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AS coronavirus restrictions prevents many people from seeing our family members this Christmas, many people will probably be counting on the Royal Mail to ship our playing cards to family members.
However the postal service is warning that an enormous surge in demand because of the pandemic is likely to cause delivery chaos.
Sending letters could be a expensive enterprise today… we have all of the postage worth particulars for you right hereCredit score: Getty Photos
It is best to get forward and get issues posted as early as attainable in order that they arrive in time, which is why we have put collectively a round up of the last Christmas postal dates.
However how a lot does it price to submit a letter? Right here, we take you thru all the pieces you might want to know:
How a lot is a firstclass stamp?
Top notch stamps price 76p every and will be purchased in books of six or 12, or singularly should you purchase it on the Submit Workplace counter.
These normal stamps will ship a letter, but when you might want to submit a bigger merchandise the stamp price will improve.
Top notch postage on a big letter begins at £2.45, £4.70 for a small parcel and £6.90 for a medium parcel.
The costs improve for heavier letters.
These are the present costs for Royal Mail stampsCredit score: Royal Mail
On December 1, Royal Mail introduced it can hike the price of first class stamps by 9p from January 1, 2021.
It is the most important worth improve since 2012 and the second this yr.
In March, the price of a first class stamp rose by 6p to 76p.
The worth hike got here simply weeks after Royal Mail revealed letter volumes have fallen 28% within the six months to September 27, in contrast with a yr earlier.
How a lot is a second class stamp?
Posting a letter or parcel second class is cheaper than top quality but it surely takes longer for it to reach.
Usually, it takes two to a few working days for it to reach, together with Saturday.
A second class stamp for a letter prices 65p, whereas costs for a big letter begin at 88p.
From January 1 2021, second class stamps for a letter will set you again an additional 1p, at 66p.
Do stamps have an expiry date?
The Royal Mail clarify that stamps with no financial worth indicated on them don’t expire and can be utilized at any level.
Stamps with a financial worth additionally do not expire, however you will want to ensure the worth on the stamp equals sufficient for the price of postage.
For instance, a second class stamp purchased two years in the past remains to be legitimate now however you will not be capable to use it to submit a big letter.
The Royal Mail sometimes launch restricted version themed stamps to mark particular events, like this one in every of David BowieCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation
How are postage costs determined?
The Royal Mail usually will increase the value of stamps yearly in March.
Usually, it provides prospects advance warning of round a month earlier than pushing up costs.
The postal service defended its newest worth hike by blaming the Covid-19 pandemic, which had price it £85million.
The additional spending was spent on paying for protecting gear, protecting absences, additional time and company employees.
On the time, Royal Mail mentioned: “The discount in letter volumes has had a major influence on the funds of the common service which misplaced £180million within the first half of the yr.
This demonstrates the necessity for change within the common service.
“We’re working tirelessly to ship probably the most complete service we will in tough circumstances because the coronavirus pandemic continues to influence our operation.”