Delivery fee ‘rip-offs’ reported to watchdog

MORE than 100 companies have been reported to the advertising watchdog after a campaign against unfair delivery charges.

Nationalist MSP Richard Lochhead submitted a dossier to the Advertising Standards Authority and Trading Standards Scotland with information about complaints relating to 124 firms.

He is spearheading a drive against ‘eye-watering’ fees for deliveries to rural areas and disclosed that he had received more than 2,000 complaints.

The Scottish Daily Mail launched its End The Delivery Rip-Offs campaign last year and the UK Government pledged to tackle the problem.

Mr Lochhead, MSP for Moray, said he compiled details of 401 complaints from the public where enough relevant information had been given to

‘Ridiculous and completely unfair’

allow further investigation. Of these, 236 gripes related to 85 companies which advertised either free delivery or free mainland UK delivery but later charged an additional fee. A further 63 named 11 firms where delivery to mainland UK was advertised – but did not include parts of Scotland. Other customers were told their address was offshore.

Mr Lochhead said: ‘It is ridiculous and completely unfair... What really angers consumers is when companies advertise free delivery across the whole UK but then say this doesn’t apply if you live in the Highlands. That would appear to be a clear case of false advertising and I hope that the Advertising Standards Authority take action.’

Citizens Advice Scotland spokesman Kristin Hartman said: ‘Extra delivery charges should be justifiable. Online retailers need to be accurate and transparent with information they provide.’