Royal Mail Issues Apology Over Two-Week Delivery Backlog in West Midlands
Royal Mail has issued a formal apology to households across the West Midlands following reports of a significant two-week backlog in postal deliveries. Residents in areas such as Northfield, Birmingham, and Halesowen in Dudley have voiced concerns over not receiving mail for up to 11 days, with some claiming postmen have been absent since before Christmas.
Resident Complaints Highlight Delivery Disruptions
An anonymous resident from Halesowen detailed the extent of the issue, stating, "Since the New Year and before the storm, I have not seen a postie in the Halesowen area since before Christmas." He added that correspondence sent to his home address on January 5 had yet to arrive, with an 11-day delay and customer service wait times of around one hour to speak to an agent.
Similar problems have been reported in the Northfield area of Birmingham, prompting Royal Mail to address the situation directly with affected communities.
Causes of the Postal Backlog Explained
In response to mounting complaints, Royal Mail attributed the backlog to a combination of factors:
- Severe weather conditions, including the recent impact of Storm Goretti, which disrupted operations.
- Resourcing challenges related to staff sickness, absence, and recruitment difficulties.
Despite these issues, Royal Mail emphasised that most customers are not experiencing the full 11-day delays reported by some residents. A spokesperson clarified, "The vast majority of customers across the region are receiving deliveries at least every other day, if not daily."
Impact on High-Volume Senders and Economy Services
The backlog has also affected how mail from high-volume senders, such as NHS trusts and banks, is being processed. Many are utilising Royal Mail's economy service instead of first or second-class options. According to Royal Mail, items sent via this service are only delivered alongside first- or second-class mail or after five working days from posting.
This means some households may receive multiple items simultaneously, aligning with the service's specifications, which can create the perception of delayed deliveries.
Royal Mail's Commitment to Resolving the Issue
A Royal Mail spokesperson reiterated the company's efforts to normalise services, stating, "Severe weather conditions and resourcing challenges have had an impact on deliveries in the last two weeks. We apologise for any inconvenience caused, and our posties are going above and beyond to ensure deliveries return to normal as quickly as possible."
The company is actively working to mitigate the backlog and restore regular delivery schedules across the affected West Midlands towns.
