What is Royal Mail Redirection?
The Royal Mail Redirection is a service that is offered by Royal Mail to its customers who are temporarily away from their home address or moving houses in the UK and abroad. It allows customers to securely forward their mail and prevent mail fraud. The service is available for both personal and business customers.
Advantages and disadvantages of Royal Mail Redirection
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Advantages |
Disadvantages |
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How to start redirecting mail
First and foremost, you will need to login or create an account on the Royal Mail website. To set up the redirection, you will need the names and the dates of birth of all the applicants as well as both addresses and postcodes of the old and new address. Please note that Royal Mail needs a minimum of 5 working days’ notice to register your redirection and can take up to 10 days to confirm the change of address. After this you will receive an update from them with your new address details and the forwarding date.
1. Online
- Log into your Royal Mail account
- Click on ‘My Details’ on the left-hand side menu and select ‘Change Address’.
- Enter your new address details into the fields provided, then click ‘Update Address’.
- If you are moving within Royal Mail’s delivery area, you will need to enter your new postcode in the field provided before clicking ‘Update Address’.
You will not be able to change your address online if you are moving outside of Royal Mail’s delivery area. In this case you can contact Royal Mail by calling directly at 03457 740 740.
2. By mail
Print or get from your local Post Office the redirection personal mail from a private address form and send it to this address:
185 Farrington Road,
London, EC1A 1AA
3. In branch
If you need to apply for more than 8 people, you’ll have to do it at the Post Office. Simply pick up a form in your local Post Office and apply in branch.
Mail redirection cost
The mail redirection cost is set by the post office and may vary depending on which service you select. Here are the costs associated with the standard personal use redirection service.
Within the UK
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Length of redirection |
First applicant fee |
Extra person fee |
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3 months |
£33,99 |
£8,00 |
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6 months |
£47,99 |
£9,00 |
|
12 months |
£68,99 |
£10,00 |
Overseas addresses
|
Length of redirection |
First applicant fee |
Extra person fee |
|
3 months |
£120,99 |
£23,00 |
|
6 months |
£173,99 |
£25,00 |
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12 months |
£249,99 |
£27,00 |
What you need to know about the pricing:
- No fee is payable for anyone aged under 16
- Concession rate is available to personal customers receiving Universal Credit or Pension Credit
- Redirections are exempt from VAT– therefore no VAT is payable
- The total fee is calculated from the first applicant fee, plus the number of extra people included on the application.
- For business redirecting mail, here are the prices
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about Royal Mail Redirection in the UK
How do I cancel the Royal Mail Redirection?
If you’d like to cancel your Business Redirection, complete the online form. Keep your 9-digit Redirection reference number ready. You can find it on the confirmation letter they’ve sent to you. The Royal Post Office Mail redirection service can also be cancelled by calling 03457 740 740.
Please note:
- It can take up to ten working days from the receipt of request.
- You have 7 working days to cancel your redirection to get a complete refund
- If you cancel your redirection within the cancellation period but your redirection has started, Royal Mail will refund you the redirection fee except £10 to cover costs.
- They will not refund the charges paid for the redirection once the redirection has started or if the lead redirected ends this agreement after the 7 working days period prior to the redirection starting.
Does Royal Mail redirect parcels?
Royal Mail does not redirect parcels. However, you can change your delivery options when your parcel is on its way. This means that you don’t have to worry if you are no longer going to be at your old address.
How long can you redirect mail in the UK?
The “Mail Redirection” service will redirect your mail to a temporary address for a set period of time, which can be up to 48 months.
The Royal Mail Redirection offers mail redirection for 3, 6 or 12 months at a time. Post the 12-month period, you have the option to extend it for another 12 months if needed, for a total of 4 years.
Can you redirect someone else’s mail?
No, you can’t redirect someone else’s mail. However, according to the official notification on Royal Mail website, “If someone has passed away, moved into a residential nursing / care home or you have power of attorney, deputyship or similar legal authority, we can help by redirecting* their mail to your address for up to 4 years.”
You can use the Special Circumstances application form, available at the nearest post office.
Note: The mail cannot be redirected from multi-occupied premises such as nursing homes, hotels or colleges. This is due to a high number of people living there with a common letter box / reception.
How do I extend Royal Mail Redirection?
Once your redirection is near the end, Royal Mail will send you a letter or an email about renewing your current redirection. In that letter or email, there will be a renewal reference number and a unique renewal code which you will need in renewing your redirection. You can renew by logging into your Royal Mail account, by post or by calling the automated renewal system at 03457 777 888.
If you are looking for a way to extend your Royal Mail Redirection, you should know that there is a limit on how long it can be redirected. The Royal Mail will only redirect mail for 4 years total.
If you want to keep your mail for longer, you will need to apply for permanent redirection. You will not be able to apply for this service online and you will need to call our customer services team at 03457 740 740.
How is my identity kept safe with Royal Mail forwarding?
Royal Mail is one of the most trusted and secure postal services in the world. It has been a reliable mail carrier for more than 500 years. With Royal Mail post forwarding, your identity is kept safe and you can enjoy the benefits of being an expat.
Royal Mail Forwarding Services keep your identity safe by providing a secure address that only you know about, so no one else can find it. This means that if you are moving house, or just want some peace of mind when it comes to mail, then this is the service for you.
