Why it could soon take even longer for millions of letters to arrive via Royal Mail

Royal Mail will take longer to deliver millions of business letters as part of a trial ahead of official regulatory changes.

The Ofcom watchdog will consult on a review of postal services next year, including plans to limit second-class deliveries to every other working day.

But Royal Mail is preparing to make changes in the future for bulk letters such as bills, bank statements and some NHS letters.

It comes at a critical time for International Distribution Services, owner of Royal Mail, which is being bought by Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky.

The sale is being investigated under national security legislation.

Royal Mail must deliver letters to 32 million homes six days a week for the fixed price of a stamp, under the Universal Service Obligation.

The Postal Service has been lobbying for change for four years and says the obligation is costing £2 million a day.

Under Ofcom’s rules, homes would receive second-class mail on Monday, Wednesday and Friday one week, and on Tuesday and Thursday the following week, with letters arriving within three working days.

However, Royal Mail plans to launch the changes for bulk business letters before Ofcom’s ruling, to give customers more time to prepare.

The current service, which sees second-class letters delivered within two days and also on Saturdays, will be phased out if Ofcom gives the green light in early 2025 for the changes to go ahead later that year.