First class postage: With stamps priced at £1.65 each, we’re sending out 100 cards to test the Christmas post

Millions of us are sending gifts and cards to loved ones across the UK and crossing our fingers that they will arrive by Christmas in the time promised by the Royal Mail. But can they?

Money Mail decides to find out. We sent 100 Christmas cards to family and friends around the country and the world to find out how long it takes to receive them.

We sent the cards using first class postage, meaning those sent to UK addresses should land on people’s doorsteps the next working day .

However, only 16 cards that we sent to the Daily Mail offices in Kensington, London, on December 4 arrived in time. Eight houses are still waiting for theirs.

From what we’ve seen, it’s no wonder that one in ten people are sending Christmas cards this year, and according to a survey, sales of white box cards are down 23 percent in John Lewis by 2024.

As the cost of stamps continues to rise and the mail does not arrive on time, the numbers are mounting.

Letter books have fallen from a peak of 20 billion in 2004/5 to just seven billion in 2022/3. In response, Royal Mail increased its prices, as it prevented senders from sending letters.

Royal Mail was last week fined £10.5million for missing postal delivery targets. Only 74.7 per cent of first-time qualifications were received on time in 2023-24, despite a target of 93 per cent, according to Ofcom’s regulator.

Only 92.7 percent of second-class mail was delivered on time, below its target of 98.5 percent.

This is the second penalty Royal Mail has been hit in the past 12 months after a £5.6 million penalty was imposed by the watchdog in November 2023.

Ian Strawhorne, director of Ofcom, said: ‘Too many people are not getting what they pay for when they buy stamps.’

Politicians, business groups and campaigners have warned of rising costs and falling quality after the Government this week allowed Royal Mail to be put into foreign hands for the first time in its 500 year history.

Billionaire Daniel Kretinsky will take over the service in a £3.6 billion deal, but there are no promises that the prices will be fair to customers.

Of the cards sent by Money Mail, some that have not yet arrived were sent to places only a few miles away. One card sent to Balham has yet to land in a letterbox although two other cards have arrived safely in the south-west London area.

Cards sent to Borehamwood in Hertfordshire and Belfast have yet to arrive. Ten days for one card traveling just three miles on the road to Putney, London.

Areas where the cards are issued are Norfolk, Kensington, Dorking, West Drayton and Penarth.

But friends and family in places in Australia, Cape Town in South Africa and Los Angeles and South Carolina in the US are still waiting for their Christmas cards.

The damage to the service is made even worse by the fact that the price of a first class ticket increased again in October, from £1.35 to £1.65. This means a book of eight first class stamps is now 22 per cent cheaper at £13.20 and a book of six first class stamps costs £9.90.

The October rate hike came just months after a previous rate hike in April and another hike in October last year. Before this it was £1.10, 55p less than today’s price.

Second grade points are 85p cheaper, as the price has not risen since the 10p increase in April.

A Royal Mail spokesman said: ‘Our independent quality control service reports that the majority of items arrive within one day and 92 per cent arrive within two days. A sample size of 100 is not indicative of our standard of service.

‘We will deliver 35 million letters, including Christmas cards, on our busiest day this week. Last year more than 99 percent of items were posted before the last delivery dates before Christmas, we are ready to deliver again this year with more than 16,000 employees addition that helps to carry the festival mail bag.’

How do I make sure my card arrives on time?

If you haven’t posted your Christmas cards yet, you’re in for a treat. The last day for second-class letters to arrive by Christmas is today, but cards with the first stamp must be posted by Friday.

While you may not be able to beat the postal rush this year, you can take steps to improve your chances next year. Postmasters recommend that gifts and cards be sent as early as possible, before the deadline for delivery.

The Post Office earlier this month announced that December 9 is the busiest day for deliveries as everyone rushes to make sure their Christmas cards and presents arrive on time. .

When sending a parcel, ask about the best shipping options for you. Additionally, use tracking and sign up services when making a donation to give yourself peace of mind, says the Post Office.

There are many other options for sending cards with Royal Mail apart from first class and second class stamps.

A first class signed book costs £3.35 and a second class book costs £2.55. If you want Special Delivery, confirmed by 1pm, the price is £7.75.

All prices quoted are for standard letters. They usually weigh up to 100g and are no bigger than 24cm long, 16.5cm wide and 0.5cm deep.

You can pay compensation if your letter is late. If a first class letter arrives three or more business days after the due date, it is considered a late letter.

For mail sent by second class, it is considered late if it is not received three or more days after the due date. The indemnity is a book of first stamps.

L.evans@dailymail.co.uk