How long does royal mail keep undelivered parcels
Royal Mail, the UK's postal service, has a standard retention period for undelivered parcels, which varies depending on the type of parcel and the circumstances. Here are some general guidelines:
- Standard Parcels: Royal Mail typically retains undelivered standard parcels for 12 months from the date of posting. If the parcel is not claimed or redirected within this period, it will be returned to the sender.
- Signed For Parcels: For signed-for parcels, Royal Mail retains them for 12 months from the date of attempted delivery. If the parcel is not signed for or collected within this period, it will be returned to the sender.
- Special Delivery Parcels: For Special Delivery parcels, Royal Mail retains them for 12 months from the date of attempted delivery. If the parcel is not signed for or collected within this period, it will be returned to the sender.
- International Parcels: For international parcels, Royal Mail typically retains them for 12 months from the date of attempted delivery. If the parcel is not claimed or redirected within this period, it will be returned to the sender.
- Unclaimed Parcels: If a parcel is not claimed or redirected within the retention period, Royal Mail will attempt to contact the sender to arrange for the parcel to be returned or destroyed.
It's worth noting that Royal Mail may retain undelivered parcels for longer periods in certain circumstances, such as:
- If the parcel is being held for customs clearance or other regulatory purposes.
- If the parcel is being stored for a specific period due to weather conditions or other external factors.
- If the parcel is being held for investigation or evidence purposes.
If you're concerned about an undelivered parcel, you can contact Royal Mail's customer service team to inquire about its status and potential retention period.