Royal Mail is facing potential backlash from its already dissatisfied customers due to a potential increase in stamp prices. The company, which has been known to raise prices around this time of year, may announce a hike in the cost of first class stamps in early April.

In the previous year, the price of a first class stamp increased by 5p to £1.70, marking a significant rise from the previous year. Additionally, second class stamp prices have also seen an uptick, going from 65p in 2020 to 87p in the latest price adjustment.

Amidst these potential price hikes, reports from Royal Mail insiders suggest that delivery services are struggling, with delays in mail deliveries and a focus on prioritizing parcels over letters due to capacity constraints. Despite these challenges, Royal Mail has reassured customers of its efforts to address disruptions caused by adverse weather conditions and staffing issues.

Quarterly performance figures are expected to show that Royal Mail has once again missed its delivery targets. The company was fined £21 million in the previous year for failing to meet delivery targets, marking the third consecutive year of fines for service failures.

In response to declining letter volumes, Royal Mail has been granted permission to reduce second class letter deliveries to five days every two weeks. However, negotiations with the Communication Workers Union regarding these changes are ongoing.

Royal Mail has also issued warnings about potential service disruptions in over 100 UK postcodes due to storms and staff absences. The company continues to face challenges in improving its services, with concerns raised about the ongoing crisis within the organization.