ParcelMonkey and ParcelForce - has anyone else been charged extra?

blue_monkey_2

Just a query really.

I have had an email to say both the parcels I sent to Oz, via ParcelForce, have incurred extra charges as I did not measure them correctly.

Now call me an idiot but I do know how to use a tape measure. I send to Oz more often than any other country and after WPS and DHL put their prices up (by a heck of a lot) I moved over to Parcel Monkey and Parcel Force service.

the first 2 parcels I sent they are now saying were measured incorrectly - one they are saying was actually DOUBLE the metric weight. The other, just a small amount. They were the same size and weight.

I just wondered if this has happened to anyone else. I've another in transit so I guess I am going to get screwed over with that one too. And all I have is Parcelforces word for it that the parcel was bigger and heaveier than specified. Which it wasn't. For definate as nothing was added to it.

I need a new courier now as I am going to have 10 that need sending in the next few weeks. I am a bit miffed to be honest so thought I'd ask on here if this was a regular thing that they did.

paulofessex

Just wondering if you would be better to book direct with ParcelForce online and dropping the parcel off at the Post Office, after all they will check the weights etc so at least you would have proof. Not forgetting the 15% discount and £3 cashback offers via TCB it may be worth comparing prices if you haven't already.

RFW

I don't do international with Parcelforce but had a very irate collection driver a while ago who thought one of my parcels was overweight (it wasn't) from then on he had every parcel checked at the depot and they did charge extra on a couple of occasions. I had an account with them at the time and managed to get them to waive it, I've never known a problem since then, it may be that they have to check international parcels more strictly. It might be worth going to your local depot and asking them how it works. Did you see a copy of the surcharge report/invoice from Parcelmonkey?

blue_monkey_2

I've just had it now to be honest and it says that the declared weight was 4kg but the actual weight was 8kgs.

Seriously, I have sent 8kgs to Oz before but in a box 4 times bigger. I could not even get 8kg's worth of goods in a box of that size. It is ridiculous. I feel like taking to goods down to the depot, that are shown on the invoice and showing them.

I feel shafted to be honest. If I price it up online with parcelforce it quotes me around £100 - it's £48 via PM - but now I've been charged an extra £16. I cannot ask my customer to pay that, they do pay the shipping cost but I cannot go asking them for more. I need to get this sorted out as I have another box to go and another 10 in the coming few weeks. And they will be bigger so god knows how much they'll screw me for with those. I sent them 7 weeks ago and they only just informed me of the overcharge.

I've asked DHL direct if they'll give me an account and they pretty much laughed in my face and told me to carry on using WPS. They were so rude.

Sending to Oz is the largest part of my business, I cannot afford to lose it, I do not make huge amounts but without it I'd probably go under as it keeps me afloat and keeps my supplier accounts active. But it just seems to be harder and harder to find a courier, DHL used to be £58 but last quote was £118.

Obviously_the_best

I don't bout Parcel Monkey as I haven't used then abroad since the DHL price rise, but some good couriers for oz are https://www.interparcel.com, https://www.wedelivertheworld.co.uk and https://www.transglobal.org.uk

blue_monkey_2

Thank you for those, I'll have a look later. Are these companies any good??

ETA: Interlink using UPS on 1-3 day service is only £50 for a parcel the same weight as below.

blue_monkey_2

I've just priced the parcel on the parcelforce site and it is £90 with no insurance and 9 DAY delivery.

What is more, I have put the weight and dimensions in and the volumetric weight is 4.74 KG's - NOT the 8kg's volumetric weight they have charged me for on the same package. :mad::mad::mad: