what should I do??

[Leebert]

I sold some radio gear on BMFA just after the post strike finished (about 11th october) but the package hasn't arrived.
The chap has asked for a refund and I am going to claim through the royal mail. Question is... should I pay the guy now or wait until the Royal Mail pay up?
The total refund isn't much (less than £20) but I have proof of posting and have done everything in good faith.
Has anyone claimed from thr Royal Mail? Was it sucessful?
Thanks,

[jiberjaber]

I would wait till you get teh money from RM, it isnt like ebay where your going to risk neg feedback and they could be trying it on, in which case you end up 20 quid down and they have a new bit of kit for free!

[AGW]

If you sent it "Recorded Delivery" or "Special Delivery" you should have a tracking number. What does it say on the Royal Mail website when you put it in?

Go throught this and seee how you get on.

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/c...authentication

I have heard it can take a while to get your money back whilst they investigate the issue! I have never had to claim myself it's just what i've heard.

If you have sent it through a service which has offers a compensation scheme then you should have no issue getting your money back. So it depends if your happy to stand the £20 until royal mail pay up!

Personally I would give the guy his money back and then cliam through royal mail.

Just my 2p

Cheers

Andy

[Nutz]

I would do as AGW says.

If you did not send it record or special delivery then apologies and tell the buyer they will have to wait until the Royal Mail refund you or complete there investigation as you are also out of pocket until then.

I think the Royal Mail investigation takes a fair while though and is a pain in the Royal Ass.

I always send stuff Recorded no matter how little the value is, that way it is automatically insured up to £30.

[Leebert]

It wasn't sent special or recorded - just first class with a proof of posting certificate. According to the Royal Mail website, with proof of posting I am insured to a maximum of £34. I have put in a claim today so I'll see how that goes.
As for the buyer, I'm in two minds... If I were him, I'd expect the money back. But, I have a proof of posting, done everything in good faith and it's not a massive amount of cash and think I should pay him once I've been paid.
Hmmm... decisions, decisions

[AGW]

Unfortunately mate that's a moral decision

I suppose you are only out of pocket for the postage cost from a cash perspective, as it's one of your assets which is now missing!

But the guy has now paid for an item which he has not received, all be it there is no blame on either side.

I personally would still give they guy his money back as a good will gesture. Unless you can come to an agreement with him to wait until Royal Mail have paid up.

Andy

[chipbury]

It's very difficult to get the Royal Mail to accept liability for anything unless it's signed for. They even put a 'while you were out' card through our letterbox once and when i went to collect the parcel they had lost it! They said it wasn't there fault so no compensation. Bunch of w*****s.

For future reference it would be best to post 'signed for' this costs 70p on top of the first or second class postage and requires a signature from the receiving person. After being caught out on ebay by a couple of halfwits i only send 'signed for now'.

[Sesame]

Ive dealt with alot of carriers inc royal mail re claims, their insurance departments will do EVERYTHING in their power not to pay out.

unfortunately for you Royal mail is one of the slowest companies to respond to anything, I think its about 15 days missing before they will even consider a parcel is missing and I think from memory you could be looking at 28days for a claim responce.

if its only 20 quid and your not too hard up the nice thing to do would be to refund his money.

[Ade_Law]

first thing you need to do is find out if its been signed for. they should be eble to tell you this over the phone instantly.

Ade

[Guest]

If it's not a signed for item, the other person could be pulling a fast one!!!
You have proof of posting, send him the copy and wait for the outcome from RM