This topic was closed on 2019-03-08. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 2019-03-08. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/08/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/08/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

This topic was closed on 03/08/19. If you have a problem which is similar to the issues raised in this topic, then please start a new thread and you will get help and support there. If you would like to post up some information which is relevant to this particular topic then please flag the issue up to the site team and the thread will be reopened. - Consumer Action Group

Update: 4th parcel now missing

Thanks to those people who have offered support/advice, it's much appreciated. Buzby: If my stock set on fire I would expect my insurers to cover the cost of my stock - NOT what I could potentially sell it for - I wouldn't expect fire insurers to pay out for what I had already sold in previous weeks/months!? When RM accept a parcel from me they merely ask if the item is worth more than £39, they never tell me that I am only "insured" up to the value that I paid for the item. I have just returned from holiday to find that I have now got a 3rd parcel missing and I am now considering referring the matter to the police. I find it very difficult to believe that 3 parcels in the space of a month can simply get "lost" I now have two more quieries regarding these claims if anyone has any knowledge from experience that may help me: 1) what do I do about sending RM the original proof of value that they require - my accountant needs the originals for my bookeeping/accounts. I have sent a copy of the original to RM for the first parcel so I guess I will find out and will hold fire on the other claims until I know their response to the copy. 2) what documentation do I provide to RM if I am unable to provide a receipt (this 3rd missing parcel was purchased well over 12 months ago and my accountant will have the receipt along with hundreds of other pieces of paper/receipts that I have passed onto him and it would be a HUGE job to sift through it all not to mention time consuming) With regards to me seeming "totally irrational" I would appreciate you taking a moment to see things from my point of view - I work very hard to support myself and my family. I am honest and trusting. I came here for some advice and support and yes to have a rant about RM but I would prefer you to express your opinions of me in a more respectful manner.

I wasn't hoping to profiteer from my claim - I had already made my legal, honest and legitimate profit through my sale which I have now lost. I certainally did not set up my business 4 years ago based on a business plan which gave me earnings/income/wage from Royal Mail claims. It seems that I have to accept the fact that Royal Mail are lawfully stealing from me. In my eyes they are no better than a shoplifter in a high street store. I shall be seeking alternative ways to deliver my goods to my customers. Royal Mail are an absolute disgrace.

Hi PF, Thanks for your reply, I'm bumping this thread as you suggested

Hi everyone, I could do with some advice about problems with Royal Mail please. I'm registered as a business seller on ebay and in recent weeks (at time of postal strikes) I have had 2 parcels go missing. A few days ago I put in a claim for the first parcel/item with a value of £16 (excluding postage costs) I submitted the claim form and enclosed a copy of the proof of postage, a copy of the item page and a copy of the Pay Pal payment. I have already refunded the buyer in full. Today I got a letter from Royal Mail telling me they can only reimburse me what I have paid for the goods and they require a purchase invoice or receipt - not a problem I have one...BUT...I feel this is VERY unfair. The item cost me £6 to purchase so I had made a profit of £10 on that item and Royal Mail are in my opinion taking away my income. I am a single mum and I rely wholly on ebay for an income to feed my family and pay my bills. I entrusted Royal Mail to deliver that parcel and they have failed to so. How would someone at Royal Mail like it if I decided to withold £10 of their wage?? I really am very, very annoyed about this and I intend to seek advice from Trading Standards but I was wondering if anyone else either felt as strongly as me about this or if anyone else had discussed or raised this issue with Royal Mail? I am about to submit my second claim form, it's for an item that cost me £10 that I sell for £39 thus giving me a £29 profit (again, I have already refunded the buyer in full) - if Royal Mail will not pay out the market value for that item either, they will have in effect taken a total of £39 of my income away from me through a loss of two parcels I have also incurred other costs (packaging materials) postage costs, not to mention the amount of time it takes to communicate with buyers and process refunds and fill in the claim forms! Does anyone know if there are any legal issues regarding this matter as I would be more than willing to take Royal Mail to the small claims court for my loss of earnings. I've got a bee in my bonnet now and I won't rest until I take them on... Thanks for your time, it's much appreciated, I know so many people put in so much of their time and expertise to help out the underdog on this site xx

Yes and I have the original copy plus debit card receipt etc. The "contract" only states that the deposit payment is not refundable if I withdraw from sale...I did not withdraw from the sale they broke the contract

Hello everyone, I'm looking for some advice regarding a refund of my deposit paid to a dealer on a used car - someone must know more than me... I travelled a 250 mile round trip to view a car that I had seen on the internet as it was exactly what I was looking for. After a test drive etc I paid a deposit on my debit card and agreed to collect the vehicle in a week. Three days later I received a telephone call from the sales "executive" to say that there was a problem with the car and that they would have to send it to a dealership for repairs, they didn't know how long the repairs would take, it would be costly and that when the car was returned to them they would have to put a higher price tag on the car etc and therefore they were withdrawing form the sale. I was told they would send a cheque to me for the full refund of my deposit plus an extra £20 to cover my fuel costs. No cheque has arrived so I contacted them this morning to enquire what was happening with my refund. I was told by the same sales person that cheque may or may not have been posted and that the company owner would call me back. I got the owner's number and tried to call but was put through to same sales person again who told me that the owner's phone must be on divert and they would get the owner to phone me. I have heard nothing. I get the feeling that I am being fobbed off by a dodgey dealer. I have tried to get as much info together as possible on this company but so far have only come up with a website that is available through Autotrader, they don't appear to have their own...I have 3 telephone numbers and sales person's name plus the first name of the owner. I feel that I should now be putting a letter together requesting my refund so that if it does not materialise I can follow it with an LBA. Any advice/info or similar experiences to share would be helpful, THANKS

For anyone that is interested in overcoming the same problem as me regarding displaying your address: I have spoken to my accountant who says that any 3rd party address is OK (ie my mum or a friend) however I am still not happy about that so he is considering if I am able to display his office address. He says there are ways around this and he will get back to me so I will keep you updated. I agree with Paintball that small local ads in shops can work for larger bulky items (and some smaller ones too) however I need to reach a wider audience, especially with some more specialist items and I have too much to shift through local paper and shop ads...

I'm only a (tiny) sole trader. I will have to ask accountant in the morning, though I have a feeling the answer may well be "No" as they are quite a large firm and will have far more important, time consuming things to do other than forward me bits of mail to the likes of me, but it's worth an ask because that does seem one way round it for me..