How Long Post Office Hold Package in the UK: Tips, Time Period, and More
The Royal Mail (U.K.) has been delivering packages to its customers for almost five centuries. Every year, the postal service has to manage millions of addresses to ensure the highest deliverability of mail.
Yet, there are occasions when a package does not fit the addressee’s mailbox. Some guidelines often prevent the delivery person from leaving the parcel near the mailbox or on the front porch. Redelivery attempts will occur in such situations, and the post office might need to hold the particular package.
You also might have the question; how long does the post office hold a package?
What is Royal Mail?
It is one of the oldest postal delivery services in the world, with a history of over 500 years. Today, Royal Mail functions across the United Kindom, delivering parcels, packages, postcards, and letters to millions of people each day.
Royal Mail Services
Letter and Parcel Delivery
The postal organization handles delivering letters and parcels nationwide and internationally.
Parcel Tracking
Customers can track their packages through Royal Mail’s online tracking system.
International Shipping
Users can use international shipping options, including International Tracked, International Standard, and International Staged.
Same-Day Delivery
Royal Mail provides a same-day delivery service for efficiently managing urgent packages and parcels.
Special Delivery
The postal service guarantees next-day delivery with more tracking and security features.
Business Services
Entities can use their business services, including direct mail, bulk mail, and advertising mail.
How Long Will the Post Office Hold a Package?
The vast majority of mail is safely delivered to the correct address by Royal Mail. But, if the recipient is absent at home to receive the package. The delivery workers leave a card to inform them that the parcel is with a local delivery office. Thus, they can collect the mail at their convenient time. Yet, if they don’t receive the mail from a delivery office, the package returns to the sender after 18 days. For Royal Mail Special Delivery, the postal service holds mail for 7 calendar days before sending them back to the sender.
According to Royal Mail, it does not keep track of items that face eventual destruction. The federal returns centre in Belfast has to handle a large number of returns every day.
People who know they won’t be able to collect the mail while expecting a delivery prefer using Royal Mail Keep Safe Service. It helps them to store the mail securely for up to 66 days.
What is Royal Mail Keep Safe Service?
This service helps customers keep their packages safe while they are away from home for an extended period, such as on hospital stays or holidays. During this time, the Royal Mail postal workers are responsible for keeping the mail secure so customers can collect it later. The pricing for this service starts from £13.50 for 17 days.
How to Know If Your Package is on Hold?
If you want to know, how long does the post office hold packages? You must use the Royal Mail tracking service to check the status of your parcel.
You need to enter your tracking number into the search console of their website. It will help ensure a Royal Mail facility is holding your package. Furthermore, you were away from home if they attempted to deliver the package.
What Else Can You Do?
Contact Royal Mail
If you need more tracking updates, you can connect with Royal Mail customer service for more information. They will provide you with the most up-to-date information on the status and location of your package.
Look for a Delivery Notice
Suppose the package still needs delivery and is stuck at a local delivery or sorting office. In that case, Royal Mail leaves delivery notices in mailboxes or on doorsteps. It provides information that the package is being held and the instructions to receive it.
Check Email or Text Messages
If the sender had provided contact information when sending the mail, Royal Mail would send you a text message or email. It will notify you of the steps to collect your package is on hold.
What If I Do Not Pick Up My Package?
Don’t panic first! You might have missed the hold period and forgotten to collect your package. What to do now?
When you don’t pick up your package within the limited time frame, it will go to the original sender.
If you are the sender, you will get a notification that the package was not claimed and will have the option of reshipment.
The recipient also gets a notification that the package was not claimed and may need extra charges for the reshipment.
What If I Do Not Pick Up the Package from the Post Office?
After the holding period is over and no one has come to pick up the package, Royal Mail will attempt to send it back to the sender.
Yet, imagine there are no addresses on the packages. In that case, the absence of data or ineligible information makes returning the parcel to the sender impossible.
Suppose you cannot pick up the package within the holding period. In that case, you can contact Royal Mail customer service to request an extension. They will charge extra fees depending on the service and various circumstances.
What If Someone Else Receives My Package?
If you cannot receive the package and want someone else to do it. Royal Mail will need the recipient to bring a ‘Something for You’ card and a valid I.D. in the name of the individual the package addresses.
If the recipient cannot bring an I.D., they can still collect the package. It can apply if you are receiving a package addressed to a child.
What is Something for You Card?
The ‘Something for You’ card by Royal Mail would be a notification card left by postal workers in the U.K. if no one could receive a package’s delivery. This card helps in informing the recipients that the parcel is waiting for retrieval at the nearest Royal Mail Delivery Office or Sorting Office. It contains a reference number, which is necessary for collecting the package.
It would help if you had the following:
- The ‘Something for you’ card (or email/SMS notification)
- Their photo I.D. (Passport, driving license, military I.D. card, foreign national I.D., etc.)
- Evidence that they live at the address on the ‘Something for you Card’ (bank statement, driving license, etc.)
This service is unavailable for packages sent using Royal Mail’s I.D. verification service.
How Long Will the Post Office Hold a Package? - Information About P.O. Boxes
Your P.O. box will hold the packages forever until you pay for it and the packages fit the dimensions. Yet, if your P.O. box gets full, the packages in your box will only stay for 18 days before sending it back to the sender.
After this period, you will get a notification about your package. You might need to pay additional charges if you want to reship it. However, you can upgrade your P.O. box size to avoid such a situation.
A Royal Mail P.O. Box works as a private mailbox to let you have a separate mailing address. It helps in ensuring the privacy and security of mail. Customers can collect their mail conveniently by visiting the sorting office and presenting documents.
Checking Package Status
You might be sending or receiving the package. Royal Mail allows online package tracking from their official website. Enter your tracking number to track the location and status of your parcel. It will also provide you with an estimated delivery date.
What is Royal Mail Tracking Number?
It is a long series of numbers and letters that enables users to learn how long will the post office hold a package. Your tracking number is on the postage receipt or sender’s delivery message.
Sample Tracking Number Formats;
- KG720553954GB
- 050111C31K4
- 32048459500001B3A6F40
- 0210DAD9235248A2
- 1A0480284000010507090
What if Your Package is Running Late?
There might be some situations where your package might be running late or kept on hold. You can contact Royal Mail’s customer service number. Their professional executive will be helping to learn about the location and status of your packages. They can also help you by refunding if there is a delay in delivering the parcel on time.
What Factors Can Affect the Hold Time?
Do you want to know how long does the post office hold packages? Then it would help if you learned about these factors that might affect the home time for packages at Royal Mail;
Type of Package and Service
There could be different services and package types with varying times of hold. For example, if you use Royal Mail 1st and 2nd Class, a local delivery office will hold your package for 18 days.
Location of the Post Office
The United Kindom has so many remote locations. Thus, the location of the post office can also determine the hold time. The hold time may be longer if you send a package to a rural area with limited mail delivery. Royal Mail might not be able to deliver the package to that area as frequently as they would in an urban area. It answers the question of how long the post office holds packages.
The volume of Mail
We Britons rely on Royal Mail throughout the year. Thus, this postal service must process millions of mail annually. Mainly during the holiday season, Royal Mail handles higher volumes of packages. It makes the process complex and increases the hold times at Royal Mail facilities. They must take swift action to process and deliver the packages on time.
Natural Disasters
Britain also faces natural disasters like storms, hurricanes, and earthquakes. These disasters might hamper the speed of delivery processes in the U.K. and increase packages’ hold time.
Umm… Well, now you can guess how long the post office holds a package- right?
Customs Processing
The U.K. has one of the strictest customs in the world. The packages need to spend time at customs for international shipping. It might also increase the hold times for packages.
Security Concerns
In some situations, Royal Mail has the right to hold packages for security reasons. For example, suppose a package contains hazardous materials or has suspicion of illegal activity. In that case, it is likely to have a longer hold time.
Essential Tips for Royal Mail Shipping
If you want to resolve the question, how long does the post office hold packages? Then, you should follow the following tips;
- Ensure that you are using a tracking number. It would help you to track the status and location of packages.
- For international shipping, familiarise yourself with the country’s customs, rules, and regulations.
- Pack all the items in your package securely to avoid damage.
- Get insurance if you are sending fragile or valuable items through Royal Mail.
- When shipping to a P.O. box, include the P.O. number in the recipient’s address.
- Include a return address in the package if it becomes undeliverable.
- Prefer Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed if you want the package delivery much faster.
- Schedule a free pickup with Royal Mail to save time and effort.
Common Problems with Royal Mail Tracking
Although Royal Mail is one of the leading postal services in the world, sometimes it also needs some help in package tracking. Do you want to know how long does the post office hold packages? Then you must know these common problems;
Delayed Updates
The tracking information by Royal Mail might not update in real-time or may cause a delay in updating technically. It might make the customers concerned about the status of packages.
Inaccurate Information
There could be situations where tracking information by Royal Mail might need correction or accuracy. It might need clarification for customers trying to track mail.
Lost or Missing Packages
Consumers often need help when their packages go missing or are adrift in transit. The Royal Mail tracking system might not be able to provide updates on package location.
Obsolete Technology
Royal Mail’s tracking system might not use the latest technology to stay current. It might result in tracking inaccuracy and unreliability.
Human Error
Human errors are common in the Royal Mail’s delivery process. It might result in the missing or incorrect tracking information.
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