Do royal mail keep records

Yes, Royal Mail, the UK's postal service, keeps records of mail sent and received. These records are maintained for a certain period of time, which can vary depending on the type of mail and the purpose of the record. Here are some examples of the types of records Royal Mail keeps and how long they are retained:

  1. Postage records: Royal Mail keeps records of postage paid and the date of posting for a minimum of 12 months. This is to help with the tracking of mail and to assist with any disputes or queries.
  2. Delivery records: Royal Mail keeps records of delivery, including the date and time of delivery, for a minimum of 12 months. This helps to ensure that mail is delivered to the correct address and can be used to investigate any issues with delivery.
  3. Undelivered mail: Royal Mail keeps records of undelivered mail, including the reason for non-delivery, for a minimum of 12 months. This helps to ensure that mail is not lost or misdirected.
  4. Special delivery records: Royal Mail keeps records of Special Delivery items, including the date and time of delivery, for a minimum of 12 months.
  5. Parcelforce records: Royal Mail's parcel delivery service, Parcelforce, keeps records of parcel tracking, including the date and time of dispatch and delivery, for a minimum of 12 months.
  6. Customer records: Royal Mail keeps records of customer information, including names, addresses, and contact details, for as long as the customer remains a customer. This information is used to provide customer service and to send marketing materials.

Royal Mail is required to comply with data protection regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which sets out the rules for the collection, storage, and use of personal data. Royal Mail's data retention policies are designed to ensure that personal data is only retained for as long as necessary and is used in accordance with the purposes for which it was collected.

It's worth noting that Royal Mail may also retain records for longer periods of time if required by law or regulation, or if necessary to investigate and resolve disputes or complaints.