buyer saysing the "Envelope is empty" - what can I do?

freddysmith

Royal Mail does ask for proof of value on the claim form:-

For all claims for loss or damage, original
evidence of value and posting must be
provided if you are claiming compensation

for the actual cost of an item.

ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/ctf/rm/Inland_P58_form_English_09.pdf

vicx

Yes but it has never been needed for a successful claim when I or anyone else I know have made claims with RM. As I said, all I included was the eBay page print out or the eBay item number and I received a cheque through the post for the value the item sold for plus the postage cost I paid.

shaun_from_Africa

I have only ever claimed twice for lost ebay items and both times all I provided as proof of value was a copy of the ebay listing showing how much the items sold for.
Both items were of a low value (about £12 each time), but for high value goods or items sold by a business seller then RM may well require a proper receipt of ther proof.

freddysmith

vicx wrote: »

Yes but it has never been needed for a successful claim when I or anyone else I know have made claims with RM. As I said, all I included was the eBay page print out or the eBay item number and I received a cheque through the post for the value the item sold for plus the postage cost I paid.

That will be encouraging news for the OP or anyone without an original receipt as it makes sense. Who keeps all their receipts!

GregtheHammer

freddysmith wrote: »

Who keeps all their receipts!

I most certainly do for up to 8 months, if you are a high volume seller its the safest way not to be out of pocket.

Obviously_the_best

I scan all my reciepts so I don't have to keep masses of them, then I send the copy off with the ebay order details page

johnnyboyrebel

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

If it was a scam then the buyer must be a bit of an idiot.

A buyer being an idiot? That would never happen.......

As people have said, it is more likely that this is actually true and tbh you have to believe customer whether you like it or not.

Stonk

Quite a few people are saying that RM pay compensation in the full amount of the eBay sale, without any proof of actual value. If so, they have been lucky!

I make claims "regularly", shall we say (rather too regularly if you ask me). Depending on factors like the value of the loss and whether or not I have an easily accessible proof of value (and whether or not I want to send the proof of value and not get it back), the information I enclose varies from one claim to another.

Sometimes they pay up in full without a problem; sometimes, if I don't include it, they write back asking for proof of original cost. A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to provide actual proof of original cost for something which I had already stated cost me 45p! It was utterly irrelevant, because the minimum they ever pay out is a book of stamps worth £2.76, and it didn't make the slightest bit of difference whether or not I could prove the item was worth 45p. I scribbled back saying I had no proof, and they paid out the £2.76 anyway.

johnnyboyrebel

Stonk wrote: »

Quite a few people are saying that RM pay compensation in the full amount of the eBay sale, without any proof of actual value. If so, they have been lucky!

I make claims "regularly", shall we say (rather too regularly if you ask me). Depending on factors like the value of the loss and whether or not I have an easily accessible proof of value (and whether or not I want to send the proof of value and not get it back), the information I enclose varies from one claim to another.

Sometimes they pay up in full without a problem; sometimes, if I don't include it, they write back asking for proof of original cost. A couple of weeks ago, I was asked to provide actual proof of original cost for something which I had already stated cost me 45p! It was utterly irrelevant, because the minimum they ever pay out is a book of stamps worth £2.76, and it didn't make the slightest bit of difference whether or not I could prove the item was worth 45p. I scribbled back saying I had no proof, and they paid out the £2.76 anyway.

I think its disgusting really to be handed a book of stamps as compensation for a company's failure to simply collect something from A and drop it off at B. They are basically saying "we are sorry the company has let you down so have some free stamps so you can experience the dismal service again in the future but free of charge'. I do not even bother claiming back from them for first class items as it is pointless.

Stonk

johnnyboyrebel wrote: »

I think its disgusting really to be handed a book of stamps as compensation for a company's failure to simply collect something from A and drop it off at B. They are basically saying "we are sorry the company has let you down so have some free stamps so you can experience the dismal service again in the future but free of charge'. I do not even bother claiming back from them for first class items as it is pointless.

The book of stamps is the minimum, which you get for complaining about a loss or damage in the absence of providing any additional proof of value. They can and do pay larger compensation, but understandably require more proof of value. Sometimes I inadvertently profit from the minimum payout, because I report every loss to them as a matter of principle, and if the cost (to me) of the item was less than a couple of quid, the £2.76 in stamps more than covers it. Not counting the time it takes, obviously, but then maybe I've got too much of that!