How much do royal mail charge for underpaid postage

Royal Mail, the UK's postal service, charges a fee for underpaid postage, which is also known as a "shortage fee" or "underpayment fee". The fee is calculated as a percentage of the underpaid amount, and it varies depending on the type of mail and the reason for the underpayment.

Here are the current Royal Mail fees for underpaid postage:

Underpaid Parcels

• If the parcel is underpaid by £1 or less, the fee is £1.50
• If the parcel is underpaid by more than £1, the fee is 10% of the underpaid amount, up to a maximum of £10

Underpaid Letters

• If the letter is underpaid by 1p or less, the fee is 1p
• If the letter is underpaid by more than 1p, the fee is 5p

Underpaid Large Letters

• If the large letter is underpaid by £1 or less, the fee is £1.50
• If the large letter is underpaid by more than £1, the fee is 10% of the underpaid amount, up to a maximum of £10

Underpaid Special Delivery

• If the Special Delivery item is underpaid by £1 or less, the fee is £1.50
• If the Special Delivery item is underpaid by more than £1, the fee is 10% of the underpaid amount, up to a maximum of £10

It's worth noting that these fees are in addition to the cost of the postage itself, and they are charged to the sender, not the recipient.

If you're unsure about the correct postage for a particular item, it's always a good idea to check with Royal Mail or use their online postage calculator to ensure you're paying the correct amount.