Royal Mail has introduced a major permanent overhaul to how it delivers Second Class letters and cards, following approval from the industry regulator, Ofcom. Leaflets are being distributed to households across the UK detailing how the revised schedule operates.

First Class letters are unaffected and continue to be delivered six days a week (Monday to Saturday) with a next-day delivery target.

All parcels—whether First Class, Second Class, or Tracked—will continue to be delivered up to seven days a week.

The "one-price-goes-anywhere" rule remains intact, meaning stamp prices do not vary based on the destination within the UK.

The change hasn't been welcomed by all Royal Mail users, however, as one exclaimed on Reddit: "That is a CUT. NOT a small change."

While another agreed: "I’d hate to see what a big change will look."

A third chimed in: "Great, we struggle to get our appointment letters out on time and now they make it harder!"

Despite this, one other wrote: "If it happens like this and we get deliveries every other weekday it will be a massive improvement from where we are now. I send many 2nd class letters and I know they can take up to 2 weeks to arrive. A few years ago the majority were received within 3 days."

Royal Mail still aims to deliver Second Class mail within three weekdays, though it may take slightly longer depending on where your alternate delivery days fall

This chance was permitted by Ofcom to help Royal Mail cut costs and modernise its service amid a massive, long-term decline in letter volumes.

UK households now receive an average of only four letters a week, compared to 14 letters a week twenty years ago. These operational modifications are expected to save the postal service between £250 million and £425 million annually.

To hold Royal Mail accountable under this reduced schedule, Ofcom adjusted the statutory reliability targets. Royal Mail must now ensure that 95% of Second Class mail arrives within three weekdays, and a strict backstop target requires 99% of it to arrive within five days.

What do you think of the change? Let us know in the comments...