How long does the post office hold mail royal mail
In the United Kingdom, Royal Mail, the national postal service, has a standard holding period for mail before it is returned to the sender or disposed of. Here are the general guidelines:
- Domestic mail: If a letter or parcel is undeliverable due to an incorrect or incomplete address, Royal Mail will hold it for 18 months before returning it to the sender.
- International mail: For international mail, Royal Mail will hold it for 12 months before returning it to the sender.
- Special Delivery: For items sent via Special Delivery, Royal Mail will hold them for 12 months before returning them to the sender.
- Parcels: For parcels, Royal Mail will hold them for 12 months before returning them to the sender.
After the holding period, Royal Mail will return the mail to the sender, usually by sending it back to the original sender's address. If the sender has moved, the mail may be returned to the original sender's address or to the local post office for collection.
It's worth noting that these holding periods may vary depending on the specific circumstances of the mail item. For example, if the mail is undeliverable due to a change of address, Royal Mail may hold it for a longer period to allow the sender to update their address.
If you're concerned about a specific piece of mail, you can contact Royal Mail's customer service department to inquire about its status.