How long will royal mail hold a parcel for collection
Royal Mail, the UK's postal service, has a standard holding period for parcels that are not collected from a Post Office or a Royal Mail Delivery Office. This period varies depending on the type of parcel and the circumstances. Here are some general guidelines:
- Standard Parcels: If you've sent a parcel to a Royal Mail Delivery Office and it's not collected within 18 working days (Monday to Saturday), Royal Mail will return it to the sender.
- Special Delivery Guaranteed: If you've sent a parcel using Special Delivery Guaranteed and it's not collected within 18 working days, Royal Mail will hold it for an additional 14 days. After this period, they will return it to the sender.
- Parcels left at a Post Office: If you've left a parcel at a Post Office and it's not collected within 14 days, Royal Mail will return it to the sender.
- Parcels left at a Royal Mail Delivery Office: If you've left a parcel at a Royal Mail Delivery Office and it's not collected within 18 working days, Royal Mail will return it to the sender.
Please note that these holding periods may vary in exceptional circumstances, such as:
- Inclement weather or natural disasters
- Postal strikes or industrial action
- Unforeseen circumstances that prevent collection
If you're concerned about a parcel that's not been collected, you can:
- Contact Royal Mail Customer Service to check the status of your parcel.
- Visit your local Post Office or Royal Mail Delivery Office to collect your parcel.
- Provide alternative collection instructions, such as redirecting the parcel to a different address.
Remember to always check the tracking information and any notifications from Royal Mail to stay informed about the status of your parcel.