Royal Mail fined £21m for missing delivery targets

Royal Mail fined £21m for missing delivery targets

Ofcom has fined Royal Mail £21 million for significant delivery failures.

The penalty follows an investigation which found that in the 2024/25 financial year, nearly a quarter of first-class post arrived late.

Royal Mail delivered 77% of first-class mail on time, far below its 93% target. Second-class deliveries also fell short at 92.5%, against a target of 98.5%. This is the third fine for delays in recent years and the third-largest penalty Ofcom has ever issued.



Ian Strawhorne, Ofcom’s director of enforcement, stated that “millions of important letters are arriving late” and that Royal Mail’s previous improvement plans had not materialised, urging for “actual significant improvements, not more empty promises”.

The regulator noted that its actions were “insufficient and ineffective” and that the fine, which was reduced from £30m after Royal Mail admitted its failings, reflected the “harm suffered by customers”.

Ofcom warned that further fines are likely unless the company produces a credible plan to restore its service.

In response, a Royal Mail spokesperson acknowledged the decision and said the organisation would “continue to work hard to deliver further sustained improvements”. They cited recent changes, including new recruitment and training initiatives and altering second-class delivery schedules in some areas, as measures to drive a “step change in quality of service”.

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