MSP condemns companies over rural delivery charges 20/12/11
SNP MSP Alasdair Allan, has welcomed the intervention of Citizens Advice Scotland in the long running complaint that some companies either refuse to deliver to the islands or charge extortionate surcharges to do so.
Alasdair Allan commented: “Citizens Advice Scotland has published a report which confirms what many of us in island areas already knew – namely that many companies are behaving unreasonably towards customers in rural areas.
“The report emphasises that the Royal Mail charges the same rate for parcels to be delivered anywhere in the UK, but companies still choose to penalise people in the islands because of their address, either using extortionate courier services from the mainland or refuse to except that the HS postcode exists at all.
“For smaller items, as CAS have confirmed, there is simply no reason why these could not simply be put in the post.
“I have written to CAS asking if they have information on companies which have specifically refused to deliver to the Western Isles and will be contacting the companies involved directly.
“People in the islands who have their own complaints should not hesitate to get in touch and I will pursue in these with the companies concerned.”