I hate Parcel Force!

Posted on November 8th, 2005 at 10:59 am

Their website is still saying their expected delivery date of my parcel is yesterday, the 7th of November.

There is also no way to talk to a representative on the phone, it’s 100% automated.

Half an hour after sending them an eMail they reply by telling me about what part of their website I need to use to answer my query. Sorry, I didn’t see the “Can you please tell me where my f***ing parcel is!!” button.

Whenever I get a parcel delivered by CityLink I’m always amazed at their efficiency. So looks like I have to wait inside all day today too.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 8th, 2005 at 10:59 am and is filed under UK News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

369 comments so far.

  • i ended up driving to Fuc*king to Crawley at midnight once to pick up a parcel they couldn’t manage to deliver, when i got to Crawley the guy said ‘”your going to kill me , it’s not here , i thought it was, can you come back tommorow” ..

  • Gavin Ayling says:

    And the depot in Crawley’s not even south Crawley! It wouldn’t be funny if I didn’t drive…

  • KingOfMyCastle says:

    This 24 Hour Parcel Force:
    08-11-2005 00:51 Gatwick Depot Out for delivery
    07-11-2005 01:33 Gatwick Depot Out for delivery
    05-11-2005 05:23 Gatwick Depot Arrived at delivery depot
    05-11-2005 00:48 National Hub Sorted in hub

    Other page is still saying it will be delivered on the 7th. No sign so far today – another wasted day!!

  • KingOfMyCastle says:

    Still no parcel. But its ‘Out for delivery’ again today! Will it be another wasted day indoors?

    Parcel Force have not replied so I’ve eMailed Dabs.com, the suppliers telling them that due to Parcel Force I may not be using them again.

    09-11-2005 00:54 Gatwick Depot Out for delivery
    08-11-2005 23:14 Gatwick Depot Arrived at delivery depot

  • Gavin Ayling says:

    I’ve stopped using Dabs – they’re just a little worse at providing better prices and customer service – ebuyer and play get my business mostly now…

  • KingOfMyCastle says:

    Dabs used to be the business. I last used them over two years ago and they were brilliant. But I may not use them again.

    Had a look at the item I’m waiting for – Plextor PX-716A – and its over a tenner more expensive at eBuyer so it couldn’t compete with price. But I’d pay the extra tenner if it turned up on time.

  • KingOfMyCastle says:

    It’s arrived!! I can finally leave the house, after I burn some new DVDs of course.

    Just for the record it arrived at 14:35 – Wednesday 9th.

  • i suggest having a good ole wazz over it!

    j.

  • KingOfMyCastle says:

    Words of wisdom, as ever.

  • dancinfairy says:

    Hint for future parcelforce issues if you have any. The service we use is automated but voice activated. If you say nothing when asked then they put you through to a real person. The number I use is 08708 501150. I do this a lot at work and they have rightly earned the title Parcelfarce.

  • snedger says:

    Hello
    Just googled here on “parcelforce gatwick depot”.
    My parcel has been out for delivery 3 times, which is more than I get out, no knock on the door and no card. Getting worried, so phoned and the guy gave me the Romford depot number! A nice guy at Romford is trying to get me the Gatwick direct number, but he was going to call back in 2 minutes about half and hour ago.
    The parcels been out 3 times, but according to the Parcelfarce person not once has the system been updated to say what happened. Main reason I’m worried is that he parcel is a rather fragile Opteron CPU and I do not want that bouncing around day after day in some delivery van.
    You could do what Julian suggested, but I would recommend using cleaning fluids specifically designed for the purpose.
    Citilink are good, but I live near Brighton and it’s a long way to go all the way to Crawley to pick up. At least in the end with Parcelfarce if they actually stick a card through your door, you can nominate a Post Office to go to pick up.
    Cheers
    snedger

  • leanne haynes says:

    lost four parcels of laminate flooring. USELESS. Please do not use this company. Cant get through on phone on hold for at least an hour.

  • KingOfMyCastle says:

    Yeah, I’m boycotting any firm that uses them now. They still haven’t got back to me, weeks later.

  • Peter Orwell says:

    Parcelforce are TOTALLY USELESS!!! Its taken 9 days for me NOT TO RECEIVE MY PARCEL. Its a mystery how they can be this totally inept. Use anyone but ParcelForce!!! If you want to get through to the Managing Directors Office here is the number: 01908 687249

    29-11-2005 00:09 Gatwick Depot Out for delivery
    28-11-2005 05:06 Gatwick Depot Out for delivery
    28-11-2005 01:53 Gatwick Depot Arrived at delivery depot
    25-11-2005 09:01 Gatwick Depot Out for delivery
    24-11-2005 23:24 Gatwick Depot Out for delivery
    23-11-2005 02:27 Gatwick Depot Out for delivery
    23-11-2005 00:08 Gatwick Depot Arrived at delivery depot
    22-11-2005 18:55 Gatwick Depot Automatic redelivery
    22-11-2005 18:55 Gatwick Depot Returned to depot
    22-11-2005 00:59 Gatwick Depot Out for delivery

  • KingOfMyCastle says:

    Thanks for the info. Some people have been finding this page through Google and now they have the number to ring, cheers!

    JK..

  • A Very useful Phone Number. Especially after spending 4 hours on hold trying to pay a duty charge on a parcel!.
    Thanks
    RP

  • R Qumbers says:

    I was informed that I needed to pay VAT on a a parcel held for me at Gatwick by Parcel Force. I called their number (shown on the card 0870 0844 525 ) – the first time 6/12/2005 for 30 minutes – No response , apart from an annoying repeating message telling me there would be someone with me shortly. Again on the 7/12/2005 – I called for 40 minutes – same result. I then called customer services who assured me that someone would call me back – No response. I called again on 8/12/2005 and 9/12/2005 for 35 and 45 minutes respectively —- and guess what – still no response apart from the same annoying pre-recorded message. Thanks to this site I have now called the manaing directors office – about time Wtachdog and other consumer groups are broght to bear on this bunch of cowboys.

  • Matt says:

    Parcel Force/Amazon have now officially ruined xmas. Parcel Force is shite and I love the fact that you are the first hit on any serach for them, I found their number using your blog, not through any of the offical links which aim to obscure any real information getting out. I will boycott Amazon and Parcel force from now on and just use my local…what is it called again…yes thats it shop!

    One silver lining in all this is that I found your blog, as a brighton-based self confessed geek, how could I fail to like it?

  • KingOfMyCastle says:

    Hi Matt, hope you stay around for an occasional look at the site!

    And just to repeat. If you want to contact the Gatwick depot of Parcel Force then use this number: 08708 501150

  • KingOfMyCastle says:

    Oh and the Managing Director is on: 01908 687249 (thanks Peter).

  • Simon Turner says:

    I guess if you are reading this you have already experienced the apalling ParcelForce service. If you haven’t but are thinking of using them, save yourself a lot of time a use another company, any other company.
    The first time I had the misfortune to be sent a parcel by this bunch of total incompetants it disappeerad for over two weeks (was supposed to be max 2 day delivery). I spent hours trying to track it down and eventually gave up and persuaded the sender to claim on insurance. Just after we claimed it turned up… very battered. I estimate it cost me over £250 in my time, not to mention the cost of waiting on hold on ParcelForce’s national call rate numbers.

    This time I have been sent a parcel form Australia. The parcel again disappeared. Delivery was supposed to be within 7 to 10 working days. 20 working days later it had not turned up. Australia Post Office just said keep waiting (maybe they know all about the useless ParcelForce?). On the 21st day I received a letter from ParcelForce stating that the parcel had been held at Parcelforce’s Gatwick depot and that I had to pay about £50 VAT and a handling charge of £8 to be able to receive it.l The letter supplied a phone number enabling me to pay the charge over the phone. When rung a recorded mesasage stated that the service was no longer available and immediately cut me off. Trying ParcelForce’s main number left me on hold for over an hour… until I gave up. As I was going to be driving past Gatwick in a couple od days time I decided to drop in on the depot and collect it. Unfortunately the letter gave the Gatwick depot postal address but ommitted the postcode (sic!), so I went to the web site and got the postcode. I also printed out the map and directions to the Gatwick office from the PF site. Unfortunately the directions were unintelligable as they said stuff like “Turn right onto the”, neatly omitting the name or number of the road, in all cases! Brilliant (but by now I was beginning to expect this level of ineptitude)! I used their postcode in Multimap instead and printed out the resulting map.
    Unfortunately the ParcelForce web site has the wrong post code for the Gatwick depot and I ended up at a Best Western Hotel instead. However, the Hotel had a good, detailed map of the Gatwick/Crawley area and with help I located the road the depot was on and set off… to find it closed! I had been suspicious that it might be closed (so close after Christmas) but the hopeless PF web site did not list the Christmas period opening hours for the Gatwick depot so I had taken pot luck.
    I gave up and went to back home. Next day I managed to get through to the main ParcelForce number (after a mere twenty five minutes) and they gave me the number of the Gatwick depot. I have now been on hold for over an hour and three quarters at a National Rate number charge.

    PARCELFORCE ARE ENTIRELY INCOMPETANT. I WOULD NOT TRUST THEM TO TIE MY SHOELACES. USE THEM AT YOUR OWN PERIL.

  • Simon Turner says:

    Just in case anyone wants to ring the Gatwick depot to experience the very great pleasure of being held on hold for huge periods (now 2 hours 10 minutes) the number is: 08700 844525.

    BTW. If you ring ythe “Managing Directors” number above (01908 687249) you just get through to a bunch of trained monkeys…

  • andy hudson says:

    I have a parcel waiting at the gatwick depot from the US and I need to pay a customs charge (I knew I would anyhow). Tried ringing 08700 844525 but after 20 mins and googling this site I’ve hung up.

    Does anyone have a direct number for the Gatwick Depot yet?

  • andy hudson says:

    Ok, just rung 01908687249 and spoke to Pat (woman) who answerded “Managing Directors Office”. She said the only number she had for the Gatwick Depot is 08700844525 but sent a message (prob an email) with all my details (tracking number, outstanding payment price, my name/contact number and said they should call me to make the payment.

    watch this space…

    Andy

  • Andy Hudson says:

    Ok, Just tried ringing them again this morning (Sat 31st Dec 2005) and again, no answer after 30 minutes.

    I’ve logged a complaint on parcelforce’s site and this is what I put: –

    ———-

    I had a parcel arrive from the USA in the last few days and a custom’s charge is required on it. It is at the moment store at Parcelforce Gatwick depot. I’ve received a letter asking me to pay the customs charge which is absolutely fine. My gripe is that it is IMPOSSIBLE to get through to the Gatwick Depot on 08700844525. I know people (I’ll explain shortly) who have been on the phone for hours and not getting anywhere.

    Thanks to Google I rang this number – 01908687249 which is the Managing Directors office of ParcelForce and spoke to a woman called Pat. She said the only number she had for Gatwick was 08700844525. I find this hard to believe and there must be a local number you can call them on. She then offered (and I appreciate this) to pass on my details in a message – which I assume is an email – to the Gatwick Depot with all my details and Reference for my parcel (which is EC**********GB)

    I suggest you look at this site – http://www.kingofmycastle.com/?p=130

    You will see that you have a major problem with your Gatwick depot and there are some very unhappy people spending hours on a phone with a woman saying your call will be answered shortly when in fact it won’t.

    You I’m sure know what it is like being stuck on a phone to somewhere having to wait on hold, we’ve all done it. So I’m sure you can understand how people feel. All we want to do is get our parcel and I’ll re-iterate again, I’m more than happy to pay the customs charge. Its the fact I can’t get through to anyone to pay it.

    I expect a quick reply to this and hope you can assist me and others in retrieving their goods.

    Kind Regards

    Andrew Hudson
    (My Parcel Ref: EC**********GB)

    ———- Fingers crossed once more.

  • KingOfMyCastle says:

    Don’t be surprised if all you get is an automated reply that asks you to fill out a compensation form.

    Keep us updated on what happens.

  • andy hudson says:

    I will… but if an automated reply is all I get then Pat is going to have hell to deal with…

  • MAC says:

    My goodness, and there was I thinking it was just me!

    Delivery 1. I was carded on January 5th indicating it’ll be delivered on the 6th. I wait in all day, eventually get through on the phone to the Gatwick office around 4pm to someone promising me it will be delivered by 7pm.
    Guess what?
    It was delivered the following day, 7th. A guy on the phone from Gatwick told me there was a mix up.

    Delivery 2. I was carded Thursday 12th Jan. NO CONSIGNMENT written on the card. “Tomorrow” was crossed out and the driver wrote “Monday” (today). I have spent just under 3 hours on the phone trying different ways to get through. Sometimes they tell you to call back later after 8 mins, and twice they said it after 45 mins. Today.

    I called 01908687249 and spoke to a nice lady who said she’d try and call the manager at Gatwick.

    I honestly can’t believe how hopeless this Gatwick depot are.

  • Andy says:

    I got my parcel in the end by sending a cheque to the depot for the customs charge, then they re-delivered and someone happened to be in…

    Never at one point did I get through to the Gatwick Depot on the phone nor did they (or have they) replied to my complaint I sent them.

    ..but someone must be there as they received my cheque! (oh the irony…)

    Keep hassling Pat on that number (01908687249) That is all we have to go on!

    andy

  • BrightonSunshine says:

    And just wait till your telephone bill arrives .. 08700 844525 cost me a total of £9.46 – one of those calls was over an hour just trying to get through.
    Eventually got someone (nice guy) on 0870 850 1150 who sorted it out.
    Good luck.

  • Alistair Bruce says:

    My camera from Amazon was due for delivery on March 8th. Track & Trace stated it was ‘Out for Delivery’. This morning this had changed to ‘delivered’ – on 6th March – signed for by Winston who I learn is their driver. Still no camera. What to do?

  • Kevin King says:

    Hi Alistair, I understand that drivers are not allowed to sign for any item to be delivered. So do what the others are doing and call the managers office soon, because i think at this rate that will soon change his number into a national rate poxy 0870 number!!!.

    Good Luck guys!

  • Mike Brampton says:

    Ah how refreshing to know its not just me…same problems but thanks to this I now know I’m not alone and know who to contact…not that it appears to be making any difference and the parcel that should have been with me 4 days ago still hasn’t arrived, neither have the promised 24 hr answer to enquiry emails sent 24, 48, 72 and 96hrs ago!

    I’m gonna call Pat she seems friendly from the info above

  • Mike Brampton says:

    I have just spoken to a delicious sounding lady called Carolin at the managing Directors office.
    Well she sounds lovely, but the message is that my parcel seems to have disappeared!! it should have been delivered 4 days ago, but it hasn’t even been attempted, and …wait for it….hasn’t been tracked back into the depot either!
    I can only guess that a dissolusioned Parcel Force delivery man (probably one of only 3 that “work” at Gatwick) has gone AWOL with his van and all the parcels, why he’s probably driving round somewhere like Doncaster right now, attempting deliveries to addresses that don’t exist.
    Anyway, Carolin has advised me not to wait in today, she is 99.9% certain that there won’t be an attemped delivery today. heres hoping.

  • I can see you returning home and finding a “We tried to deliver your parcel” card.

    Good luck!

  • wendy Smith says:

    I have paid for next day delivery, still waiting five days later for a item, all phone numbers provided are NOT manned. All direct you to their website that doesn’t help or answer any queries. How does one get their parcels? Customer service is also crap, no one answers, so automated that you are cut off.

  • gene says:

    same problem,,surely this is ilegal ? i mean they do not deliver,they are not contactable and there are many complaints. Does anyone know a phone number that will work so you can actualy talk to someone ?

  • Parkinson's Disease Society says:

    We use them all the time. They ignored a request and lost 7 parcels.

  • Luke says:

    They have my parcel expected delivery 2 days ago and still not here. Last message is sorted at national hub 3 days ago.

    SCUMMMMMMMM

  • David says:

    My parcel seems to be stuck at the National hub in Coventry.. I won’t bore you with details but thought the following telephone number would be useful 02476 213106. That is supposedly the number for the “hub”.

  • james says:

    parcelfarce! phoned the number you gave me – thanks alot for that. guy said ” we dont get customers ringing us, how did you get this number ” and told me to ring the automated number.

  • Peter says:

    also try

    02476213361

  • Phil says:

    Parcel force are hopeless. My item was scanned out of the depot but never scanned back in or delivered, the only logical reasons i can think is its been stolen (was an xbox 360).

    Was never informed the item was lost, so much hassle over getting one thing delivered.

    AVOID PARCEL FORCE!!!

  • naomi says:

    i need a phone number to talk to a superior at parcel force can any one help??

  • Brian says:

    I Don’t buy from anyone that uses PARCEL FORCE.

  • daisy says:

    Waiting for parcel to be delivered by Parcelforce, ems china have tracked all the way to London Parcelforce. But guess what Parcel force deny all knowledge even though website says parcel accepted ( but that means they only knew it was coming!!!!)All knowledge of parcel disappeared at 00.12 28 June 2007. After 1 hour of automated telephone frustration got to speak to a rude teenager with attitude, then spoke to her manager who informed me she doesn’t speak Chinese, I don’t recall asking her this, but asking her if she could help me, she then promptly put the phone down on me. Thanks for your help then!
    Oh and don’t forget there was a strike on Friday so that will be their excuse for delays for the next 3 months

  • Umar Stone says:

    I have been waiting for an item bought on ebay from the UK (I live in Australia) it ended up with the COVENTRY Parcel Force on the 26th february 2007, then was processed for despatch on the 6th march 2007.
    Neither returned to the sender, or leaving the UK, it has never been seen again. I can only track this information from my country’s mail site, but the UK PF lost all information.
    The product/item was worth several hundred dollars (even more to me) and I am sincerly distraught that this would, well, has happened.

  • Pammy says:

    aaarrrgghhh!!!!
    I also hate parcel force, they are incompetent ar**holes!!!
    I ordered a package on Monday 6th and paid extra for next day before 10.30am delivery (Tuesday 7th – yesterday) and still no parcel to be seen. Their website earlier said there was no tracking info but at least now they have updated it to “Parcel at National Hub”…well that’s that parcel lost in the black hole that calls itself Parcelforce :-( …and their phone customer services is automated rubbish!

  • ben says:

    Reading this doesn’t bode well – I’ve got an order coming with parcel force, or parcel farce as it seems to be known, and I’m now worried that it won’t arrive!. Are they that bad? I don’t really use them.

  • Rik says:

    The Customer Services Manager of the International Hub on 02476 213 361 was helpful and arranged for my missing parcel to be re-delivered.

    I wouldn’t recommend PF, but he was very human and helpful.

  • Ashley Cook says:

    I ordered a laptop online, and was sent an email couple of days later informing me that it had been dispatched and would be wih me within two workig days. Five days later it has not been delivered, however since my mother is the manager of the local post office she was able to obtain the right number – 0870 084425 option 5, although despite her poition, we found that even the number she was given wasn’t guarunteed to work all the time. Anyway, we were informed that Parcel Farce had tried to deliver the parcel twice even though we had been in both days waiting for delivery, and no note was left either. They then said that they had left it with the next door neighbour, whose name they gave as Squires. Our next door neighbours are not named Squires (I checked the 2007 electoral role and there is no-one with this surname in our entire road), and when I checked with them they said they had not taken in the package. I certainly trust them more than a delivery driver. The current position is that a man named Alan at the Gatwick depot is rying to get in touch with the driver.

    I am going to try to find out the number to bypass the manaaging directors call screeners, and I shall then inform him that I will report the incident to the Police, and also sue Parcel Force if the package is not found. Oh, I’m a lawyer by the way.

  • Ashley Cook says:

    After a call back from Alan, who admittedly has tried to be helpful, apparantly the delivery driver got confused and delivered the parcel to the wrong road! Apparantly he will be going to try to retrieve the package and then deliver it again, but not for a number or hours as he is doing other deliveries first. I think I should at least be made the priority in this situation, let alone being given a sincere apology for wasting my time.

  • UNKNOWN says:

    THERE MUST BE SOMEONE WORKING FOR PARCEL FORCE IN BIRMINGHAM TO HELP A MEMBER OF MY FRIEND GIVING THEM OUR PARCELS THEN THE MEMBER OF FREIND SAYS WELL LOOK YOUVE GOT A PARCEL COMING BECUASE I HAVE JUST WENT IN AND CHECKED WHICH SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALL PEOPLE WORKING WITH PARCEL FORCE SHOULD NOT HELP OTHERS EVEN IF THEY ARE THERE MATES S

  • Michael Hachar says:

    So I had my desktop computer (hand built by me), yes it had sentimental value, shipped to the UK from the US. This is the rubbish I see when I try parcelfarce’s attempt to track a parcel service.
    Date Time Location Tracking Event

    05-09-2007 11:38 International Hub AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGING
    05-09-2007 11:38 International Hub AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGES
    05-09-2007 11:19 International Hub Arrived in destination country
    31-08-2007 10:03 CAPE FOREIGN CENTER JERSEY CITY NJ 099 Left origin country
    27-08-2007 16:55 Delivery Agent – UNITED STATES AMERICA Collected from customer

    I received a letter from customs on 13-9 asking me to describe the value and detail of the contents of package (so they know if it is valuable enough to “disappear”). Yah, it is now 28-9 and i haven’t heard a word. I call customs and they claim to have released the package on 19-09 free of charges. Release to whom I ask?? Does this mean I am to suffer terribly in parcel hell?? Anyone ever had this happen and still get their parcel?

  • Michael Hachar says:

    So here’s an update I called customs and asked where my package was, a day later it seems as though they have found my package and expect it to be delivered tommorow morning :) . Hopefully it gets here.

    The number to customs is 02476212860

    Date Time Location Tracking Event

    02-10-2007 14:49 International Hub En route to delivery depot
    02-10-2007 13:24 International Hub
    05-09-2007 11:38 International Hub AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGING
    05-09-2007 11:38 International Hub AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGES

    If you have a package stuck in customs (waiting for VAT) in the UK call customs to ask for an update on the status. They hardly answer the phone after noon so get to them early in the morning. Usually it is a busy signal, try back an hour later or so and you should get a hold of them. Hope this helps.

  • Isabel says:

    I have also waited for practically 2 weeks to have an amazon delivery by parcelfarce – I ended up giving up, getting a refund from amazon and buying the item elsewhere. Not only did they not deliver when I arranged for them to deliver on a certain day (so I took a day off work pointlessly), but when I asked them to deliver it to a local post office, I waited an hour in a queue to find out it wasn’t there, and only a week later did I find out Post Offices only accept certain size parcels, and this one was too big – but did they bother to phone and tell me that ? No they just let me wait in a queue. When I complained a guy blatantly lied to me saying somebody had tried to deliver when I was at home. I just think they’re all sat around with our parcels taking the piss

  • Mic says:

    …yes, yes i thought i would save money by shopping on net but didn’t experience anything like parceFarce before. my parcel was apparently delivered and signed for according to track and trace but i haven’t had any parcels come to MY house so where is it? the screen says they have a signature but are not able to actually produce it. they don’t return calls and the manager is always unable to come to the phone or is out. phoning is a complete waste of time. they are full of **it!! i can’t take anymore and i want my money back!!

  • Mic says:

    Comet/Laskys on web use Parcelforce so don’t bother. get back to basics and go up the high street, will cost more but it’s less aggro! They deserve the Watchdog treatment.

  • Paul Cullington says:

    I’m waiting on an Apple Iphone I bought from an Ebay seller to be released by Customs. My current status from the Parcelfarce website is:

    03-10-2007 20:01 International Hub AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGING
    03-10-2007 20:01 International Hub AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGES
    03-10-2007 19:54 International Hub Arrived in destination country
    03-10-2007 09:54 Heathrow Airport Arrived at destination country
    02-10-2007 13:31 Delivery Agent – NEW YORK -PTT Left origin country
    01-10-2007 18:53 Delivery Agent – UNITED STATES AMERICA Collected from customer

    Its now the 9th and I’ve just complained to PF. The lady at the Customer Service centre has informed me she’s raised a trace on my item and someone should come back to me within 24hrs to give me an update as to the status of my parcel.

    I rang the number given by another poster of UK Customs only to listen to a long answer machine message explaining they will not speak to customers searching for their parcels.

    I’ll wait for my phone call back tomorrow and report back. :(

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