MORAY MP Douglas Ross has called for action by companies using couriers who charge excess for delivering to Moray, the Highlands and the north of Scotland just because of someone’s postcode.
Douglas was commenting after speaking in a debate on the topic held in Westminster on Wednesday.
He said “It’s just not acceptable in this day and age for companies to say that the excess charges are put on by couriers so they have to pass them on to customers.
“If that’s the case they should change their couriers, especially if the couriers can’t tell the difference between mainland UK and thinking that Moray and the Highlands are not part of it.
“I’ve had numerous cases where constituents have told me that they ordered goods online at the agreed price, but then go into the delivery options and are charged extra because of their postcode.
“I even had one customer from Fochabers who was going to be charged more but when he put in a Clochan address which has an AB postcode, even though it was a few miles further to deliver, delivery was free. This is all the more galling as the courier in question was based in Inverness so they had to pass Fochabers, where they wanted to charge for delivery, to get to Clochan when they delivered for free!
“This is something I have raised repeatedly during my two years as MP for Moray. We are beginning to see some progress with the Advertising Standards Authority issuing enforcement notices to companies who advertise free UK mainland delivery but then charge extra for Moray. But more still needs to be done. This is a practice that must end.
“Individuals and businesses in Moray have suffered from these rip-off charges for too long and I hope sooner rather than later couriers will realise they are punishing loyal customers simply for where they live and that is grossly unfair and completely unacceptable.”