Postwatch tests back Royal Mail's First Class improvement

by Daniel Farey-Jones, Brand Republic 14-Dec-05, 07:00

LONDON – Postwatch has said it has confirmed the accuracy of Royal Mail's performance statistics, with its own tests showing that 95% of First Class letters arrive the next day.

The postal market watchdog saluted Royal Mail's "excellent progress", observing that it was two percentage points above Royal Mail's minimum target of 93%.

Royal Mail's own statistics showed that a record 94.2% of First Class letters arrived the day after posting during the July-September quarter.

The Postwatch tests were commissioned in response to concerns of business and social mailers that their experience was not consistent with Royal Mail's published performance figures.

The four-week testing period began on September 26 and involved posting nearly 18,000 items of mail (small and large envelopes and packets) throughout the UK. The test was designed by Andrew Lester & Associates.

The national figure of 95% was spoiled by variations in regional service levels, Postwatch pointed out.

The worst performing channels were South East to the North of England (85.2%), South West England to South Wales (86.7%), Wales to London (87.4%), postings in general from Northern Ireland (87.5%) and the Midlands to Scotland (88.5%).

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