Question on DPD signing policy

TheBigCheese · 11 Dec 2012 at 13:01

Afternoon all...and hopefully the DPD rep who visits the boards.

I had an Amazon delivery this afternoon with some Christmas prezzies in so it was a fair size parcel.

Doorbell rang within the allotted hour so no worries there...

The driver just gave me the parcel and said I didn't need to sign for it.

When I queried why (expensive parcel) he said that with Amazon parcels that fit through letter boxes they are allowed to sign for them themselves and post them through.

My parcel was in no way letter box sized and more to the point there was no car on the drive so it actually looked like we were out so what was he going to do with it? Take it back? Dump it somewhere?

I didn't get a chance to quiz him on it as he was backing down the drive as he was telling me that so it left me with a bit of a :confused:

If they are allowed to sign for smaller parcels now what happens if it arrives damaged and they sign for it? Or if the item has been arranged to be refused at the door?

Can DPD provide some clarification please.

Thanks.

Lunatic Dreyfus · 11 Dec 2012 at 13:19

Strangely enough I had the same thing happen last week, but didn't really think about it till I read this post. It is entirely possible DPD have a similiar thing to Royal Mail's 'Tracked' service, which doesn't need a signature either, just a scan in the drivers PDA. Though, this isn't entirely the same as your issue, it did get me thinking.

fiveub · 11 Dec 2012 at 13:25

Forwarded to DPD.

Pabl0 · 11 Dec 2012 at 13:32

If it's being refused delivery then the driver is often aware of this now and won't even attempt delivery as it will remove the delivery slot from his pda.

If the driver signs for it and posts it and it's damaged that shouldn't make any odds? I expect if it's signed for by the driver its simply delivered not checked?

I think your making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Twirlywoos · 11 Dec 2012 at 13:45

I've had a large item arrive, I had to clarify my name and I signed for it on the digital pad which is useless as a chocolate fireman.

TheBigCheese · 11 Dec 2012 at 14:43

Lunatic Dreyfus said:
Strangely enough I had the same thing happen last week, but didn't really think about it till I read this post. It is entirely possible DPD have a similiar thing to Royal Mail's 'Tracked' service, which doesn't need a signature either, just a scan in the drivers PDA. Though, this isn't entirely the same as your issue, it did get me thinking.

Maybe, I would definitely think this needed a proper signature though as it was around £200 worth of stuff in one box.

5UB said:
Forwarded to DPD.

Ooh cheers!

Demons UK said:
I think your making a mountain out of a mole hill.

*you're

majnu said:
I've had a large item arrive, I had to clarify my name and I signed for it on the digital pad which is useless as a chocolate fireman.

Same with all my other parcels from them, this just had me wondering.

Strife212 · 11 Dec 2012 at 14:47

So, your parcel arrived undamaged at exactly the specified time and your first thought was to complain about it online?

platypus · 11 Dec 2012 at 14:50

Not quite on the same subject but I ordered the missus' christmas present from Amazon (costing £500+), and they left it by the bin. In full view of the street..

TheBigCheese · 11 Dec 2012 at 14:55

Strife212 said:
So, your parcel arrived undamaged at exactly the specified time and your first thought was to complain about it online?

Why do delivery threads always bring out the worst in people?

Legitimate query, forwarded by OCUK staff to DPD and you take it as a moan? Well done you, your thoroughly original and helpful post has been noted down for future reference. Good show that man!

No more trolls please.

platypus said:
Not quite on the same subject but I ordered the missus' christmas present from Amazon (costing £500+), and they left it by the bin. In full view of the street..

Ouch! I guess that was signed for by the driver?

Brookert · 11 Dec 2012 at 15:03

Royal mail in my area have taken it upon themselves to sign for recorded delivery items and either ring the bell if they are too big or just put it through the letterbox.

It's concerning to say the least.

Bobby@DPD_UK · 11 Dec 2012 at 15:14

TheBigCheese said:
Afternoon all...and hopefully the DPD rep who visits the boards.

I had an Amazon delivery this afternoon with some Christmas prezzies in so it was a fair size parcel.

Doorbell rang within the allotted hour so no worries there...

The driver just gave me the parcel and said I didn't need to sign for it.

When I queried why (expensive parcel) he said that with Amazon parcels that fit through letter boxes they are allowed to sign for them themselves and post them through.

My parcel was in no way letter box sized and more to the point there was no car on the drive so it actually looked like we were out so what was he going to do with it? Take it back? Dump it somewhere?

I didn't get a chance to quiz him on it as he was backing down the drive as he was telling me that so it left me with a bit of a

If they are allowed to sign for smaller parcels now what happens if it arrives damaged and they sign for it? Or if the item has been arranged to be refused at the door?

Can DPD provide some clarification please.

Thanks.

Hey there

Thanks for the questions. There isn't really a definitive answer on such issues.

Some of our customers give us the authority to post items without getting a signature. In such circumstances, the driver inputs 'POSTED' on their handheld unit and this is what appears on our records.

If we post something to you, the same principles still apply if there are damages or only part of the goods are present - namely that you would contact the sender and a replacement would be sent out to you.

I suppose the ability to post items through the letterbox increases the chances of a "right first time" delivery.

I hope this clears things up for you a little.

platypus · 11 Dec 2012 at 16:16

TheBigCheese said:
Ouch! I guess that was signed for by the driver?

Yep :/.

Bobby@DPD_UK said:
Hey there

Thanks for the questions. There isn't really a definitive answer on such issues.

Some of our customers give us the authority to post items without getting a signature. In such circumstances, the driver inputs 'POSTED' on their handheld unit and this is what appears on our records.

If we post something to you, the same principles still apply if there are damages or only part of the goods are present - namely that you would contact the sender and a replacement would be sent out to you.

I suppose the ability to post items through the letterbox increases the chances of a "right first time" delivery.

I hope this clears things up for you a little.

It doesn't really answer the main concerns though, does it? He's had an expensive parcel delivered that would not fit through the letter box, and the driver has signed for himself and then would, what - have left it behind a flowerpot?

It also raises the issue that in the case where the driver signs for a damaged product, some companies would say that its been signed for and thus accepted - so they don't need to provide a refund/replacement. Who does one go to then?

Nexus · 11 Dec 2012 at 16:27

I think the simple answer is that you would then just contact whoever you purchased it from to explain the situation.

My parents had an order arrive recently while they were away on holiday. The Courier went around the back of the house and left it at the back door. My parents weren't home for another 6 days, and by then, due to the awful weather, there was nothing but a load of damp cardboard, covered in bugs which once resembled a box.

After speaking with the retailer, they sorted it out and presumably then made a claim against the courier firm to recoup back the cost.

As for something being damaged....
In my experience, when I've had something arrive which I expect might be damaged, the couriers always refuse to wait and let me open it. Instead, they just say it will go down as "signed but unseen" or something. They obviously don't have time due to scheduling to wait for customers to open things. Presumably in any situation where its signed for and left by a driver, the name and signature won't be of that of the expected party, thus shouldn't cause too much of a problem for a claim. I would think that the majority of the time, a courier leaving a parcel has done somebody a favour, rather than getting home to a card. I'd also add that anything of real value will have an order on it not to be left I would assume. Whenever I've had a phone, computer or credit card delivered, I've even had to prove its me sometimes.

MrMoonX · 11 Dec 2012 at 16:31

hell id rather they put something through the slot or left it somewhere then have to drive miles to go collect it, you got your parcel so why you whinging. If it get nicked if they leave it somewhere its not your problem just contact the retailer.

Bobby@DPD_UK · 11 Dec 2012 at 18:05

platypus said:
Yep :/.

It doesn't really answer the main concerns though, does it? He's had an expensive parcel delivered that would not fit through the letter box, and the driver has signed for himself and then would, what - have left it behind a flowerpot?

It also raises the issue that in the case where the driver signs for a damaged product, some companies would say that its been signed for and thus accepted - so they don't need to provide a refund/replacement. Who does one go to then?

The driver is allowed to post the parcel if it is small enough.

However, they do not have the authority to sign for it and leave it in an unsafe place if they cannot fit it through the letterbox. In those circumstances, the driver ought to take the parcel back to the depot, with delivery being attempted automatically the next day.

Of course, you now have the option to select for your parcel to be delivered to a neighbour too...

Lopéz · 11 Dec 2012 at 20:19

platypus said:
Yep :/.

It doesn't really answer the main concerns though, does it? He's had an expensive parcel delivered that would not fit through the letter box, and the driver has signed for himself and then would, what - have left it behind a flowerpot?

It also raises the issue that in the case where the driver signs for a damaged product, some companies would say that its been signed for and thus accepted - so they don't need to provide a refund/replacement. Who does one go to then?

In all cases, you would contact the sender. It's them that had the contract with the courier.

atpbx · 11 Dec 2012 at 20:26

platypus said:
Yep :/.

It doesn't really answer the main concerns though, does it? He's had an expensive parcel delivered that would not fit through the letter box, and the driver has signed for himself and then would, what - have left it behind a flowerpot?

It also raises the issue that in the case where the driver signs for a damaged product, some companies would say that its been signed for and thus accepted - so they don't need to provide a refund/replacement. Who does one go to then?

No he would have taken it back, or left it if the sender asked for their parcels to be left without signature.

There's seems to be some confusion over what happens if the driver leaves it and it gets wet, or stolen or whatever, you ring up the sender and..............they send you another one.
Then they seek refund of carriage and goods from the carrier.

Remember contract to supply is between you and the sender.
Contract to deliver between sender and carrier.
You ARE NOT the carriers customer, the sender is.

El_Watcher · 11 Dec 2012 at 20:54

Lopéz said:
It's them that had the contract with the courier.

But I think in most cases this contract ends when you sign for it. The whole purpose of requiring a signature is so that the seller can prove it was delivered, and the receiver has a final point at which they can reject the product (i.e. damaged in transit, unsolicited mail) without incurring hassles of arranging returns etc .

Seems strange to have a service which requires a signature except where the driver can't be bothered to wait and signs it and posts it through the letterbox :confused:

.

Lopéz · 11 Dec 2012 at 21:30

El_Watcher said:
But I think in most cases this contract ends when you sign for it. The whole purpose of requiring a signature is so that the seller can prove it was delivered, and the receiver has a final point at which they can reject the product (i.e. damaged in transit, unsolicited mail) without incurring hassles of arranging returns etc .

Seems strange to have a service which requires a signature except where the driver can't be bothered to wait and signs it and posts it through the letterbox .

That's the senders problem, not yours.