Consumers face higher costs as postal monopoly hits businesses with extra charges
Royal Mail is increasing the cost of posting letters and parcels for businesses over Christmas and imposing a net zero “green surcharge”.
In a move that risks increasing costs for shoppers, business account customers will be asked for an additional 5p or 10p “peak surcharge” for deliveries between November and January, on top of a 2p “green surcharge” to help fund “decarbonisation measures”.
Consumers paying for deliveries will ultimately bear the extra costs, with the charges risking an increase in inflation, businesses and MPs warned.
It comes as Royal Mail grapples with slumping profits and follows a number of increases in the price of stamps. The 507-year-old business was beset with delays in the run-up to Christmas last year, failing to deliver almost half of first-class post on time – thought to be the worst performance in the firm’s history.