Post Office Claim

rose_sparky

About a month ago I refunded a buyer for his purchase that had arrived broken thanks to the Royal Mail.

I then started a claim for compensation and they asked me to send them the damaged item and the packaging. I replied saying it had been posted (doh...) half way up country therefore I didn't have it.

Today I had another letter apologising for the damage which they said was probably caused by mechanical handling or the weight of other mail. They refused my claim because I still didn't have the item for inspection.

Do they honestly expect me to ask my buyer to return the broken item to me and for me to then forward it to Royal Mail ? As far as I can see there would only be one winner and as sure as eggs are eggs it wouldn't be me.

I'm well and truly out of pocket now after refunding buyer 100% plus my ebay fees.

wrighty_3

I have been in the exact same position with the royal mail. It cost me £17 to send some in car entertainment equiptment via special delivery insured upto £500. The item was damaged and the recepient threw the box away. The royal mail wouldnt honour my claim because they didnt have the original packaging! Ridiculous. I may as well have paid £7 to send it standard first class!!! ROYAL MAIL ARE USELESS!!!

princessmoneysaver

I would have asked to buyer to take the item to local PO with a copy of the claim letter - you could email them a copy to print off. Then see what PO says, this is what I have done in the past & the cashier has taken notes of the damage & signed it to say she has seen it & then sent this off for the claim.

rose_sparky

I've emailed the buyer on the off-chance he took a photo of the damaged goods but don't hold out much hope.

It's a very difficult subject because whilst we are 100% honest in our claims I'm sure there's twice as many who abuse it and that's why we lose out.

The whole system needs to be overhauled to make it fair to the genuine losses/damages.

soolin

There is a problem with damaged goods and Post Office claims. For instance, I wasn't aware before I started selling th eodd bits and pieces of china that no RM service actually covered me for damage...so I basically take a risk every time I put a china or glass item in the post.

Soo