Scots’ postcode rip-off

THOUSANDS of Scots face paying a postcode penalty if they do their Christmas shopping online.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) says a million Scots live in areas which must pay extra for delivery.

Islanders have faced this for years but the problem has extended to swathes of the mainland, across the Highlands, Moray, Perthshire and Aberdeenshire.

Nina Ballantyne from CAS said on average delivery charges could be at least 30 per cent higher than for other areas of the UK.

Nationalist MSP for Moray Richard Lochhead called for new legislation after a constituent was quoted a £60 delivery charge for a £8.99 item. But the UK Government department for business and industrial strategy said delivery fees should remain a ‘commercial matter’.