Access Letters Contract change notices numbered 001, and 003 - 005 have been suspended since 4 March 2014. Royal Mail decided to suspend these change notices in light of Ofcom's announcement that it was commencing an investigation into certain Access pricing proposals following a complaint by Whistl against some of the change notices. The investigation has been running for over a year.

Meanwhile, Ofcom has initiated its Access Pricing Review which is looking at the regulatory framework for Access as a whole. Whilst we strongly disagree with elements of the initial proposals in the Access Pricing Review, we are of the view that the appropriate framework for Access pricing can be achieved through the exercise of Ofcom's regulatory powers under the Postal Services Act 2011. We do not believe that a competition law investigation can adequately address these issues.

We also are mindful of our regulatory and contractual obligations to our Access customers.  Because of the time that has now elapsed since Royal Mail first served its notice suspending the change notices, we would want to re-issue the change notices to allow customers a fair and reasonable notice period.
 
We have therefore today withdrawn the suspended change notices.

View letter here.