Parcel gone missing, can I claim?

Angie8

I sold an item on eBay over a forthnight ago, posted it the day after the auction ended.

The item was sent by Royal Mail First Class Standard. The buyer has been chasing me saying it hasn't turned up yet. I suspect it has gone missing somewhere along the line.

I did get a certificate of posting but is it possible to claim against Royal Mail with this and how long do you have to wait until a parcel is officially classed as 'lost'?

finc

Royal Mail don't consider it lost until 15 days after it has been posted. Personally I refund buyers before I'm refunded by RM to provide a better customer service (as long as it doesn't sound dodgy). You can claim if you have a certificate of posting

jaffa30

Hi

The Po wont consider the parcel lost till 15 working days after its posted.

If it hasnt turned up now i would refund the buyer and make the claim with the PO.


Jaffa

cmallaby

Did you get proof of posting certificate? (yes i should have read) If you go on the https://www.royalmail.co.uk (i think thats right?) the royal mail site anyway u can track your item.

I don't know if this will work, it's just a suggestion as i've come across it before, otherwise talk to your post office about it.

You get up to £30 insurance anyway if the item is deemed lost right?

finc

You can only track it if it was sent by recorded delivery or special delivery.

soolin

Assuming your item was worth £30 or less then the COP will cover you for a claim against the RM.

As others have already said, refund your buyer at some point in week 2 or 3 and claim against the RM as soon as 15 working days has elapsed.

Lost parcels are a nuisance, but we all get them. The trick is to stay on top of it, keep in contact with your buyer, assure them that you will refund and stall if possible for a few more days. However, do not antagonise your buyer into starting a paypal chargeback as it just gets messy from there.

Good luck, and just congratulate yourself that you have the COP.

Soo

Angie8

Thanks everyone.

I doubt it will turn up now and I've been stalling the buyer for ages now. He doesn't seem dodgy so I'll refund him and claim from the PO.

cmallaby

Great i appreciate being thanked !

freebie_junkie

you will need to wait 15 working days (they dont include sat in thsi for some reason!)

ask for a missing item for from teh post office and include: your till reciept or recorde delivery slip and a print-out from ebay/paypal to show how much teh person paid for it. its freepost to send off but dont expect a reply for about 1-2 months!

royal mail will send 6x 1st class stamps if the value (excluding any amount the buyer has paid for p+p) come to £5 or under or a cheque addressed to you if it is over £5.

e.g. if teh buyer paid £15, but £3 of that was p+p youd get a £12 cheque

if the buyer paid £5, but £1 of that was p+p theyll get a 6 1st class stamps booklet