It is a contractual requirement for customers who use the sorted options for Advertising Mail, Publishing Mail, Business Mail 1st Class and Business Mail users to have mail ready for collection by the times specified. For 1st Class mailings these collection times are determined by the Postcode area from which you′re posting.
In general terms, 1st Class postings should be available for collection by no later than 3pm (Monday to Friday) on the day on which it is posted. Earlier times will apply for some selections depending upon where the posting takes place and where it is going.
These are shown below - just enter the Postcode District (i.e the first half of the Postcode) from which the posting is to be made, and the appropriate Latest Posting Times for each Destination area will appear.
We keep latest posting times under review and over time improve them when we can. To ensure you have the latest information, you may wish to get in touch with your Royal Mail contact. Other points to bear in mind are:
- All 1st and 2nd Class (Advertising Mail, Publishing Mail, Business Mail 1st Class and Business Mail) should be available for collection by 12 noon if it is being posted on a Saturday.
- All 2nd Class (Advertising Mail, Publishing Mail, and Business Mail) should be available for collection by 5pm (Monday to Friday) on the day on which it is posted. For Northern Ireland and Scotland mail should be available for collection by 3pm (with the exception of EH, G, ML, FK, PH1-2, DD1-2, PA1-15 and KA1-7 postcode areas where mail should be available for collection by 5pm).
- For all economy postings (Advertising Mail and Business Mail) mail should be available for collection by 5pm (Monday to Friday) on the day on which it is posted. For Northern Ireland and Scotland mail should be available for collection by 3pm (with the exception of EH, G, ML, FK, PH1-2, DD1-2, PA1-15 and KA1-7 postcode areas where mail should be available for collection by 5pm).
- Sorted mail requires a separate collection to unsorted mail. You must not send sorted mail on the same collection as your unsorted mail. If you would like to start sending sorted mailings, then the separate collection can be set up by the on-boarding team if you indicate that you require this on the on-boarding form. Alternatively, please contact your Royal Mail Account team who will be able to give you the contact at your local distribution centre, with whom you can set up the collection directly.
Enhanced Latest Posting Times (ELPT)
Enhanced posting times may apply for sorted products for Advertising Mail, Publishing Mail, Business Mail 1st Class and Business Mail.
The posting time depends on the number of items posted and your ability to undertake the following additional workshare:
- The number of items in the mailing must exceed 40,000 letters, or 15,000 large letters, A3 parcels or parcels.
- Present the mailing in separate cages according to the Network segregation codes.
- Affix colour coded and normal cage cards to the cages.
You may be able to access enhanced posting times for national presorted 1st Class letter and large letter postings; the actual time depends on the distance from your Distribution Centre, whether or not you are able to meet the general presentation requirements and the basic entry criteria as follows:
- You must mail 1st Class letters or large letters at least 5 days a week (four days during Bank Holiday weeks).
- Each individual mailing must be in excess of 40,000 items.
- You must pre-segregate the mailing as specified by us. This could vary depending on location and be as many as 20 ways. We may ask you to do the equivalent segregation in Yorks (wheeled containers) but use of Yorks for these purposes will only ever be at our request.
- You must ensure that the posting is presented as per the requirements for each individual product.
Details of the precise conditions, segregation requirements and posting times in your area are available from the relevant member of your account team.