Item missing, Oversea destination- making claim from Royal Mail

swingaloo2

I am asking on a friends behalf as I think he has made a big error but I'm just trying to help him sort things and cant find the info I need on the Royal Mail website so wondered if anyone on here can advise.

He bought an item of footwear from a business seller on Ebay, situated in Holland.

Ive looked at thier selling page and it does say they accept returns. But, this was a case of the item being the wrong size so not the fault of the seller but the page says he could send them back for an exchange, obviously at his own cost.

The item cost almost £300 and when he took the parcel to the post office he says he was asked to fill in a form stating the cost of the goods etc.  When he got the postage price they said it would be £36 to send without being tracked and signed for, or, £66 for full tracking. 

He chose the cheaper option!!!!  

Now lo and behold the item is missing. He has contacted the seller who has said 'Due to the volume of returns they have a problem finding items which have been returned to the warehouse so could he please provide the tracking showing the item was definately delivered' which of course he cant do.  He only has proof of posting which is no good. 

So, he has decided to make a claim with Royal Mail for non delivery (even though I suspect the item has reached its destination and they may be pulling a fast one).

Because he took the cheaper option on postage he was only insured the parcel up to £100 even though he says he told the post office assistant that the true value was almost 300. Now I thought that if you were not insured correctly you could not claim, he thinks he will be able to claim £100 back.

Is he right or am I? I cant find anything on the website to back up my thinking so I may be wrong. If I am correct in thinking he wont be able to make a claim can anyone please show a link to the info.
Thanks

societys_child

 "post office assitant"  . . . £300 item under-insured for £100 . . . wouldn't hold out too much hope.

swingaloo2

societys_child said:

 "post office assitant"  . . . £300 item under-insured for £100 . . . wouldn't hold out too much hope.

Exactly, thats my thinking but I cant find anywhere on the Royal Mail website which says anything about being under-inured.  

Thrugelmir

Was the parcel/package sent by parcel force?  £100 cover compensation and items are tracked. The tracking number will be on the post office receipt. 

swingaloo2

Thanks for the replies. Im not too sure about how he sent it, he just told me he had gone to the post office but had not had it tracked or signed for. I will go and have a look tomorrow and see what his reciept shows as what he is telling me does not really make sense.