Royal Mail Christmas Chaos Hits 16 Million Brits
Royal Mail bungled Christmas again, leaving a massive 16 million Brits without their festive letters on time, Citizens Advice has revealed.
Nearly 3 in 10 Brits Suffered Mail Delays
Almost three in ten UK adults felt the sting of delayed letters and cards this Christmas — that’s not even including parcels. Around 5.7 million people missed vital letters about health, fines, and benefits.
Even worse, nearly a quarter of those affected said the delays left them anxious and distressed, especially over important bills and money worries.
Sky-High Stamp Prices Kill Christmas Cheer
Christmas card sending plunged in 2025, with 36% blaming the soaring price of stamps. First-class stamps now cost £1.70 — more than double what they were in 2020, hitting Brits right in the wallet.
Tough Words for Royal Mail as Calls Mount for Crackdown
Anne Pardoe, head of policy at Citizens Advice, slammed the postal chaos as “simply unacceptable.”
“When people have no other postal provider to choose from, the sheer volume of delays is deeply concerning,” she said.
“The impact goes far beyond late Christmas cards, with people missing critical healthcare and financial info.”
“With delivery cuts on the horizon, Ofcom must crack down harder before things get worse. Any future stamp hikes should depend on Royal Mail meeting delivery targets.”
Ofcom confirmed it’s keeping a close watch on Royal Mail, which has already been hit with £37 million in fines for poor performance in recent years.
“Last year, we modernised Royal Mail’s obligations to meet people’s needs sustainably. Now, Royal Mail must improve reliability,” an Ofcom spokesperson said.
Royal Mail fought back, claiming independent data shows over 99% of items posted by the recommended last date arrived before Christmas.
