18 December 2023 , 11:39
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The Post Office has issued an urgent reminder for the final postage dates for Christmas cards and gifts.
Today (December 18) is the recommended final date to post second class, while this Wednesday (December 20) is the cut-off for first class post. Additional next day delivery for the more expensive Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed services are also available up until Thursday (December 21) and Friday (December 22).
You can also use Evri and DPD services in your local Post Office. Laura Joseph, Post Office Customer Experience Director said “The absolute latest dates you can post are the 18th for 2nd class and the 20th for 1st class if you want your items to arrive in time for Christmas using standard post, but if things have got on top of you and you’ve missed these dates, we do have Special Delivery Guaranteed and next-day services, moving the very last date to the 22nd.
“For the first time in 360 years, you can now buy services from other providers over the counter at your local Post Office. Posting a parcel with Evri gives you a last posting date of the 19th, and DPD Next Day sent on the 22nd will get there for the 23rd too. But if you can, we really urge you to get your posting done early.
“Our branches are extremely busy this time of year, so if you’re posting something that won’t fit through a letterbox, the earlier you can head into a branch the better. Remember that lots of branches are open late and even over the weekend of the 16th/17th, and there are over 11,000 nationwide, so you can find a time and branch that meets your needs.”
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It comes after the price of a first-class stamp for standard size letters was increased by Royal Mail again, from £1.10 to £1.25, in October of this year. It was thesecond time first-class stamps have gone upthis year.
Other stamp prices have also risen - for example, a first-class stamp for large letters went up from £1.60 to £1.95 in October, and a second-class stamp for large letters has increased from £1.15 to £1.55. But second-class stamps for standard letters remained at 75p.
Royal Mail replaced traditional stamps with ones that feature barcodes earlier this year - these enable the sender to scan the parcel and watch a video online. Those receiving mail sent using non-barcoded stamps will be given a "Fee to Pay"' card telling them they must pay the surcharge.