How long do royal mail keep packages
Royal Mail, the UK's postal service, has a standard retention period for packages, which varies depending on the type of service used and the value of the item. Here are some general guidelines:
- Standard Mail: For standard mail items, Royal Mail typically retains packages for 12 months from the date of posting. This means that if you send a standard mail item and it's lost or undelivered, you'll need to wait at least 12 months before making a claim.
- Signed For Mail: For signed for mail items, Royal Mail retains packages for 12 months from the date of posting, but only if the item is not delivered. If the item is delivered, the recipient can sign for it and Royal Mail will not retain it.
- Special Delivery: For Special Delivery items, Royal Mail retains packages for 12 months from the date of posting, regardless of whether the item is delivered or not.
- Tracked Mail: For tracked mail items, Royal Mail retains packages for 12 months from the date of posting, but only if the item is not delivered. If the item is delivered, the recipient can sign for it and Royal Mail will not retain it.
- High Value Items: For high-value items (those valued at £500 or more), Royal Mail retains packages for 12 months from the date of posting, regardless of whether the item is delivered or not.
It's worth noting that these retention periods may vary depending on the specific circumstances of your package and the service you used. If you're concerned about the retention period for a specific package, you should contact Royal Mail directly for more information.
Additionally, if you're sending a package and you want to ensure it's retained for a longer period, you can consider using a tracked and signed for service, such as Royal Mail's Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm or 9am services. These services provide additional tracking and signature on delivery, and Royal Mail will retain the package for a longer period if it's not delivered.