Post Office Ripoff!

thescouselander

I recently sold 2 bulky but light weight items on Ebay. Having checked out the price information on the Royal Mail website I set the postage at £7 based on the Standard Parcels rate.

On arriving at the Post Office the man behind the counter quated me fo rthe Parcelforce 48 service rather than standard parcels (as I had asked for). On querying this price I was reluctantly given the standard parcels rate for one package but was also fed a load of rubbish that the parcel would not be insured for enough. I said I would just buy the extra insurance but I was told this is not possible. When I pressed the point they eventually gave in an gave me to Standard parcel service (with extra insurance) as I had originally wanted.

As for the other parcel, they said it was too big and would not except it for the standard parcel service - it had to go by parcelforce 48 at 50% extra price. My parcel measured 100cm x 60cm x 30cm and was well within the limit stated on Royal Mails website for standard parcels. The post office told me they dont care what was on the website and I could only have the parcel force 48 service or nothing.

I emailed Royal Mail who said the Post Office should have taken my parcel and my complaint has been passed to the Post Office customer service team - I am still waiting to hear back.

I feel I was given very poor service at the Post Office and they baltantly ripped me off. If they want support to help them stay open they need to start treating their customers better!

Rant Over.

MothballsWallet

I think I read elsewhere on here that some Post Offices are quoting the Parcelforce service because that's what the majority of their customers ask for/actually need.

I agree it's bad - if you ask for a specific service, they should tell you the price for that service. My local post office never assumes what I service want for sending stuff. Mind you, I'm normally sending letters by air mail rather than parcels.

thescouselander

To be honest I'm more annoyed about the fact they refused to take my larger parcel by standard parcel service when they should have done. Either the guy behind the counter was inadiquately trained or he just lied to me outright.

Pollycat

It sounds like the man who served you was being less than cooperative or needs substantial training.

I think THIS response is disgraceful:

thescouselander wrote: »

The post office told me they dont care what was on the website and I could only have the parcel force 48 service or nothing.

Did you ask to speak to a supervisor?

It would be good to hear how you get on with your complaint.

thescouselander

Great news. The Post Office customer service team got in touch with me and were very apologetic - they seemed to take my complaint seriously. They have sent me a cheque for the difference between what I should have paid and the price I was made to pay for the Parcel Force 48 service.

So credit where credit is due - they messed up but they sorted it out in the end.