Finance

Royal Mail faces UK probe after missing delivery targets

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on May 23, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 23, 2026

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Royal Mail faces UK probe after missing delivery targets
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(Reuters) -British regulator Ofcom said on Friday it would investigate whether there were reasonable grounds for believing that postal company Royal Mail has failed to comply with its service

UK Regulator Launches Probe into Royal Mail's Delivery Performance

(Reuters) -British regulator Ofcom said on Friday it would investigate whether there were reasonable grounds for believing that postal company Royal Mail has failed to comply with its service obligations in 2024/25.

The investigation comes after Royal Mail said that 76.5% of first class mail arrived within one working day, and 92.2% of second class mail were delivered within three days - both below the targets set by the watchdog, which oversees postal services.

"We are actively modernising Royal Mail, and while these efforts are beginning to deliver results, we know there is still more to do," Royal Mail's Chief Operating Officer Alistair Cochrane said in a statement.

Royal Mail had been fined for missing its delivery targets in 2023/24 and 2022/23.

The over 500-year old firm has called for reforms to the nationwide single-price first- and second-class service obligation and proposed the introduction of new additional reliability targets.

Royal Mail's parent company International Distribution Services agreed to be taken over by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky last year. The deal suffered a delay earlier this year and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025.

(Reporting by DhanushVignesh Babu and Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)

Key Takeaways

  • Ofcom is investigating Royal Mail's delivery performance.
  • Royal Mail's delivery rates fell below set targets.
  • The company was fined for missing targets in previous years.
  • Royal Mail is pushing for service obligation reforms.
  • Parent company takeover expected to close in 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the reason for Ofcom's investigation into Royal Mail?
Ofcom is investigating whether Royal Mail has failed to comply with its service obligations after the company reported that its delivery performance was below the required targets.
What were Royal Mail's delivery performance statistics?
Royal Mail stated that 76.5% of first class mail arrived within one working day, and 92.2% of second class mail were delivered within three days, both below the set targets.
What actions has Royal Mail taken in response to its delivery issues?
Royal Mail has called for reforms to the nationwide single-price first- and second-class service obligation and proposed new additional reliability targets to improve performance.
Who is the parent company of Royal Mail and what recent change occurred?
Royal Mail's parent company, International Distribution Services, agreed to be taken over by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky last year, although the deal faced delays.
Has Royal Mail faced any penalties for its delivery performance?
Yes, Royal Mail has been fined for missing its delivery targets in both the 2023/24 and 2022/23 periods.

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