being charged when they reckon you are 'out' for a parcel delivery

[mandimoo]

they want £18 handling charge. we were not out, I dont believe they tried to deliver the parcel, just put the letter through. the letter also says they wont enter into disputes about this, just pay up if you want your goods. im outraged. as far as i am concerned, they have stolen my parcel and are holding it to ransom. can i do anything about this? we have already paid a delivery charge to the vendor.

[factor-fiction]

Who are 'they'?

[mollykins]

post office or coruier service i imagine

[bushbaby_de]

I had this yesterday with Parcelnet/Hermes who deliver for Tesco books, claiming I missed delivery when I was home all day, grrrrr

[craft1948]

ring up whoever you bought the goods from and complain.....

[dothawkes31]

The postal van man tried to deliver this BT Vision box yesterday and I was still in bed, (about 10am) I heard his knock and got up immediately, put dressing gown on, shot down stairs to see the red card drop on the mat, opened the door and he was no where in sight!!!! He must have spronted down the lane to his out of sight van!!! i rang the number on the card, took 1and a half minutes to get thru the option thingy asnd speak to a human, the bloke at the office said he could not ring the driver, i explained nicely about issueing mobile phones in case of emergency and he did not respond. Today I waited by the window and as he reached the front door i opened it and he had a red card alreayd qwritten out in his hand and he hadn't even bloody knocked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dothawkes31]

they must train them to write the card out as they approach the door to save time, i must ask Postdog about this.

[tillyh345]

Not Royal Mail they dont charge to redeliver .....

[Androcles]

Complain to the vendor immediately. Can you produce any evidence that you were in, such as a neighbour?

[Postdog]

You serious? This is scam. A proper scam I mean, not just a rip off charge. This might not be for what you are expecting but to make sure, ring them up. Beware of the number on the card, it could be premium rate.

[hc4361]

May not be a scam. If I pay B&Q to deliver my goods at a certain time, and I am not in, they will charge again to re-deliver.
The OP has given no indication as to whether this was a courier or the company he bought the goods from.

[ChuckFickens]

the redelivery charge does sound like a scam! but as for the cards coming through the door when you know you've not missed them, well I have worked as a multi drop delivery driver and I have seen other drivers pull up a couple of doors down the road so they are not seen, quietly walk up to the door and drop a card through and then leg it before anyone comes out.

The reason.... they have the drop on their list so they have to call there, but they basically can't find your package in the van, so instead of spending time looking for it, or coming back at the end of the route (both of which would make them later finishing) they sneak a "we missed you card" through the door

[Teleph0ne]

If you paid for the goods by credit card then tell whoever you bought it off that you don't want the item and they can have it back. Either they will refund you or your credit card company will. Unfortunately it only works with credit cards or paypal, debit cards have no such cover. They have got no proof that the item was delivered to you so they haven't got a leg to stand on

[Postdog]

The scam I'm referring to is common. A note goes through your door about a missed delivery and gives you a number to call and a "reason" to call, ie, you'll be charged. When you ring the number it's at a premium rate, but no mention of this is made.

[hc4361]

postdog, that scam doesn't work when you are expecting a delivery and you get a card saying 'B&Q delivered but you weren't in'.
The scam you refer to is usually sent by email.

[factor-fiction]

I feel we are doing all the work here - we need some more info from mandimoo to explain things a bit better. I repeat my original question- who is the 'they' who are trying to charge you- the courier or the supplier.

[mandimoo]

sorry for not getting back sooner, i posted at work earlier and only just got back on 'puta. the parcel in Q was delivered from USA and upon a bit of further investigation the charge seems to be for a difference in VAT and a customs handling charge on top. the delivery firm in question by the ways, was parcelforce. thank you all very much indeed for your input.

[factor-fiction]

So we were on wild goose chase then while you were at work. Did you ring them up and play hell with them before you realised you'd got the wrong end of the stick? Still, it generated plenty of discussion on here.

[dasherman]

I can't speak for Parcelforce,but as a postman we have to deliver a card for anything that is surcharged. We are no longer allowed to knock on a door and ask for money.

Although a few years ago i had 2 surcharged items from USA with about £70 to pay on each and asking for £140 in return for 2 parcels the customer thought he'd already paid for is a tad awkward!

[buildersmate]

Unsurprisingly the courier wants its reimbusement first before it will deliver. The courier has had to commit to pay the import duties to Customs & Excise to get the parcel through customs in the first instance.