Royal Mail claim help needed re lost parcel

kuepper

Sold a second hand item on Amazon but it never arrived so I refunded the buyer and submitted a Royal Mail claim based on the price I'd sold it at, for which I provided proof of my listing and sale price. I'm shocked that they have now emailed to say they need proof of WHAT I PAID for it when I bought it. That was probably 20 years ago for which I haven't got a receipt and was probably twice the price I sold it at so I don't really see the relevance when i'm only claiming the value advertised on Amazon when i sold it. Things can appreciate or depreciate over time so it seems odd for them to take this stance, I wondered if anyone had any previous experience of this problem or suggestions what I can do?

naedanger

kuepper wrote: »

Sold a second hand item on Amazon but it never arrived so I refunded the buyer and submitted a Royal Mail claim based on the price I'd sold it at, for which I provided proof of my listing and sale price. I'm shocked that they have now emailed to say they need proof of WHAT I PAID for it when I bought it. That was probably 20 years ago for which I haven't got a receipt and was probably twice the price I sold it at so I don't really see the relevance when i'm only claiming the value advertised on Amazon when i sold it. Things can appreciate or depreciate over time so it seems odd for them to take this stance, I wondered if anyone had any previous experience of this problem or suggestions what I can do?

I wonder if they have just not taken on board that the item was second hand. (Someone may just have fired off a template letter after a very quick skim reading of your claim.)

I suggest you just repeat the points you have made above to RM and ask them for the relevance of the price paid 20 years ago to the value of the item now.

kuepper

yes i'll try that, broken Britain strikes again probably

Alice_Walker

Not much point in arguing this with RM, that is their policy. If you check the ebay forum you'll find lots of people stung by it. It would be worth reading there, and on the ebay forum here, to see if anyone has found a way around it.

theonlywayisup

Stand firm. Tell them the item is over 20 years old and the sale price is the price that is relevant. Explain you are a private seller (assuming you are).

kuepper

theonlywayisup wrote: »

Stand firm. Tell them the item is over 20 years old and the sale price is the price that is relevant. Explain you are a private seller (assuming you are).

Yes i'm a private seller just trying to get rid of a few CDs I dont play anymore, never occurred to me maybe RM think i'm a business.

soolin

kuepper wrote: »

Yes i'm a private seller just trying to get rid of a few CDs I dont play anymore, never occurred to me maybe RM think i'm a business.

On Amazon there is no distinction between a business and private seller, Amazon class them all the same as do RM.

fleshandbone

The policies in place by the Royal Mail I believe in the future will lead to a similar PPI fiasco with people making/ launching claims for compensation.
I have huge respect for the delivery guys and girls, they all do a great job with little respect from the public, but it is the Directors and Governors of Royal mail that are scamming businesses and individuals.
I say this because what other company/business in the world can send you letters asking for payment of under paid letters/parcels without providing one single ounce of proof.....It's a scam and it is going to come back and bite them hard on the ( | ) .

soolin

fleshandbone wrote: »

The policies in place by the Royal Mail I believe in the future will lead to a similar PPI fiasco with people making/ launching claims for compensation.
I have huge respect for the delivery guys and girls, they all do a great job with little respect from the public, but it is the Directors and Governors of Royal mail that are scamming businesses and individuals.
I say this because what other company/business in the world can send you letters asking for payment of under paid letters/parcels without providing one single ounce of proof.....It's a scam and it is going to come back and bite them hard on the ( | ) .

Maybe your system for underpaid postage works differently to most other places? Mine for instance asks you to either pay online or go and collect the item, if you collect then you can see the item before payment . If you pay online and have it delivered then you still have the item in your hand and can actually see what was wrong. Actually having the item in your hand is proof - you can see the postage paid on it (or lack thereof), I don't consider that no proof at all.

fleshandbone

Hi Soolin
Thank you for your comments.
We use a franking machine and the Royal Mail send us a letter demanding payment, the letter shows no detail other than how much an item was under paid, there is no post code or details of if we sent it large letter when it should have been small parcel etc etc...

custardy

fleshandbone wrote: »

The policies in place by the Royal Mail I believe in the future will lead to a similar PPI fiasco with people making/ launching claims for compensation.
I have huge respect for the delivery guys and girls, they all do a great job with little respect from the public, but it is the Directors and Governors of Royal mail that are scamming businesses and individuals.
I say this because what other company/business in the world can send you letters asking for payment of under paid letters/parcels without providing one single ounce of proof.....It's a scam and it is going to come back and bite them hard on the ( | ) .

Apart from getting your hands on the actual item?

Edit: we are talking about account charges.I think you will find most couriers work the same way. Would you rather RM returned your mail and you repaid/queried?