The Consumer Council in Northern Ireland have issued advice as the workforce of Royal Mail launches strike action across the United Kingdom.
Advice and information regarding strike action.
Strike action which will affect Royal Mail is expected to take place on the following dates:
• 26 August
• 31 August
• 8 September
• 9 September
The most up-to-date information on the strike action can be found on the Royal Mail website.
More information about how your postal service will be affected is also available here. This includes important information on the impact on:
• The delivery of priority items such as medical prescriptions and supplies
• The delivery of letters and parcels
• Sending items at Postboxes and Post Offices
• Royal Mail’s Parcel Collect Service
• Delivery Offices and its local Customer Service Points
You can also call Royal Mail customer services on 03457 740 740. Its customer services department is open Monday to Friday 7am-8pm, Saturday 8am-6pm and Sunday 9am-4pm.
Information will also be displayed at Royal Mail Delivery Offices.
If you are a business, the most up-to-date information on how strike action affects you can be found here.
Reducing the impact on your postal service
To help reduce the impact of strike action on your postal service:
• Plan ahead and post items well in advance of planned strike dates.
• Consider if you need to post over the strike period and if you can wait until the strike action is over, and normal service is resumed.
• If you are sending urgent outgoing mail and you think it may be delayed, contact the recipient by telephone or other means to explain the situation.
• If you are sending something valuable and important by a Special Next Day Delivery service, Royal Mail is unable to guarantee it will not be delayed and you will not be able to claim any compensation.
• If you are expecting urgent and important mail over the strike period such as medical appointments, prescriptions, benefit letters and bills, contact the sender to find out what alternative arrangements can be made to ensure you receive your items or that you receive vital information on time.
• If you are expecting consumer goods bought online and the item is delayed, remember the item must be delivered within the time frame agreed with the seller. If no time frame is agreed, the seller must deliver at the very latest no more than 30 days from the date of purchase. If the item is not delivered on time, you can cancel your order and get a full refund. Please see our Parcel Delivery Rights webpage for more information.