Highlanddelivery - epetition response

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“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to investigate the charges levied by some couriers/suppliers to the Scottish Highlands.”

Details of Petition:

“This petition argues the need for a enquiry into the inflated charges imposed by some couriers/suppliers for delivery to parts of the Scottish Highlands which now have communications links of standard similar to (if not better than) other UK regions. It submits that the charges relating to many parts of the Highlands are outdated and are restricting economic and social growth in order to simply increase the profits of delivery companies or suppliers.”

Read the Government’s response

Parcels’ and courier services are not regulated as the sector is a highly competitive market. In addition to parcels carriers and couriers, some retailers/manufacturers/mail order companies also have their own delivery fleets.

Although Royal Mail provides a universal service for parcels which allows for a delivery of parcels weighing up to 20kg at a uniform price anywhere in the United Kingdom, retailers/manufacturers/mail-order companies may prefer to use alternative carriers or their own delivery services.

The application of price banding for different areas within the UK is a common practice and is based on the fact that greater costs are incurred by the operator to get the parcel to its destination. Two key factors are involved – the physical distances are greater, whilst the density in volume of the packages going to remote areas is smaller. Companies must be able to cover their costs in order to provide a sustainable business.

These companies must however try to provide or secure the most cost-effective service to ensure their own competitiveness in their respective market. In such a commercial and highly competitive environment, it is for private carriers and couriers and other companies who use or operate carrier services to review their own pricing structures in response to competitive pressures and market demands.

Customers of mainland suppliers/mail-order companies are advised to carefully consider delivery policies when making orders and where an extra charge is being applied they should take the matter up direct with the respective company, especially in those cases where they feel an extra charge is being wrongly applied. This should be done preferably before making an order, but where customers have only become aware of the extra charge after the order has been delivered, they should formally register their concern direct with the respective company.

In those cases where there is evidence that a company is behaving in an anti-competitive manner, customers should be advised to raise the matter with the Office of Fair Trading.