Ross leads UK Parliamentary debate on delivery charges
UK Minister announces Green Paper will look at this issue
LOCAL MP Douglas Ross told the UK Parliament today it would be cheaper for him to buy a seat on an aircraft to get festive gifts home to his family in Moray, rather than pay over the odds for delivery charges, which he said is the ridiculous situation that customers living in the north of Scotland are faced with as they are being ripped-off by charges being imposed on them by some companies.
Douglas was speaking in a debate which he led in the Westminster Hall today, where he gave examples of customers being charged exorbitant amounts for delivery, including some choosing to buy from companies in Spain and Germany as it was cheaper delivery.
“Unfair delivery charges to Scotland are not new,” said Douglas. “This despicable practice of hiking up prices to deliver to mainland UK has been going on for too long and people are fed up.”
He added: “Too many people are being ripped off purely because they happen to live where they do. We are part of the mainland UK here in Moray and delivery companies are just putting on a surcharge without proper investigation. It is bad enough people have to pay over the odds at Christmas, but this is something that goes on all year round and we need to put a stop to it.”
“It’s time to end the parcel rip-off, it’s time to deliver the message loud and clear to the companies who impose these charges, and we can deliver a Christmas boost to Moray and to Scotland by calling time on this deplorable behaviour.”
“I welcome the true cross-party approach to tackling this injustice, to calling out the unscrupulous companies who think they can treat the North as second class citizens and highlight this shoddy behaviour for what it truly is – an inexcusable rip-off to consumers in Moray and Scotland.”
Douglas added: “I have already received a firm commitment from the Minister that she would do everything she could to end the problem and the debate today has seen firm evidence from all parties, which should enable the Government to act.
“I very much welcome the fact that the Minister has given a commitment today to ensure a fair deal for customers by asking the Consumer Protection Partnership to investigate the evidence and consider further proposals to see what can be done to protect remote “communities from any unfair postal charges.
“I am delighted that the Minister announced in the debate that the Government will consult further on this issue and that a Consumer Green Paper will be coming forward next year to see how businesses treat customers, which will include delivery charges. This is a major step forward for our campaign.”
Douglas added: “Those of us who live in Moray know we are lucky to live here, but we shouldn’t be penalised for choosing to live here as we are with these delivery charges.”