Ofcom agrees to Royal Mail’s request for Boxing Day USO exception

Ofcom has agreed to Royal Mail’s request that Boxing Day (26 December) should be permanently designated as an exception to the universal service when it falls on a Saturday. In a statement issued today (1 October), Ofcom said: “Royal Mail was previously granted an exception (by the previous regulator, Postcomm) when Boxing Day fell on Saturday in 2009. Prior to the Postal Services Act 2000, Royal Mail’s policy (at least since the 1980’s) was not to collect and deliver mail when Boxing Day fell on a Saturday.

“Ofcom issued a consultation on 30 July 2015 to seek views from stakeholders on how they may be affected if there are no deliveries and collections when 26 December falls on a Saturday. The consultation closed on 10 September 2015 and we received eleven responses.

“After analysis of these responses we have decided to agree to Royal Mail’s request for an exception in relation to deliveries and collections when 26 December falls on a Saturday. The direction will apply until further notice.”

Royal Mail submitted its request on 22 June.