How long does royal mail have to keep universal postage

According to Royal Mail's guidelines, they typically retain Universal Postal Items (UPIs) for a period of 12 months from the date of posting. This means that if you send a letter or parcel using Universal Postage, Royal Mail will keep it for 12 months before it is destroyed or recycled.

However, it's worth noting that Royal Mail may retain UPIs for longer periods in certain circumstances, such as:

  1. Investigations: If Royal Mail is investigating a complaint or issue related to a UPI, they may retain the item for a longer period.
  2. Legal proceedings: If a UPI is involved in legal proceedings, Royal Mail may retain it until the proceedings are completed.
  3. Claims: If a customer makes a claim related to a UPI, Royal Mail may retain the item until the claim is resolved.

It's also important to note that Royal Mail may not retain UPIs that are damaged or destroyed during transit. In such cases, the item may be written off as lost or damaged, and the customer may be eligible for compensation.

If you're concerned about the retention period for a specific UPI, you can contact Royal Mail's customer service team for more information.