
Royal Mail are in a tricky position – they’re expecting a decision in the summer and all the bets are on that 2nd Class post will become a less regular service than 6 days per week. Royal Mail have consistently failed to deliver this service in the past few years, Ofcom acknowledge that letter volumes are falling and delivering them is a loss making game, and most of the public begrudgingly think they’re already not getting the service that they pay for.
Something has to change and Royal Mail need to give business customers adequate notice of any alteration to their service… and so they did, with the proviso that it was pending Ofcom’s announcement. It’ll probably happen anyway, but jumping the gun means that when the announcement does happen (if it does) they won’t have to give a further notice period and can implement the changes immediately.
Royal Mail probably think that their telling off was worth it.
