Call for fair delivery charges for rural areas 5/3/14
Businesses should do more to reassure customers in rural and remote parts of Scotland that they will not suffer disproportionate delivery charges said Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing.
Mr Ewing and Trisha McAuley, Scottish director watchdog Consumer Futures have written jointly to retailers across the UK.
The correspondence follows last year’s launch of the Parcel Delivery Working Group which was established by Consumers Futures and the Scottish Government to set up a code of conduct for the industry.
The letters ask businesses to set out how they will ensure people are not discriminated against for living in rural areas.
A Statement of Principles – agreed by industry, government, trading standards and
consumer groups -
Fergus Ewing said: “Although the principles are voluntary we believe they will help to support businesses and reduce the number of customers who abandon purchases at the last minute because they find out the cost of delivery.
“It is not acceptable to hear reports of customers in the Highlands and Islands experiencing excessive charges, being refused delivery and being misled by the term ‘free delivery.’
“The Scottish Government, together with Consumer Futures, is committed to ensuring the parcels delivery market in Scotland works in the interests of both consumers and business.
“We would encourage retailers to take on board these guidelines and in turn customers, particularly in the Highlands and Islands, will receive a fairer service and abidance by their adoption of these guidelines online retailers will show respect for their customers.
“By sending out these letters I am reinforcing the message that delivery pricing policies should not discriminate against customers on the basis of their location.”
Trisha McAuley, Director for Scotland at Consumer Futures said: “21st century delivery
services for our online purchases would be a win-
“The new principles are a good example of different sectors working together to identify
best practice in delivery services. Many of the problems consumers face could be
avoided if retailers adopt the principles in their business practices.
“Consumers
in Scotland should be able to take heart that there are industry agreed principles
out there, but retailers now need to demonstrate their commitment to customers and
say how they plan to roll-