Royal Mail introduces new flat-rate charging structure for underpaid or unstamped mail

Royal Mail is introducing a new flat-rate charging structure for letters and parcels where insufficient postage or no stamps have been attached. Previously, the surcharge was a £1 handling fee, plus the remaining postage due  for the particular item posted.

From today (5 October), Royal Mail will introduce a flat fee only of £1.50 for a letter or large letter where insufficient postage has been paid. Where no postage has been paid, the fee will be £2. A flat fee of £3 will apply to a Small Parcel where insufficient or no postage has been paid.

Royal Mail said that the changes “are designed to reduce delays in processing underpaid mail and minimise inconvenience for customers”.

The postal operator maintained that “surcharge handling fees have not changed for ten years” while “over the same period, the cost of processing this mail has risen”.

“The changes are not expected to increase the average amount a typical household currently pays in surcharges each year,” added Royal Mail. “They will not lead to more items being surcharged.”