Letters are becoming more expensive and take longer!

But now serious changes are imminent in the German postal system. The Postal Law Modernization Act (PostModG) is set to come into force on 1 January 2025 and will fundamentally change the way letters are sent in Germany. Sending letters in Germany is set to become more expensive and take longer.

Decline in mail volume

A key reason for this reform is the drastic drop in letter volumes in Germany. In 2000, 80 million letters were sent every day, but this figure has fallen to 46 million. This dramatic drop in letter volumes has had a considerable economic impact on Deutsche Post. For this reason, postage is to become significantly more expensive as of 01.01.2025.

Price increases without clear information

One of the most significant changes concerns the increase in letter postage prices. However, the text of the law does not specify any concrete amounts. Instead, the Federal Network Agency is tasked with setting the prices. This creates uncertainty regarding future postage costs and could pose financial challenges for both private individuals and companies.

Extended delivery times

Another major change concerns the delivery times for letters. Deutsche Post will be given more time for delivery from 2025. Currently, 80% of letters must be delivered the following day and 95% of letters the day after next. Instead of the previous delivery times of one or two days, deliveries can now be delayed by up to four days. This is because, according to the new regulation, 95 percent of letters must be delivered three working days later and 99 percent of letters only after four days. This has a huge impact on everyday postal traffic. These longer delivery times could be particularly problematic for sensitive mail items, such as official letters.

Effects on official mail and legal remedies

The extended delivery times have a particularly serious impact on official mail. Time limits for appeals and legal action start from the day of alleged delivery, which can lead to problems with the timely submission of appeals. Currently, the fiction of service applies to public authorities, meaning that letters are deemed to have been delivered on the third day after they are posted.

Climate protection as motivation

With the reform of the postal system, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection wants to help reduce night flights in order to reduce CO2 emissions. Until now, numerous night flights have been used to transport letters due to the short delivery times. The extended delivery times are intended to reduce the need for night flights and shift letter traffic to the road instead.

Conclusion

The Postal Law Modernization Act has far-reaching effects on the everyday lives of all people in Germany, but also on letters from authorities in particular. As a result of the law, the postal delivery fiction must be urgently adapted, as otherwise many deadlines may be missed. We will continue to keep you up to date on this.