YOU’LL need to send your Christmas post sooner than expected this year as the deadline for delivery is brought forward.
The Royal Mail final postage date is fast approaching since workers have gone on strike.
AlamyYou need to be quick if you want letters to arrive in time for Christmas[/caption]
If you want to send cards and parcels to loved ones across the UK but haven’t already, you’ll need to be quick.
The deadline to send first class post, which costs an extra 25p, is December 16 – just a few days away.
This is sooner than usual because of the postal strikes – originally, the deadline was December 21.
But do keep in mind it’s still possible to send letters after December 21, but it will cost you more.
The absolute last posting date before Christmas using Special Delivery Guaranteed, which costs a minimum of £6.85 for a letter, is now December 21 compared to the usual December 23.
Unfortunately, the final date to send second class post was December 12. The second class deadline is normally December 19.
The delays come after regulator Ofcom warned Royal Mail it could not carry on blaming the pandemic for poor service.
After investigating Royal Mail’s performance it said that it failed to meet delivery targets last year with just 82% of first class mail delivered within one day, compared to its target of 93%.
Here’s what days you’ll need to have sent your Christmas post by:
What are the last days to send post in Britain?
Friday December 16 for 1st class, 1st class signed for, Royal mail 24 and Royal Mail Tracked 48Monday December 19 for Royal Mail tracked 24Wednesday December 21 for Special Delivery GuaranteedThe deadline for Bulk Mail Economy has already passed
What are the last days to send internationally?
Monday December 12 for international tracking and signature post to Belgium, France and LuxembourgThe deadline for all international tracking and signature post has now passedThe deadline for international economy has now passed
We’ve also rounded up the last order dates at the major retailers to get Christmas deliveries on time.