Overview
- Ofcom launched the formal investigation on Monday, June 1, 2026, after Royal Mail again failed to meet statutory delivery targets for the year to March 2026.
- Royal Mail’s latest quality figures showed 75.7% of first-class letters arrived the next working day against a 90% target and 90.2% of second-class letters arrived within three working days against a 95% target.
- Ofcom criticised Royal Mail for taking almost a year to begin implementing changes agreed in July 2025 that were meant to modernise deliveries and said that delay contributed to ongoing poor service.
- Royal Mail says it has launched a five-year Improvement Plan backed by £500 million and is rolling out a new delivery model it expects to finish by the end of 2026 while warning fines could reduce funds for upgrades.
- The probe could lead to enforcement action, including financial penalties, and customers who rely on next-day and three-day post should expect continued disruption until the new model is fully rolled out.