Royal mail won't give me compensation without hearing from buyer

marking_bad

For a lost mail, they want to hear from the buyer to say they haven't received the item, before they will offer a cheque, otherwise they are assuming the buyer has received the item. The first three or four they just offered cheques.

How ridiculous is that, and what a crazy assumption to make. It feels so wrong that the victim in all of this (the seller with proof of posting and proof of refund) should be punished further.

Anyway, what is the best procedure for this, they do state they will reopen the case if they hear from the buyer.

How is best to contact the buyer?

What happens if I get no response from the buyer, can I get the police involved?

davet87

how is it punishing you further them wanting proof that the item hasnt actually been recieved? if they never did this then people would be saying they sent something costing 10p less than the limit for normal mail and it was never recieved despite it being recieved....

the best procedure for it is that they will contact the recipient directly. no need for you to

marking_bad

davet87 wrote: »

how is it punishing you further them wanting proof that the item hasnt actually been recieved? if they never did this then people would be saying they sent something costing 10p less than the limit for normal mail and it was never recieved despite it being recieved....

the best procedure for it is that they will contact the recipient directly. no need for you to

They know it hasn't been received because the buyer has been refunded on ebay via paypal. I sent that proof of already. I already stated that I've sent proof of refund. You don't give refunds for items that have been received.

You haven't read the post properly, I will forgive you as you are a newbie

starrybee

marking_bad wrote: »

They know it hasn't been received because the buyer has been refunded on ebay via paypal. I sent that proof of already. I already stated that I've sent proof of refund. You don't give refunds for items that have been received.

You haven't read the post properly, I will forgive you as you are a newbie

Dave's advice is perfectly accurate.

Refunding someone isn't 'proof' they didn't receive it, all it says is you sent someone a refund, and are now trying to get money off RM for it.

They need your buyer to actually sign something they will have sent to their address. Given you say you've already had to make three or four of these claims I'm not surprised they've started investigating a bit further.

Perhaps you should a polite message to your buyer asking if they've received something from RM and if so could they fill it in.

zorber

I agree with the OP. The buyer has been refunded and now has no incentive to respond to Royal Mail. It could be that they dont wont to respond as they did actually recieve the item but filled a false claim to get a refund.

You have my sympathy crap system, you are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Suggest threatening them with small claims court if you have all the evidence that you have issued a refund.

marking_bad

starrybee wrote: »

Refunding someone isn't 'proof' they didn't receive it, all it says is you sent someone a refund, and are now trying to get money off RM for it.
.

So what you're saying is proof of refund for non delivery, isn't actually proof of refund for non delivery? Riiiiiight...

And you have failed to answer my question, what happens if the buyer refuses to co-operate?

And all my claims so far have had proof of both posting and refund. So don't make out like I'm doing something dodgy and the RM are within their rights to "investigate" me.

marking_bad

zorber wrote: »

I agree with the OP. The buyer has been refunded and now has no incentive to respond to Royal Mail. It could be that they dont wont to respond as they did actually recieve the item but filled a false claim to get a refund.

You have my sympathy crap system, you are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Suggest threatening them with small claims court if you have all the evidence that you have issued a refund.

Before threats, I would like to co-operate, it would seem reasonable at this point.

But yes, I get the feeling from other things people have said, it's going to be tough to get this money back.

shaun_from_Africa

marking_bad wrote: »

So what you're saying is proof of refund for non delivery, isn't actually proof of refund for non delivery? Riiiiiight...

For all RM know, your buyer might have received their goods and found that they were misdescribed so instead of asking for them to return them, you simply refunded. (It does happen).

marking_bad

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

For all RM know, your buyer might have received their goods and found that they were misdescribed so instead of asking for them to return them, you simply refunded. (It does happen).

And how would the buyer saying they haven't received anything be any different from the emails sent to the RM along with the proof of refund? Or for that matter, that the buyer isn't in on this scam. Or why couldn't they contact ebay for proof this refund was given because of a non delivered item? Ebay would certainly reply to them.

It isn't, it's nonsense time wasting by the RM in the hope I will go away and they don't have to pay. Either the RM should claim I'm a scammer and report me to the police, or they pay compensation. I'm not a scammer, I have all the proof I need should I ever be accused of it.

In an ideal world, the RM would have both the buyer and seller swear affidavits, but this isn't an ideal world, it's the real world, and the RM have all the evidence they need to show an item was lost.

Now they are forcing me to get in touch with someone I don't know, to ask them a favour they really don't owe, for something they have no interest in, and the RM don't even need.

Can't believe people are defending this crap from the RM.

macfly

Royal Mail often contact the non recipient in these cases. I have had one, and responded to it. Normal people don't need an incentive to behave properly.
RM have had enough with ebay claims. "Non receipt" has rocketed over the last few years. That's why the rest of the normal population are to have compensation reduced if items are not sent at least recorded.
Just contact the buyer. Whoever suggested small claims is being daft.

morganedge

That's odd!
I'm waiting for compensation from royal mail myself. £50.00 clothing item sent using recorded delivery has gone missing.

I spoke to customer services rep at royal mail last week to chase up my claim, and he told me the opposite of what you have said?

He said that if, after 30 days of contacting the recipient they are yet to receive a reply, then they will give compensation!

I wonder whose right!?
Looks like I might have to ring them yet again!!