How long will royal mail hold undelivered mail for

Royal Mail, the UK's postal service, has a standard policy for holding undelivered mail. Here are the general guidelines:

  1. Standard Mail: Royal Mail will hold standard mail (letters, postcards, and small packets) for 12 months from the date of posting. If the item is not collected or delivered within this timeframe, it will be returned to the sender as "undeliverable".
  2. Large Letters and Parcels: For larger items, such as parcels, Royal Mail will hold them for 12 months from the date of posting. If the item is not collected or delivered within this timeframe, it will be returned to the sender as "undeliverable".
  3. Special Delivery: For items sent via Special Delivery, Royal Mail will hold them for 12 months from the date of posting. If the item is not collected or delivered within this timeframe, it will be returned to the sender as "undeliverable".
  4. International Mail: For international mail, Royal Mail will hold it for 12 months from the date of posting. If the item is not collected or delivered within this timeframe, it will be returned to the sender as "undeliverable".

It's worth noting that Royal Mail may hold mail for longer periods in certain circumstances, such as:

If you're concerned about undelivered mail, you can contact Royal Mail's customer service team to check on the status of your item. They may be able to provide more information or help you track down your mail.