How long does post office hold mail royal mail
In the UK, Royal Mail, the postal service, has a standard holding period for mail before it is returned to the sender or disposed of. Here are the general guidelines:
- Unclaimed mail: If a parcel or letter is not collected from a Royal Mail delivery office within 18 months, it will be returned to the sender as "unclaimed".
- Undeliverable mail: If a parcel or letter is undeliverable due to an incorrect or incomplete address, Royal Mail will hold it for 12 months before returning it to the sender.
- Special delivery items: For items sent via Royal Mail Special Delivery, the holding period is 12 months. If the item is not collected or claimed within this time, it will be returned to the sender.
- International mail: For international mail, the holding period varies depending on the destination country. Royal Mail will typically hold international mail for 6-12 months before returning it to the sender.
It's worth noting that these holding periods may vary depending on the specific circumstances of the mail item. For example, if a parcel is sent to a business address and the business closes down, Royal Mail may hold the parcel for a longer period before returning it to the sender.
If you're concerned about a specific piece of mail being held by Royal Mail, you can contact them directly to inquire about its status.