The changes were “needed” according to Ofcom
17:15, 27 Jul 2025Updated 17:15, 27 Jul 2025
The change comes into effect tomorrow (Monday July 28)(Image: georgeclerk via Getty Images)
A massive change to Royal Mail delivery services is set to come into force tomorrow (Monday July 28) after being announced earlier this month. Royal Mail will be scrapping Saturday deliveries for second-class post and switching to an alternate weekday service instead.
The regulator Ofcom said that from July 28, Royal Mail will be able to axe the six-day-a-week service for second-class letters. It will keep its Monday to Saturday deliveries for first-class post. Royal Mail is keeping the target for second-class letters to arrive within three working days, despite changing deliveries to every other weekday.
According to Ofcom, the changes come after a lengthy consultation and will help Royal Mail cut costs by between £250 million and £425 million a year.
Royal Mail is not expected to push through the overhaul to all second-class letter deliveries across the UK from this month, but will look to roll it out having already launched pilots in 37 of its 1,200 delivery offices.
The watchdog said the changes were needed to help the industry “survive”, as people send far fewer letters and the cost of stamps has increased.
Natalie Black, Ofcom’s group director for networks and communications, said: “These changes are in the best interests of consumers and businesses, as urgent reform of the postal service is necessary to give it the best chance of survival.
“But changing Royal Mail’s obligations alone won’t guarantee a better service – the company now has to play its part and implement this effectively.
Martin Seidenberg, IDS chief executive, said the changes reflect the “realities of how customers send and receive mail today”, reports BirminghamLive.
But consumer group Citizens Advice said Royal Mail had a “woeful track record of failing to meet delivery targets, all the while ramping up postage costs”.
Tom MacInnes, Citizens Advice director of policy, said Ofcom had “missed a major opportunity to bring about meaningful change”.
“Pushing ahead with plans to slash services and relax delivery targets in the name of savings won’t automatically make letter deliveries more reliable or improve standards,” he said.