Royal Mail has this week made a huge change to its redelivery service - and it should mean less hassle for customers.
The postal company will now automatically attempt to redelivery parcels that were initially missed the first time posties attempted to deliver them.
If someone isn’t home when Royal Mail attempts to deliver a parcel, they are left with a “something for you” card with instructions on how to get it redelivered, and the package is taken back to the depot.
Under the old rules, customers would have to manually pick a new delivery day.
But now, posties will automatically try to deliver the parcel the next working day, except for Sundays and bank holidays, in a move that saves admin for customers.
If the parcel isn’t delivered after the second attempt, posties will leave another “something for you” card and you’ll then need to rearrange the delivery yourself.
Redelivery can be made to the original address, another address in the postcode area or to their nearest local Post Office branch for free.
You can also collect your item from the depot listed on your “something for you card” but only after the second redelivery attempt.
Parcels that won’t be delivered if you’re not home include those that won't fit through the letter box, or need a signature.
Undelivered items are stored for up to 18 days, or 21 days where customs fees are due, before being returned to the sender.
Royal Mail says these changes have been made to save customers time by not needing to visit a collection point.
The delivery firm also says it removes any need for extra carbon emissions as a result of the journey taken by car or public transport to collect the parcel.
The update comes after Royal Mail raised the price of a first class stamp by 15p, from 95p to £1.10, last month.
The price of second class stamps went up 7p, from 68p to 75p.
In other news, classic stamps are being replaced by ones with barcodes, which allow recipients to watch videos and greeting messages from senders.
The deadline for which you have to use older stamps has now been extended by six months, to July 31, 2023.
You can still use themed, commemorative and non-barcoded Christmas stamps beyond this date.
The previous cut-off point was January 31, 2023 .
