Does royal mail keep parcels 18 or 19 days

According to Royal Mail's guidelines, they typically hold parcels for 18 working days (not including weekends or bank holidays) before returning them to the sender as "undeliverable" if they are unable to deliver them to the recipient.

However, it's worth noting that this timeframe may vary depending on the specific circumstances of the parcel and the service used. For example:

• If you've used a tracked service, Royal Mail may hold the parcel for a longer period to allow for additional attempts to deliver.
• If you've used a signed-for service, Royal Mail may hold the parcel for a longer period to allow for the recipient to collect it.
• If there are issues with the parcel's address or the recipient's availability, Royal Mail may hold the parcel for a longer period to try to resolve the issue.

It's also worth noting that Royal Mail's 18-working-day limit is a general guideline, and they may hold parcels for longer or shorter periods depending on their specific processes and circumstances.

If you're concerned about the status of a parcel, I recommend tracking it using Royal Mail's tracking service or contacting their customer service team for more information.