Couriers (yet again)... a new one on me - handling charges.

[Happy Jack]

Remind me of your address, Chris?

[Burns-bass]

3 hours ago, Beedster said:

 

I've had this several times with Interparcel and will no longer use them because they apply handling charges that the courier themselves do not - that is two identical parcels sent via Parcelforce, one via a direct booking with Parcelforce and the other via an indirect booking via Interparcel will only attract the fee via Interparcel (I can be pretty confident about this having used both many times with similarly wrapped parcels). While I challenged Interparcel each time and won, the last time it happened I simply decided to vote with my feet and not use a business that cynically exploits unnecessary small print conditions for profit, in fact I'd go so far to say that the small print conditions in question were developed with exactly that in mind. 

I see that Ryannair staff are incentivised to identify bags that are too big to fit in the cabin. I’m cynical enough to imagine the same model applying here.

[Gunsfreddy2003]

On 29/07/2025 at 18:38, warwickhunt said:

Sent a bass 2 weeks ago with Evri 48hr, booked through Interparcel (but insured via Securus).  

 

The bass was double boxed in 'exactly' the same double walled (x2) boxes that the manufacturer delivered in.  It went off no probs via my selection in Interparcel and was delivered FIVE days later.  Now that 3 day delay isn't the issue; I was miffed at the service but the buyer received it safe and sound and was over the moon with the bass.

 

Fast forward 2 weeks and I receive an email from Interparcel stating I owed £25 because: 

 

"An additional charge has been applied due to non-standard packaging, which required manual handling by the carrier.

This includes items that are irregularly shaped, cylindrical (e.g. tubes, carpets), packaged with cling film, bubble wrap, string, or excessive tape, or placed in bags or sacks. These types of packaging do not meet the carrier’s automated processing requirements."

 

At first I thought 'scam' but the address to reply/pay looked right.  I contacted Interparcel and they say the claim is brought by Evri against me.  I'm obviously going to contest it but it might be worth folk being aware that these are not phishing scams but appear to be Evri chancing their arm for extra fees.  

 

Oh and here is the irregular packaging.

 

 

I've just had the same from Interparcel last week - used them to send an effects pedal and they are saying that because it was a cardboard box wrapped in plastic bag and packing tape it was not the right packing material.

 

I have challenged their charge and they are saying that the charge is from the courier and not them:

 

"Plastic wrapping can occasionally cause issues with the automated sorting equipment at the depot, usually due to reflecting lights and lasers and thus rendering a parcel non-compatible for automated processing. When situations like this arise, the parcel is instead manually handled throughout the network and the carrier do unfortunately issue a charge for this."

 

Did you pay their charge in the end or ignore it?

 

[warwickhunt]

7 minutes ago, Gunsfreddy2003 said:

I've just had the same from Interparcel last week - used them to send an effects pedal and they are saying that because it was a cardboard box wrapped in plastic bag and packing tape it was not the right packing material.

 

I have challenged their charge and they are saying that the charge is from the courier and not them:

 

"Plastic wrapping can occasionally cause issues with the automated sorting equipment at the depot, usually due to reflecting lights and lasers and thus rendering a parcel non-compatible for automated processing. When situations like this arise, the parcel is instead manually handled throughout the network and the carrier do unfortunately issue a charge for this."

 

Did you pay their charge in the end or ignore it?

 

 

I doggedly kept on at them that my packaging was appropriate and that I would challenge Interparcel via the Ombudsman as my contract was with them and not the courier (ergo they couldn't lay off the blame).  I'd certainly be challenging that plastic bags are not appropriate; it needs to be waterproof and there are plenty of major companies use plastic bags.  

[Gunsfreddy2003]

10 minutes ago, warwickhunt said:

 

I doggedly kept on at them that my packaging was appropriate and that I would challenge Interparcel via the Ombudsman as my contract was with them and not the courier (ergo they couldn't lay off the blame).  I'd certainly be challenging that plastic bags are not appropriate; it needs to be waterproof and there are plenty of major companies use plastic bags.  

Agreed - I have loads of packages in plastic wrapping every day!

 

Did you pay them though or did they go away?

 

[RogerDodger]

I can't understand why the shipper wants to insure against damage by the courier.

 

Pack it properly and photograph it. I've never had a problem. If they handle your parcel negligently then they have to make amends, surely, so the courier probably ought to be doing the insuring...

Edited 40 minutes ago by RogerDodger

[warwickhunt]

48 minutes ago, Gunsfreddy2003 said:

Agreed - I have loads of packages in plastic wrapping every day!

 

Did you pay them though or did they go away?

 

 

Thet eventually conceeded that the courier had no case and dropped it.

 

2 minutes ago, RogerDodger said:

I can't understand why the shipper wants to insure against damage by the courier.

 

Pack it properly and photograph it. I've never had a problem. If they handle your parcel negligently then they have to make amends, surely?

 

A courier or intermediry will try and avoid any pay out.  However, my case (and @Gunsfreddy2003) is a case of the courier trying to claim that packaging wasn't appropriate (which it patently WAS) and they tried to claim a handling charge because it wasn't regulation packaging!