Why Is My Royal Mail 24/48 Tracking Number Not Working?

Why Is My Royal Mail 24/48 Tracking Number Not Working?

If you've received a Royal Mail 24 or 48 tracking number for your order, you might notice that it doesn't provide real-time updates as you'd expect. Here’s why:

Tracked vs. Delivery Confirmation

Royal Mail 24/48 services are primarily delivery confirmation services, not fully tracked services. This means:

  • The tracking number will only update once Royal Mail attempts to deliver your item.
  • There are no updates while the parcel is in transit through the Royal Mail network.
  • Delivery confirmation typically shows when the parcel was delivered and to where (e.g., through your letterbox or a designated safe place).

Once Royal Mail collects the item, we cannot provide further tracking details.


Where Will My Item Be Delivered?

  • If your address has a letterbox, Royal Mail will likely deliver the item directly there.
  • If you’ve set up a safe place with Royal Mail, the item will be left in that location.

What If My Item Hasn’t Arrived?

Royal Mail 24 and 48 services are usually reliable, but delays can happen. If your item hasn’t turned up within the expected timeframe:

  1. Refer to this guide for timeframes for delivery before its considered lost.
  2. If the item still doesn’t arrive after the timeframe listed in the guide, we will consider it lost. At that point, we will proceed to resend the goods to you.

Need Your Item Urgently?

If you can’t wait, we recommend placing a new order and selecting an express delivery service at checkout. This way, you’ll have a better chance of receiving your items quickly.

  • If the original item eventually arrives, you can return it for a refund, or if it is deemed lost, we’ll refund you as appropriate.

Still Have Questions?

Feel free to reach out to our support team for further assistance. We're here to help ensure you get your order as quickly and smoothly as possible!


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