Image: Royal Mail

From the 2nd of May 2023, Royal mail have outlined changes that will affect their re-delivery policies. These changes state that if you are not home and your parcel cannot fit through your letterbox or if they need a signature, posties will automatically redeliver the next working day. 

According to an article published on the Royal Mail website, these redeliveries aim to save customers time by not needing to visit a collection point, will be free of charge and will continue to allow customers to arrange redeliveries to a more convenient day.  

The new redelivery process will be as follows:

1. First delivery attempt

If you’re not in, Royal Mail will leave a ‘Something for you’ card informing you whether they’ve left your item with a neighbour or in a safe place, however it will now also inform you if they will automatically redeliver your parcel the next working day. You will also have the option to reschedule your delivery to a more convenient day.

Please note that you will no longer be able to collect your parcel after the first delivery attempt, you can’t collect your parcel until after Royal Mail have made the automatic redelivery attempt the next working day * (excl Sundays and Bank Holidays)

2. Second delivery attempt

If you’re not in, Royal Mail will leave you a ‘Something for you’ card informing you how you can:

  • Reschedule your delivery to a more convenient day
  • Request that your parcel be left with a neighbour or safe place, 
  • Schedule the delivery to local Post Office
  • Collect your item

These changes are a huge deviation from the current delivery process, which can often be frustrating or confusing. 

Re-delivery scams have also been on the rise in recent years so here’s hoping that Royal Mail can reduce the risk of scams by helping customers liaise directly with them for any missed deliveries.   

This is good news for sellers also, as this new change will streamline the process of customers receiving their orders.

For more information on these changes, you can find the full article here, where you will also find links to book a redelivery or update your delivery preferences.