This fine is the third-largest ever imposed by the communications watchdog.

Royal Mail delivered 77% of first class mail and 92.5% of second class mail on time during the 2024-25 financial year, Ofcom found.

This was short of the delivery giant’s respective 93% and 98.5% targets.

Royal Mail fined £21 million for missing delivery targets

Ian Strawhorne, director of enforcement at Ofcom, said the failures are “persistent” and “unacceptable”, adding that customers “deserve better”.

He added: “Millions of important letters are arriving late, and people aren’t getting what they pay for when they buy a stamp.

“These persistent failures are unacceptable, and customers expect and deserve better.

“Royal Mail must rebuild consumers’ confidence as a matter of urgency. And that means making act

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