Edinburgh Yodel drivers hit by sudden pay cuts and heavy fines, whistleblower claims

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https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/ ... ts-8650679

Delivery company defends its rates and working conditions

An Edinburgh Yodel deliver driver has expressed their anger, claiming couriers are losing hundreds of pounds a month due to sudden pay cuts, forced rate changes, and new delivery fines.

Yodel by InPost couriers are paid per parcel or per bag drop or collection. Bag drops are a bag of parcels that will get dropped off at a courier’s house for them then to disperse to customers. Van drivers get slightly more for bag drops given the larger vehicle.

However, a whistleblower from Edinburgh has said that those delivering parcels for Yodel have seen their delivery payments changed up to six times since Yodel was taken over by InPost last year.

The local worker, who asked to remain anonymous, said: “Since Christmas, many of the workers, especially the van drivers, have all had their rates cut more than three or four times. A few up to six times.

“In my experience, each courier I know is on a different rate per parcel. Some only get 91p, some 74p per parcel and some 85p. It depends on when they started working for the company and how many rate negotiations they’ve been through.

“A telephone call comes out of the blue from a department called ‘rate negotiations’. It’s not a negotiation. You’re told the price per parcel that they’re meant to get to and then a conversation takes place.

“If you don’t agree, a number will be forced on you. Or they’ll call you again in a few weeks and knock you down again.

“There is a rate variability clause in the contracts. But it also says that seven days notice must be given unless there are extenuating circumstances.

“In many cases, people were called on the Friday and the new reduced rate started the Monday. When they complained, Yodel continues to use the ‘subject to change’ quote.

“No one knows where this comes from or what it means.”

The Edinburgh whistleblower claims that every courier that works in Edinburgh and the Lothians is now experiencing losses of more than £400 per month, due to the cuts, and the price of fuel increasing recently.

They added: “There is real anxiety as you never know when they’ll call again. Only that they will.

“What you make is based on the volume and successful delivery. On average, car couriers range from accepting 40-120 parcels a day. When volume is low, we lose money as a result as we are only paid for a successful delivery.

“If we attend a house and no one is in to receive the parcel we won’t be paid for that. Sometimes you can travel to a house three times and only be paid once when the delivery is successful.”

The delivery driver also claims that from last week Yodel by InPost is now placing heavy fines on couriers for a multitude of reasons, including for not handing a parcel directly to a customer despite being instructed by the customer to leave the parcel in a specific place, often via a ring doorbell.

Other reasons for on the spot fines include not wearing safety gear in the depot, despite safety gear such as steel toe cap shoes and hi-viz vests not being provided by the company.

The whistleblower added: “There is nothing in our contracts to say we will be fined and these have started this week. The fines start at £100 with one courier owing £250.”

Responding to these claims by the Edinburgh Yodel courier, a spokesperson for Yodel by InPost said: “As a business operating a large and dynamic delivery network, we regularly review rates and resource requirements. We are committed to working fairly and transparently with all couriers across our network.”