Legal rights over Australia Post and couriers just leaving a card

Query:

I’m having a constant and annoying downside with parcel deliveries. I get quite a lot of deliveries to my house tackle as I run a small aspect hustle.

Nonetheless, my enterprise is being impacted by what can solely be described as lazy supply folks. I’m house all day each day, but I get numerous notes in my mailbox stating: “We tried to ship however you weren’t house.”

That is frequent with Australia Submit and personal couriers – they’re all doing it.

Extra not too long ago, I’ve simply been getting texts from non-public couriers to say parcels have been taken to the put up workplace or a store for me to fetch – not even a notice to show they have been within the space.

I pay for supply however I then find yourself going round selecting up my parcels from numerous places which could be as a lot as a 50-minute stroll away.

As soon as I’ve paid for postage is there any obligation for them to carry it to my tackle and attempt to ship it by ringing my doorbell? – Anna, Victoria

Reply:

Sadly, you’re not the one individual impacted by this Anna. Should you have a look at on-line boards there are numerous folks complaining about this observe, often known as ‘carding’.

The excellent news is that you are able to do one thing about it.

As a primary step, you may complain to Australia Submit and the opposite non-public courier corporations, setting out:

1. All of the dates you may have been ‘carded’

2. Affirmation you have been house on the time

3. Whether or not the gadgets have been time-sensitive, similar to remedy

4. How lengthy it took you to gather every merchandise

5. The price of the supply

6. Any motion you’d like them to take (similar to an apology, a dedication to make sure it doesn’t occur once more, or a refund of postage prices)

The grievance must be in writing, and ensure you make a copy.

It’s also price offering a duplicate of your grievance to the provider of the products being delivered so they’re conscious of the poor service being offered by the courier corporations they’re utilizing.

The Workplace of the Commonwealth Ombudsman can examine complaints about 4 totally different postal operators: Australia Submit, StarTrack, Cheque-Mates, and D&D Mailing Providers.

The Ombudsman service is free and neutral.

The Australian Client Legislation supplies shopper ensures which additionally apply to the supply of parcels by Australia Submit and personal couriers, apart from deliveries of products for the aim of a enterprise, commerce, occupation or occupation.

These shopper ensures require that the service shall be rendered with due care and ability, which incorporates parcels being delivered to the situation the place they’re addressed.

If after making a grievance to the courier firm there is no such thing as a enchancment, the corporate doesn’t reply, or they take retaliatory motion – similar to refusing to ship to you in any respect – then you may make an software to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for an injunction to cease the behaviour or for compensation.

In February 2022, Australia Submit was required to pay compensation of greater than $3000 in the same state of affairs as yours the place the purchaser was spending half-hour every week gathering gadgets that weren’t delivered accurately.

You can too make an software to VCAT for points with deliveries of products for companies.

For additional data, search particular authorized recommendation.

This authorized data is common in nature and shouldn’t be considered particular authorized recommendation or relied upon. Individuals requiring explicit authorized recommendation ought to seek the advice of a solicitor.

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