Cheap Parcel Delivery Official Discussion

vnwhiteariel

vnwhiteariel wrote: »

Try Live Help on site during working hours, they will request a refund for you, though you might have to wait 10 mins+ to get to an advisor, but at least it's free . I chatted with them everyday for last 3 weeks! 2 parcels, 21 days waiting to be collected, and now waiting to be cancelled, what a nightmare. Refund takes 2 weeks at least, not 7 days as advertised. dont know why they're in Top 10 Hitwise.

Booked with Worldwide Parcel, failed collection yesterday, see how today goes. customer service is fairly good though. but it doesnt change anything.

Booked with Interparcel, failed collection 1st time. Worldwide Parcel failed again. Cant get hold of them. They'd been quick in response before I placed my order!

kgrins

Had the misfortune to send an ebay item via Parcel Monkey / City Link just before Christmas. It was collected on the 22nd but that was that. The tracker promised delivery on the 23rd but they didn't make that or the 24th.
So checked the tracker again on Wednesday the 29th and it changed!
29/12/10 10:05 Collection cancelled at the request of the City Link account holder.
22/12/10 15:13 These goods have been successfully collected and are on route to the collection Depot.

I had no idea what that means, but I did contact PM and City Link. PM didn't really give a useless response, but the local City Link depot mentioned something about some other depot putting stuff in a warehouse.

From City Link I got a different excuse each time I phoned: such fun to spend 30 minutes on hold only to be told some story and ‘I can’t get through the depot now, but I will phone you back’ (the only one who ever did was the local depot). Today, they finally told me that before Christmas they cancelled third party jobs (i.e. Parcel Monkey) and just dumped them somewhere.

Since I have already refunded the buyer, I did get them to add a note to that tracker saying the item is not to be delivered but they couldn’t guarantee that the note would be acted upon. I also wanted them to update the tracker to something meaningful (like ‘City Link has lost the Parcel’) but they were unable to do that. This was very important to me since the buyer had accused me of cancelling the item and was using that as their excuse for not being willing to wait.

In the meantime, I contacted the buyer via ebay and informing him that City Link had lost the parcel and were to get back to me with a status. But the buyer got impatient and issued an ultimatum that I refund him immediately. I stood my ground and said that until they actually declare the parcel lost, he'll just have to wait a bit more. The way I saw it, if I refunded and then City Link actually delivered the parcel, I would have nothing and he would have the goods.

After the ultimatum expired (he gave me three hours) he immediately started an ebay case and left negative feedback. Of course, his rational was to refer to the “Collection canceled at the request of the City Link account holder” and to deliberately mis-read that as if I had canceled the delivery.

So now I have no item, no money, my request for Parcel Monkey to refund my fee ignored (might have to go via Paypal on that one), and my first negative feedback on ebay. And if the item never shows up, I have to go through their hoops to claim on the insurance which includes having to get a written statement from a hostile buyer that did not receive the item.

johndale

Another day goes past, and another day MyHermes has not delivered my parcel (since 13 December) and not picking up phones or e-mails.

I have given them an ultimatum - in writing - to sort it out by 12/1. If I haven't heard, I am opening a case with the small claims court. Let's see how "busy" they are then.

kgrins

Update: well at least City Link do eventually respond (I'm phoning Camberly now - the main switchboard seems to be always busy). They're still searching for my parcel in the Cardiff depot, but they have assured me it will not be delivered so hopefully I shall eventually get it back.

Parcel Monkey have of course not responded at all re my refund nor my request for more details about how to claim on the insurance if the courier admits to not even having attempted a delivery.

That was my first and last sale on ebay. The impatient buyer expected what? That I refund before the courier gets back with a status and then he gets the item too? Or that he had ordered from Amazon or some similar huge place that will send out a second item if the first is lost before getting a response from the courier. Some people should stick to buying from supermarkets!

However, if I did plan to sell more stuff on ebay (or if that was my livelihood) I would be very very upset at City-Link, Parcel Monkey and the ebay rules which make a seller pretty powerless vs a buyer. Wonder if anyone has taken PM to court for defaming their name?

yoyo59

recently I have sent a couple parcels with parcel monkey and most of them having problems.. I had a parcel collection on the 22nd and on the tracking is says collection cancelled??? even though they collected it, i also have a parcel they collected on the 4th and right after they collected it from me it says collection failed? even though they collected it... what the hell is going on... these 2 parcels are worth around 400-500 pound together.. both insured.. phoned citylink around 7 times to no avail... messaged parcelmonkey on the site and still no reply? what can I do? people are trying to get refunds on ebay because its been so long, I dont blame them but what if i refund them and it actually gets there?.. need some serious help.. thanks

johndale

If you believe your parcel is lost, and the courier is not responding to you, you can as a last resort open a claim against them in the county courts.

You can do this online, and it costs about £30. Of course if they accept the claim they pay this.

Once you open a claim, they will get served a notice usually within 2 days. They may then respond, but if they don't or if they refuse your claim you can at the click of the button ask for a judge to review.

Look at moneyclaim.gov.uk - an official government site.

If you have sent a parcel worth £500 and you genuinely believe it's lost, and you have no choice, try this.

kgrins

yoyo59 wrote: »

recently I have sent a couple parcels with parcel monkey and most of them having problems.. I had a parcel collection on the 22nd and on the tracking is says collection cancelled??? even though they collected it, i also have a parcel they collected on the 4th and right after they collected it from me it says collection failed? even though they collected it... what the hell is going on... these 2 parcels are worth around 400-500 pound together.. both insured.. phoned citylink around 7 times to no avail... messaged parcelmonkey on the site and still no reply? what can I do? people are trying to get refunds on ebay because its been so long, I dont blame them but what if i refund them and it actually gets there?.. need some serious help.. thanks

Very similar to my story (expect my item was 'only' worth about £60). Like I said, that was my first and last ebay sale since in my case the buyer (whom I kept informed the whole time) suddenly decided they wanted a refund NOW long before the I could get any status back from City Link. They then threatened me with a three hour deadline (refund now or else), started a case and immediately left negative feedback. This kind of carry on is too much hassle - better off sticking to other places if I want to sell something in future.

(Ironically from looking at the buyer's profile, I see that they bought a similar item two days before my auction ended (they had already placed the bid on mine then) and since they have never dealt in that item before I wonder if they didn't really want my item anymore.)

But anyway, my advice if you need and value your ebay reputation is to tell your buyers to wait until tomorrow when you will inform City Link to add a note the trackers telling them not to deliver the parcel and have it returned. Then just refund your buyer and wait for City Link to return your item.

However, do inform the buyer that they have to be willing to help you by providing a written statement that they did not receive the item if the courier requires that and find the most polite words to gently remind them that if they were to accept the parcel after getting their refund that you would have to pursue them (somehow).

skylight

Morning.

I have sold a musical instrument and need a courier that tracks/online signature etc to follow Paypals Rules (saxophone and parcel is 8.5kg in total). The silly bit is that the buyer is only 4 miles away from me so I have emailed to suggest a refund and then I'll deliver it for cash, but we will wait and see.

In the meantime, I just cannot risk losing the £265 I sold it for so I do need a courier that uploads signatures online etc. I am in the SL2 area (if its relevant)

soolin

skylight wrote: »

Morning.

I have sold a musical instrument and need a courier that tracks/online signature etc to follow Paypals Rules (saxophone and parcel is 8.5kg in total). The silly bit is that the buyer is only 4 miles away from me so I have emailed to suggest a refund and then I'll deliver it for cash, but we will wait and see.

In the meantime, I just cannot risk losing the £265 I sold it for so I do need a courier that uploads signatures online etc. I am in the SL2 area (if its relevant)

I know I sent you here for advice but now I've seen the weight I just wanted to mention that it is light enough for Special delivery. Up to 10kg for £21.65 with compensation of up to £500. Next day delivery and a signature uploaded online which is suitable for paypal purposes.

skylight

Thanks Soolin - much appreciated.
Special Delivery it is I think; as it covers all bases.