Consumer Scotland has responded to an announcement by the UK postal industry regulator Ofcom that it is to consult on proposed changes to the Universal Service Obligation (USO).
Under the proposals Royal Mail would only deliver second-class letters every other weekday and not on Saturdays. Ofcom has said Royal Mail should continue to deliver first-class letters six days a week.
Head of Post for Consumer Scotland Grace Remmington said: “The postal service is a vital lifeline for consumers across Scotland.
“The Universal Service Obligation (USO) supports people to engage with essential services including healthcare, social security and financial services as well as staying connected with family and friends.
“Any reduction in the scope of postal services will inevitably have an impact on consumers.
“In recent years consumers in Scotland have suffered poor reliability when sending and receiving mail, while also enduring sharp increases in the price of stamps.
“It is therefore vital that any changes to the USO deliver a more reliable, more affordable service which is better value for money for consumers.
“We will be scrutinising these proposals from Ofcom closely to make sure the needs of consumers in Scotland are central to the final decisions about the future of the postal service.”
Background
Industry regulator Ofcom has proposed that Royal Mail should only deliver second-class letters every other weekday and not on Saturdays to protect the future of the UK's postal industry
Ofcom said the Universal Service Obligation (USO) must be reformed as people send fewer letters every year, but stamp prices keep rising.
The one-price-goes-anywhere USO means Royal Mail has to deliver post six days a week, from Monday to Saturday, and parcels on five from Monday to Friday.
Ofcom said Royal Mail should continue to deliver first-class letters six days a week.
Consumer Scotland is the statutory advocacy body for the postal sector in Scotland.