Unpublished information

If you need information about Royal Mail Group Ltd that doesn't appear to be published or available from anywhere else, you can request this information from us under the Freedom of Information Act.

We've tried to ensure all relevant information is available without you having to do this.

So, before you apply under the Freedom of Information Act, please take a look through this quick checklist:

  1. Have you looked for the information on our websites?
  2. Is your request something that our enquiries helpline could help you with?
  3. Have you looked at the Frequently Asked Questions section on this site?
  4. Have you contacted our branch offices to see whether they can supply the information?
  5. Have you checked the Publication Scheme to see if we've already published the information you're looking for?
  6. Have you taken a look through the useful links we've provided?

If the information you want isn't available from any of these sources, you can either email foi@royalmail.com , or simply write a letter to the Freedom of Information Unit at the address below.

Please bear in mind that Royal Mail Group has nearly 200,000 employees and offices throughout the country. We do not have a central index of information and it's unlikely that we will be able to locate all information held on a very broad or vague topic. Therefore please provide as much information as possible to help us understand your requirements and to narrow down your request, for example, dates, locations and background details.

Please also note that:

  1. There may be a charge for providing information, in which case we'll let you know in advance
  2. It will take up to 20 working days to reply to your request
  3. Information may be withheld if Royal Mail considers it to be exempt. For more information on exemptions visit the Information Commissioner's website - www.ico.gov.uk .

Contact Details

If you would like help or advice on making your request, please:

  • call the FOI enquiries line for Royal Mail Group, Royal Mail Letters and Parcelforce on 0114 2414215
  • call the FOI enquiries line for Post Office® on 08457 22 33 44
  • email foi@royalmail.com,

If you would like somebody to telephone you to discuss the request, please include your telephone number in the email.

General enquiries about the Freedom of Information Act and requests for unpublished information can also be sent directly to our dedicated Freedom of Information Unit:

Information Rights Team
(Freedom of Information Act)
Royal Mail Sheffield
4th Floor
Pond Street
Sheffield
S98 6HR

When writing to us, please:

  1. Clearly mark across the top of the letter and on the envelope that your letter is for the 'Freedom of Information Unit' - this will make sure it gets dealt with properly and will avoid unnecessary delay.
  2. Make sure that you give a valid address for us to contact you (e-mail or postal)
  3. Make your letter short, clear and, most importantly, give a reasonable description of the information you want. If your request is vague or too broad we might not be able to deal with it, or it could involve unnecessary cost.
     

  • How do I make a request for information?

    We've already published a huge amount of company information that's freely available. The quickest and cheapest ways to find what you're looking for are to check the Royal Mail Group websites, look through the Publication Scheme or see whether our customer help lines can help you. We've also listed some useful addresses, links and contacts which may help.

    If the information you want isn't published or available from anywhere else, you can either email foi@royalmail.com , or simply write a letter to the Freedom of Information Unit at the following address:

    Information Rights Team
    (Freedom of Information Act)
    Royal Mail Sheffield
    2nd Floor
    Pond Street
    Sheffield
    S98 6HR

    Please clearly mark across the top of the letter and on the envelope that your letter is for the 'Freedom of Information Unit' - this will make sure it gets dealt with properly and quickly.

    When writing to us, please:

    1. Make sure that you give a valid address for us to contact you (email or postal)
    2. Make your letter short, clear and, most importantly, give a reasonable description of the information you want. If your request is vague or too broad we might not be able to deal with it, or it could involve unnecessary cost
    3. If you would like somebody to telephone you to discuss the request, please include your telephone number
    4. If you have any general enquiries about the Freedom of Information Act, you can also email the FOI Unit at foi@royalmail.com

  • When can I expect a reply?

    Royal Mail Group will reply to you within 20 working days, after receipt of your request. Please bear in mind that if you submit your request in the evening, at weekends or on a bank holiday then we won't receive it until the next working day. In some cases, we may need more time to consider whether or not the information should be provided. If this is the case we will advise you of the delay within 20 working days and will also let you know when you can expect a full reply.

  • What will it cost?

    Many requests will be answered free of charge. However, in some cases, if the request is particularly complicated or involves significant charges, then we may ask you to pay for some of the costs Royal Mail Group would incur (for example photocopying, or charges for retrieving information from storage). We will always advise you of this in advance, and ask if you still want to go ahead with the request.