Royal Mail Issues Urgent Warning to Avoid Christmas Delivery Disasters
As the festive season begins, Royal Mail has introduced a special postmark to remind the British public to send their Christmas cards early, reported by the Daily Record. With the holiday rush now in full swing, the postal service is urging people to plan ahead and avoid the stress of last-minute posting.
Since December 2, stamped mail across the UK has been carrying the new postmark, which reads: “Remember to post early for Christmas. royalmail.com/greetings.” This reminder will continue until December 19, in hopes of ensuring that cards and parcels are delivered on time for the big day.
Royal Mail has also outlined the critical dates for posting, with the last recommended posting date for 2nd Class mail being Wednesday, December 21. However, this date could be subject to change, so it’s essential to stay updated. For those using 1st Class services, the deadline is even earlier—December 20.
According to the Express, Nick Landon, Chief Commercial Officer at Royal Mail, said: “We all have a lot on at this time of year and it’s easy to leave posting cards and presents to the last minute. However, the run-up to Christmas is by far the busiest time of the year for our posties and we don’t want anyone to be disappointed by not getting their cards and presents in time for the big day, so we are reminding customers to post by the deadlines.”
Here are the important deadlines to keep in mind:
2nd Class: Wednesday, December 21
2nd Class Signed For: Wednesday, December 21
1st Class: Friday, December 20
1st Class Signed For: Friday, December 20
Royal Mail Tracked 48: Friday, December 20
Royal Mail Tracked 24: Saturday, December 21
Special Delivery Guaranteed: Monday, December 23
Royal Mail also reminded customers to double-check that their Christmas cards and parcels are correctly addressed, including the full postcode. Proper addressing is crucial to avoid delays or additional charges for the recipient.
A Royal Mail statement cautioned: “Latest posting dates are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. It’s always advisable to post as early as possible to ensure that your Christmas letters and parcels reach their destination in good time.”
With the clock ticking, it’s clear that early posting is the key to a stress-free holiday season.