We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Royal Mail are taking my profits - advice please
Kestrel
Posts: 193 Forumite
Hi, Please can anyone offer me advice? In brief my situation:
I'm a registered ebay business seller and as a single mum I rely wholly on ebay to feed my family and pay my bills. In recent weeks I have entrusted Royal Mail with many parcels, two of which they have failed to deliver (I have fully refunded both buyers). I submitted a claim for the first missing item which had a value of £16. I included the item page and a copy of the Pay Pal payment. Today I got a letter from RM telling me they will only reimburse me what the item cost for me to purchase and that they require a receipt/invoice...not a problem as I have one BUT I feel this is totally unfair. The item cost me £6 so they they are effectively taking away £10 of my income which I have worked for - it's not my fault they failed to deliver. My second claim (not yet submitted) is for an item that I paid £10 for but sold for £39 giving me a profit (earning) of £29. If Royal Mail do not pay the market value for these two missing parcels I will effectively be losing £39 of my income! When I post a parcel the lady at the counter asks me if the item is worth more than £39 - she never tells me that should an item ever go missing I can only claim the purchase cost. I am really really angry that Royal Mail can treat me like this - how would someone at Royal Mail like it if I took away £39 of their wages?
Can Royal Mail do this? I intend to seek advice from Trading Standards on this matter - has anyone ever tackled Royal Mail about this issue before? It's a DISGRACE that they can take away someones income!!
I'm a registered ebay business seller and as a single mum I rely wholly on ebay to feed my family and pay my bills. In recent weeks I have entrusted Royal Mail with many parcels, two of which they have failed to deliver (I have fully refunded both buyers). I submitted a claim for the first missing item which had a value of £16. I included the item page and a copy of the Pay Pal payment. Today I got a letter from RM telling me they will only reimburse me what the item cost for me to purchase and that they require a receipt/invoice...not a problem as I have one BUT I feel this is totally unfair. The item cost me £6 so they they are effectively taking away £10 of my income which I have worked for - it's not my fault they failed to deliver. My second claim (not yet submitted) is for an item that I paid £10 for but sold for £39 giving me a profit (earning) of £29. If Royal Mail do not pay the market value for these two missing parcels I will effectively be losing £39 of my income! When I post a parcel the lady at the counter asks me if the item is worth more than £39 - she never tells me that should an item ever go missing I can only claim the purchase cost. I am really really angry that Royal Mail can treat me like this - how would someone at Royal Mail like it if I took away £39 of their wages?
Can Royal Mail do this? I intend to seek advice from Trading Standards on this matter - has anyone ever tackled Royal Mail about this issue before? It's a DISGRACE that they can take away someones income!!
0
Comments
-
Yes Royal Mail can do this, so sadly you may as well let it go.Where an item is lost then it is the amount it cost the customer to acquire, purchase or manufacture the item subject to adjustment to take account of condition, age and depreciation.
http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/content2?catId=70700722&mediaId=79800735#72800818
Basically, they will only refund what it cost you to buy, they will not refund you the amount you sold it for.We have removed your signature - please contact the forum team if you are not sure why - Forum Team0 -
This is something that the Royal Mail seem to have started doing. For years they have recompensed me the full value it sold for but in the last 2 months I've been getting the same letters as you. Obviously, something that they are cracking down on. I'm leaving any claims until after Christmas now & hopefully they'll move onto a new irritant.
It is annoying though as I sell used CDs/DVDs & the value of the item is the value it sells for. If I paid £10 for a CD & it only sold for £5 would they recompense me the £10...I bet they wouldn't!0 -
I haven't had a loss for quite a while but the last one I had was on my business account and I had the same letter.
I didn't just send back the original invoice I also showed them how much it had cost my business, by adding in all the usual 'on costs' for purchase. Obviously due to my profit margins this still didn't get me back the actual amount lost, but I got back more than just invoice cost.I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.0 -
Why not say that you have had it for a while, or it was a car boot purchase, or even a gift so you don't have a receipt? If it is an older item, then it would not be unreasonable for you not to have it.
The other annoying thing is that their claim doesn't have an option to include the cost of packaging and also your expenses (eg. driving to the PO).0 -
The other annoying thing is that their claim doesn't have an option to include the cost of packaging and also your expenses (eg. driving to the PO).
Or postage for that matter - not good it it was heavy and cost a lot to post. Or do you need to get the printed cert of posting rather than the filled in card to prove this.0 -
jasmineswhiskers wrote: »Or postage for that matter - not good it it was heavy and cost a lot to post. Or do you need to get the printed cert of posting rather than the filled in card to prove this.
I've always got back my actual postage as well as item cost and apart from the one incident I mention above I have also always got back the ebay item value as well/I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.0 -
This is the basis most carriers use when you claim and RM is now changing to the norm. Apart from new for old policies, insurance covers your loss to put you back where you were. You spent 6 pounds and they refund 6 pounds on the basis that you could buy another at that price and sell it on again.
As Soolin suggests try reclaiming some of your on costs.0 -
If you sending heavier items (over about 4kg) it may be worth looking at alternative couriers. Since the strikes I have been doing this with my larger items and have got my costs cheaper than RM/parcelforce.0
-
If Royal Mail do not pay the market value for these two missing parcels I will effectively be losing £39 of my income!
...and they will be gaining £39 of your income.;)
I agree, it's ridiculous the way they operate their claims process. You should never post anything that you received as a gift, because as you received it free, in their eyes you won't have lost anything.
Say you bought something back in 1950 for a very low amount, now due to inflation and the item becoming a lot rarer, the value has risen significantly, is it fair that Royal Mail just give you back the original cost price?0 -
it doesnt surprise me however
couriers use tracked methods so its less of an issue as to whether something is lost.
with RM most mail isnt tracked.how many times have you seen on the board of a seller saying the are sure a buyer is scamming them but will 'just claim from RM'0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 354.8K Banking & Borrowing
- 254.5K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 455.6K Spending & Discounts
- 247.7K Work, Benefits & Business
- 604.6K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 178.7K Life & Family
- 262.3K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.7K Read-Only Boards