Paltry Parcelforce Compensation

powellypowelly

Hello moneysaving world, I'd like your opinions on this please.

I recently sold an item on eBay and sent it via Parcelforce 48 - as in 2 business days delivery - at a cost of £11.99.

Three days later, the item still hadn't been delivered and I got an email from the customer asking where it was. I called Parcelforce who said they would investigate, that it had probably been collected by Royal Mail rather than them, and that I would be entitled to compensation. I apologised profusely to the buyer, and their item was eventually delivered after about 8 calendar days.

I submitted a compensation claim about three weeks ago, and have just received a compensation cheque for £3, not £12. Isn't that totally unreasonable seeing as I have broken a delivery promise to a customer, and the delivery took longer than the most basic parcel service should?

Comments please - I'd like to know if I'm justified in rejecting it and pursing more.

KeithP

So how much does an eight day delivery cost?

I would imagine your refund should be the difference between what you paid and what they charge for the service they actually provided.

M635

Courier services do not guarantee the delivery time scale if you read the small print in their terms and conditions, I have it all the time at work when we specify pre 10am deliveries etc and they are never delivered as promised.

powellypowelly

I think it probably is the difference between 2 and 8 day postage, but I don't think that's any compensation for breaking the delivery "promise" (M635 - point taken about the small print).

If all I'm entitled to is the difference in cost between the different services, then they shouldn't be calling that compensation, it's just not overcharging me!

smcaul

Eh! PF do not do anything slower then 48hr, so they would not be able to compensate the difference between the 2 services. PF always used to offer "Guaranteed" delivery on all their services which included a full refund on postage costs if not delivered within timescale - but it has been a few years since I worked for them so things may well have changed on that part!!!

KeithP

Ok, my previous post was just a guess. :rolleyes:

Looking at their website, they say that the 'refund' for a 'ParcelForce48' delivery being 'one or more days late' is 25%.

Looks like £3.00 is about right.

:beer:

powellypowelly

Thanks, I guess that's that.

Amistoso_2

just coz I'm a nosey blighter OP, are you going to pass on the compensation money to the buyer of the item?

powellypowelly

No, I see this as compensation for my additional hassle in selling the item, not as something that should be given as a discount to the buyer.

The item was actually offered with free postage, but that doesn't change my opinion of who the compensation is for.