Registered post delivered to someone else

[beanzo79]

Hey guys

Thought it worthwhile sharing this story, the latest in what I see on these forums is a long line of mistakes made by various postal agencies here and abroad.

Note that AP are currently investigating my claim, and I await the outcome of that investigation before deciding my next move, whether it be the ombudsman, a solicitor and/or VCAT.

I purchased an expensive camera ($2700) from a seller before Christmas (12th December). I requested that the seller provide me with insurance and registered post for the item.

Since that time, the item has been missing in action- the seller has not responded to my emails and I opened a dispute with Paypal. Paypal investigated, and found in the seller's favour because she was able to provide them with a tracking number that shows the item was delivered. I had been requesting this information from the seller for some time however she would only supply it to Paypal. Paypal provided me with the tracking information from the seller, and I was able to confirm through the Australia Post website the the item was indeed delivered.

Headed down to the AP outlet to check that the item was there as I had not received a note in the mailbox- customer service rep informed me that the item had been delivered and was signed for by someone called "M Harris'. Clearly not me! This confused both the AP customer servioce rep and me when I showed her my drivers licence (with signature) that is not in the name of M Harris.

At this point, AP have not stated where the item was delivered, why it was delivered to and signed for by someone who is not me, nor can they tell me of the seller had paid for the insurance that I requested (and paid extra for) during the transaction.

So far I have learnt:

1- Buyer protection from paypal only works if they are able to claim to refund from the buyer- in this case, because they can see the item was delivered to my suburb, they are satisfied that the seller is not at fault (regardless of whether she has put the correct address on the parcel, or if she paid for the insurance that I requested) and regardless of whether I have actually received the item. In effect is it not buyer protection at all

2- that someone with a different name is able to sign for post that is registered to someone else

3- that AP will not provide me with a copy of the signature for 'M Harris' that they have on file- they requested (and I provided) a copy of my signature, I assume so they can compare the handwriting to establish that it is not mine

4- that AP cannot, or are unwilling to, provide me with insurance details for the item that was sent.

I eagerly await the result of the AP investigation and will keep people informed of the outcome. Hopefully there are some leassons we can all learn out of this!

[digital*ghost]

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@beanzo79 wrote:

Knine- not sure the terminology that I used to request insurance is so important- the important thing is that the seller quoted me the required rate for it (be it insurance, extra cover etc). Here is the email she replied with when I request insurancece/extra cover

I think it is pretty unequivocal that I was asking for the right thing. I did not ever refer to 'registered post' i asked for 'signature on delivery' and insurance. Perhaps I should have used the term 'extra cover' but I wouldn't think that would preclude me from a valid claim?

Hi beanzo

I understand your concern for any damages during transit. The camera itself will be place inside the original box it came in. I willbubble wrap the box and put it inside Parcel Post 5kg Satchel. I have not bought the satchel yet. Was going to do it at the post office so i am unsure if the box is too big to be placed inside it with bubble wrap but that was my plan. Since i have not bought the satchel yet. If you like i can bubble wrap the original box and place it in a bigger box? i have alot of empty used boxes at home. i never throw them out whenever i shop online.

The price of package insure is posted on Australia post website. Here is the link http://auspost.com.au/parcels-mail/optional-extras-domestic.html
says
$1.50 per $100 of your item's value (or part thereof); and
You must add $2.95 for Signature on Delivery if your item is valued above $300.

so that works out to be an extra $40.

Let me know what you want to do.

- all_XXXX

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That to me suggests it is very unlikely they (or the post office they used) had a stock of registered stickers and used one for a camera being sent in a satchel - that is, they indicated they went to the post office to purchase everything required to post the camera which makes it much more likely (if they did as they indicated) that a Parcel post / SOD service would have been purchased and therefore reflected in the tracking number. A satchel will show on AP tracking as "Parcel Post", but I'm not sure what it will say if SOD is added, but I'm pretty sure that signature on delivery codes are a bit different to Registered codes, in terms of the numerals used, but it would be better for someone who has used SOD frequently enough to confirm that (reg post stickers I have, now exclusively for large letters in which it's impossible to post a boxed camera, have always started with 53).

If someone can confirm that SOD tracking numbers for parcels have a specific set of numerals assigned to them and the tracking number provided to PayPal doesn't match a parcel/SOD, it may be enough to convince PayPal that a bogus number was used. 

[green-gifts-mkd]

In my experience, SoD labels scan as 'Parcel Post' (label covers the assigned preprinted number on the bag), but a 'Registered Post' label could also have been incorrectly used (also covers the assigned preprinted number on the bag). Registered post numbers can be quite random. I have labels here starting with 49..., and others starting with 51...They have 12 digits.

But the scanning system can identify this. In any case, the paperwork for the 50 odd dollars gained for postage needs to be produced by the seller.

[digital*ghost]

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@green-gifts-mkd wrote:

In my experience, SoD labels scan as 'Parcel Post' (label covers the assigned preprinted number on the bag), but a 'Registered Post' label could also have been incorrectly used (also covers the assigned preprinted number on the bag). Registered post numbers can be quite random. I have labels here starting with 49..., and others starting with 51...They have 12 digits.

But the scanning system can identify this. In any case, the paperwork for the 50 odd dollars gained for postage needs to be produced by the seller.

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Cheers for that info, and I agree re: the postage paperwork.

Beanzo, if PayPal insist that their Proof of Postage requirements were satisfied, then I think a complaint to the BFSO would probably be worth a shot. A tracking number can come from anywhere - if the seller hasn't provided any documentation whatsoever to prove they even paid for that tracking number (such as a receipt, which would better indicate the service(s) used), I would contest the decision that it is valid Proof of Shipping.  

[tstore]

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 i have alot of empty used boxes at home. i never throw them out whenever i shop online

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Anyone find it strange that for someone who buys so much stuff online that they have empty unused boxes at home, has 0 feedback on eBay?

[imastawka]

Weeell,  wouldn't be the first person to try and keep selling

and buying accounts separate,would it?

But, then, they have disappeared

[amber-eyed-girl]

The empty boxes wouldn't red flag them to me, I buy online off-eBay and if the boxes are clean and could be useful, don't throw them out immediately...but an expensive item from a low volume (or no volume) seller would cause me to move on.

But then, I have been burned on eBay and learnt a few lessons.

I wouldn't at this point try to personally chase the M Harris who may or may not have the camera.

If you call them, and they have it, they'll say they don't. Otherwise they would have been honest and returned it to AP.

If they don't have it, they'll say they don't. Will you believe them? should you believe them? You see the problem.

If they have it, they are likely to get rid of it if they get a call out of the blue from the real owner, if they haven't sold it already.

If you think you know who they are, with a good degree of certainty, hand that information (and everything else) over to the police to handle it.

[blakesus]

amber, M Harris won't have the camera because it simply doesn't exist. All OP wants to find out is if M Harris has received an unexpected package recently which will obviously assist in reaching a positive resolution either with Paypal or the police.

[amber-eyed-girl]

The camera being non-existent is pretty certain, as the seller has gone, BUT it may be a real camera sent to another address...until it's proven one way or another this is all speculation. Not likely I agree.

The cops should contact them, M Harris might not want to talk to some stranger who calls up about stolen goods...the cops have a better shot. They will ask the same thing but officially.

Call the cops and let them deal with it. That gets a crime number, which could have a bit of weight with Paypal.

[amber-eyed-girl]

The trouble is Paypal believes (in terms of their regulations) a real camera was sent.

Unless AP is willing to investigate this thoroughly, down to asking the driver/postie (which they can do if they feel like it, as they would know the delivery centres en route) what the parcel was, Paypal is likely to stick by it's decision unless the police get involved.

Drivers remember more than you'd think about deliveries if questioned, but I know, another long shot.

Providing Paypal with an official declaration from AP stating that the tracking number could not be used on a camera parcel could also be worth doing.

[beanzo79]

Bingo

Just spoke to one of the many Harris' in my Suburb- low and behold they received a weird registered post LETTER before christmas addressed to miss Harris and sent from marrickville, NSW.

Will post more later on, but heading over there to pick it up now.