Fury over 24 days to deliver Xmas mail
The Post has learned that some items such as the Radio Times Festive issue was delivered to fed up householders as many as 24 days later than expected.
In other cases, overseas letters have taken a staggering 18 days to reach people’s letter boxes.
And in other instances, some people are still receiving Christmas cards- which were posted way back at the end of November!
The backlog has raised fears that time sensitive GP letters, legal and financial correspondence aren’t reaching their intended recipients on time.
One fed-up reader, from Ayr, said: “I am concerned by rather long delays in receiving some items of Post Office Royal Mail in and around Ayr.
“I receive the Radio Times by mail order. I should have received my Christmas edition before its starting date of 19th December. It arrived on 11th January, at 1pm.
“I am also receiving the occasional Christmas card, including one, posted by airmail from Canada on December 22, which arrived on Saturday, January 9.
“And a neighbour received the same
Radio Times Christmas edition on Friday last (January 8.)
“Another neighbour tells me that she has just received a Christmas card postmarked for 30th November, and my niece, in Dalrymple, is still receiving Christmas cards.
“All these items are time important. “It concerns me that other important items, such as legal, financial and insurance documents, of rather greater importance, may be involved here.”
He added: “Rumours are circulating that there is a large backlog of mail, stored at Prestwick, though this is purely hearsay.”
A Royal Mail spokesperson did say that there’s been a “reduction in service levels” due to “higher volumes of mail” during lockdown.
“Across the UK, our people are working hard to deliver as comprehensive a service as possible to all our customers in challenging circumstances.
“Despite our best endeavours, it is possible that some areas of the country may experience a reduction in service levels due to higher volumes of mail during the lockdown, the ongoing impact of COVIDrelated staff absences and necessary social distancing measures at local mail centres and delivery offices.
“We are working hard to deliver as normal a service as we can, drawing in extra resource and offering additional overtime where possible.”