Delivery giants told to stop leaving Christmas parcels on doorsteps

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1. The Government is investigating concerns over parcels being abandoned on doorsteps by delivery drivers, where they are easily stolen or lost, *The i Paper* can reveal.

   A business and trade minister described the practice of abandoning packages on doorsteps, rather than in a designated safe space, as “unacceptable”.

   And it is understood [Business Secretary Peter Kyle](https://inews.co.uk/news/world/uk-will-not-forget-ai-safety-while-looking-for-growth-says-minister-3476287?srsltid=AfmBOooI8DsbQNM0wkam-1myhEsBvYJlq7296Ehv62zYbaWbWdEtNJuO&ico=in-line_link) has ordered his department to look into this issue – with particular concerns over complaints about Evri and other delivery companies ramping up over the [Christmas ](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/people/christmas-day-walks-people-alone-joy-4118876?ico=in-line_link)period.

   Ofcom, which is responsible for regulating delivery companies, is also planning to write to operators in the final days before Christmas telling them to reduce the number of parcels being left, *The i Paper* understands.

   A Government source said: “Ordering gifts online is such a big part of Christmas shopping for most of us and bad service is just not good enough.”

   Kyle is “concerned that customers and businesses who use these services are protected and has asked officials to look into this issue”, the source added.

   Charlotte Nichols, the Labour MP for Warrington North, posed a written parliamentary question to the Government asking what “discussions [the minister] has had with Evri and other delivery companies on leaving parcels unattended on doorsteps”.

   Responding, junior business and trade minister Blair McDougall said: “It is unacceptable for delivery companies to leave parcels unattended on doorsteps where that has not been requested by a customer.”

   He made the point that Evri, and other parcel delivery companies, were “independent businesses” with the Government not taking any operational role in their running.

   “Ofcom is the independent regulator for the postal sector with the responsibility and powers to regulate postal services,” he added. “Ofcom engages regularly with all parcel operators to understand their approach to implementation of, and compliance with, its consumer protection measures.”

   # ‘Porch pirates costing millions a year’

   Speaking to *The i Paper*, Nichols said her question was prompted by her own experience losing a parcel as well as the issue repeatedly being raised by constituents.

   “It is not just Evri but they certainly seem to be the one I get the most complaints about. We have a process where the delivery people are often not paid well or are paid per delivery and have a quick turnaround, which perhaps incentivises this. Its bad all round for everyone – those delivering, those receiving and retailers,” she said.

   “I saw reports about so-called ‘porch pirates’ [people who steal unattended parcels] costing millions a year in theft of packages, and ultimately that ends up being paid by the retailers and there is no way that is not then being handed on to consumers.

   “I think a bit of a steer from the Government, saying this is not acceptable and we need you to do better, will give the industry a push to improve standards.”

2. Not just leaving them there but also too lazy to ring the doorbell or knock.

3. When a huge proportion of them have to work at the speed of light just to earn minimum wage i am not surprised. Especially with Christmas traffic, must be a nightmare of a job this time of year. We made much more effort to go out and buy gifts this year, we are really trying to reduce our reliance on the internet, supporting local businesses instead.

4. I have much sympathy for Amazon drivers who face a lot of intense pressure to deliver on time. But with awful companies like EVRI who do nothing seemingly to clamp down on bad delivery people, I do my best to avoid any company who uses them. I usually double check the delivery section on a website’s FAQs to be sure.

5. Not going to happen. Lots of parcels on rounds (especially this time of year), low price per delivery and pressures from management to meet KPIs by almost any means.

6. Would be nice if they stopped faking signatures too

7. But I want them to leave it there if I’m not home. The whole point of having it delivered is so I don’t have to spend time getting it for myself.

8. This is 100% the company’s fault for giving their drivers an unrealistic workload

9. Delivery companies have absolutely created this problem themselves with shady hiring practices and even shadier work ethics in how they treat their workers. It’s all about time Vs packages delivered. I’ve shopped with Amazon for well over a decade and had no issues, but within the last year or so the delivery standards have become a fucking joke.

   From not even ringing the doorbell or knocking on the door – to leaving the package with a neighbour and saying I SIGNED FOR IT. To straight up leaving it at a random house nearby. I’ve also had things that should require a signature like alcohol, knives, even Airsoft pistols just left in the doorstep. I’ve had to complain to Amazon twice about the driver straight up lying and saying “handed to owner” when they just left it on my neighbour’s doorstep.

10. When letters became a thing the letter box was invented.

    Why isnt a parcel bin a mandatory thing yet? If you purchase online you should have to have a parcel bin with a one way parcel drop off system that has a locked door at the back. Simple fix that solves almost everything that goes wrong now.

11. Anyone else picturing literal giants throwing parcels around?

12. I saw someone make the point in another discussion that Evri’s insurance is ~5% of the value of the package, which either means:

    -They’re losing 1 in 20 packages, which is ludicrously high.

    Or:

    -They lose fewer packages than that, but are fleecing customers by making huge profit margins on an insurance service that is only necessary because of their own shitty business practices.

    Either way it leaves a bad taste.

13. The last package I had delivered was left on the doorstep of the wrong building, in the pissing rain, and disappeared.

    I was told that it wasn’t Parcelforce’s problem, as once the package is delivered they have no further responsibility for it.

    Their evidence for delivery was a photo of it sitting very clearly on the wrong doorstep getting soaked, but they were adamant that this was now a me problem.

    Luckily, one of my neighbours found it in a side street, opened up and scattered about, but the thieves had clearly decided there was nothing in it they fancied and left it all.

14. Is it the individual delivery people at fault? No the company gives them more than they can do properly

    Is it right to leave them? Also no.

    All we can do to fix this issue is keep reporting items as not delivered when it happens, that costs the company money and eventually they’ll realise that it costs less to just pay employees to do their job properly.

15. In which language 

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