Royal Mail tracking status

Royal Mail “Delivery attempted”: what it means

The short answer

Take action

Royal Mail tried to deliver but could not leave the parcel, and the postie usually tries again the next working day. You can also book a redelivery, or collect it with the card and ID after the second attempt, within 18 days.

When to act: If you were in when Royal Mail says it tried, or a redelivery you booked does not come, file a complaint and we send it to Royal Mail.

Also shown as: “Ready for redelivery or collection” · “Available for Collection or Redelivery” · “Sorry, we tried to deliver your parcel on [date] but there didn't seem to be anyone in. Please choose an option below.” · “Sorry, we were unable to deliver this item on [date] as the address was inaccessible. We will attempt to deliver your item again on the next working day.” · “Due for Redelivery the Next Working Day.” · “Item Prepared for Redelivery” · “Request received” · “Ready for collection” · “Sorry, we were unable to deliver this item on [date]. We'll attempt to deliver it on the next working day. See below for more information.”

What to do now

Check the card or the tracking for where the item is held. It is your local delivery office, which may not be the nearest Royal Mail site.
Book a redelivery online, at least two working days ahead. You need the name and address on the item and the date the card was left; the item number helps but is optional.
After the second attempt you can collect it from the office named on the card, within 18 days. Take the card and ID in the addressee's name, such as a bank card, passport or driving licence; without the card you cannot collect, but you can still book a redelivery.
Someone else can collect it with the card and ID in your name, or with their own photo ID and proof they live at your address.
If the tracking shows an attempt but no card was left, check outside, under the doormat and with your neighbours, and check the delivery address on your order. If you were in, note the date and time of the attempt.
Still not sorted? File your complaint here. We write it with you and send it to Royal Mail, so you do not have to chase it yourself.

Start my complaint

Missed delivery or a card left with another courier

What does “Delivery attempted” mean?

Parcels that need a signature or will not fit through the letterbox have to be handed over in person. If nobody answers, the postie may leave the parcel with a neighbour or in your Safeplace, and leaves a red Something for you card either way. Parcels on evening or Sunday rounds get a yellow Sorry We Missed You card instead. Royal Mail usually tries again automatically on the next working day.

If that attempt fails too, the item goes back to the Customer Service Point named on the card, which is your local delivery office and not always the nearest Royal Mail site. Royal Mail keeps it there for 18 days, or 21 days if a customs charge is due. If the tracking shows an attempt but you got no card, the parcel may be addressed differently from what you expect.

Why does Royal Mail show it?

Nobody was in to sign for it
The parcel was too big for the letterbox
The address was inaccessible, for example a door entry system
It was unsafe to deliver, for example bad weather or a dangerous dog
The item cannot be left with a neighbour, such as Special Delivery or items from abroad that need a signature

How long does it last?

The postie usually tries again on the next working day. You can also book a redelivery online with two working days' notice: to your home, another address in your postcode area, a Post Office branch, or a Royal Mail Shop or Parcel Locker. After the second attempt you can collect it from the Customer Service Point, which keeps it for 18 days (21 with a customs charge). A parcel sent on to a Post Office branch or Royal Mail Shop is kept for 10 days. After that it goes back to the sender.

Other Royal Mail statuses

Fee to payTake action
DelayedKeep an eye on it
Tracking not workingNormal
In transit or We've got itKeep an eye on it
Delivered but not receivedTake action
Item retentionKeep an eye on it
We're expecting itKeep an eye on it
Ready for deliveryNormal
Returned to senderTake action

All Royal Mail statuses →

Who is responsible for a late or missing parcel from Royal Mail?

If you bought it online from a business, the seller is usually responsible until the parcel reaches you. Under UK consumer law (the Consumer Rights Act) the goods stay at the seller's risk until they are in your hands, or with someone you named to take them, unless you chose and booked the courier yourself. The Act does not mention safe places, so if you asked for a Safeplace, the seller may say the parcel was delivered.

If you sent the parcel yourself, your contract is with Royal Mail, under its terms for the service you bought. Standard cover for loss or damage is up to £20 for 1st Class, 2nd Class and Signed For, up to £75 for Tracked 24 and Tracked 48, and up to £750 for Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm.

Questions about “Delivery attempted”

Royal Mail missed my delivery but left no card. What now?

Check outside, under the doormat and with your neighbours. You can still book a redelivery with the name, address and date of the attempt. If the tracking shows an attempt at an address that is not yours, check the delivery address on your order: Royal Mail delivers to the address on the item.

When can I collect my Royal Mail parcel after a missed delivery?

Royal Mail says you can pick it up after the second delivery attempt, from your local delivery office named on the card. Check the card for the address and opening hours.

Can someone else collect my Royal Mail parcel?

Yes. They need the card plus ID in your name, or their own photo ID and proof that they live at the address the card was delivered to.

How long does Royal Mail keep a parcel after a missed delivery?

18 days at your local delivery office (21 days if a customs charge is due), then it goes back to the sender. A parcel you asked to have sent to a Post Office branch or Royal Mail Shop is kept for 10 days, unless that branch is the collection point named on your card.

Royal Mail says I missed a delivery but I was in. Why?

First check the card or tracking matches your address, because Royal Mail delivers to the address on the item. If it does and nobody came to the door, book a redelivery to get your parcel and note the date and time. File a complaint on Complain.biz and we send it to Royal Mail.

Based on

Royal Mail: What does my tracking message mean? (postage tracking terms explained)
Royal Mail: Help with my redelivery
Royal Mail: Help with Something for you cards
Royal Mail: What happens if Royal Mail can't deliver
Royal Mail: Situations when Royal Mail can't deliver mail
Royal Mail: Non-account terms and conditions (holding periods, tracked product terms)
royal-mail-tracking library README: Royal Mail tracking event codes and messages (secondary)
Royal Mail: Redelivery (options and holding periods)
Royal Mail: Automatic redelivery and Something for you cards
legislation.gov.uk: Consumer Rights Act, section 29 (goods stay at the seller's risk until delivered)
Royal Mail: UK delivery services and compensation cover