Case opened arghh

[cherrysthename]

Just venting really. I've been selling off a few things to raise some extra cash I could really use (couldn't we all right now!) and now a seller has opened a case against me because her parcel hasn't arrived yet. It's been a week and there have been postal strikes! I wish she'd have just messaged me first. Can't touch any of my money now- funds frozen. Don't know how long for, can't relist my item as it's on its way to her and I'll have to issue a refund. Gutted!

Never send anything without tracking and a signature then they can't scam you by saying it hasn't arrived.

I've been doing this for ages with no issues, I've probably been really lucky tbh
I'd have thought people wouldn't want to spend on signed postage for what are mostly quite low priced items

You don't need to send signed for to have some form of tracking, you just need proof of postage. The reference on that Royal Mail can confirm delivery from the reference

Proof of postage is not tracking, you can not confirm delivery or track a delivery with proof of postage.

Really? I’ve always been ok with proof of postage- it comes back with a code thing even for 2nd class etc, it doesn’t give detailed tracking but shows ‘sent’ and ‘delivered’.
Uploading that info should buy you a few days, by which time it should show as ‘delivered’ anyway… and case closes in your favour.

Proof of postage is just that, proof you have posted the item, there is no tracking and can not be scanned as delivered as there is no bar code to scan. Tracked or signed for is the only way you can prove an item has been delivered.

proof of posting shows if something was delivered... but it could be to wrong property. This is true of every courier.

Yes the buyer should have talked to you first, OP. At this point you may be able to persuade buyer (grovel) to wait a few more days. No deliveries on Monday 19th, annoyingly. When did you order? I ordered something that was dispatched on 6th that still hasn't arrived & I'm beginning to wonder if it will ever arrive.

Block buyer of course. They should have contacted you first. Refund them if they are firm that's only resolution they want now. Cut your losses.

I only very rarely send with signature required. It's simply not cost effective on low value items (buyers would buy elsewhere).

item will arrive late and buyer will close case and you get your money...not sure why people are talking about proof of postage....there is no bar code to say its been delivered etc....only signed for offers this serrvice hence you pay extra...i use this as just in case etc

As soon as buyer goes to contact a seller with an issue it opens a case and there's nothing they can do. They probably don't even realise. Send them a message apologising, asking them to wait a little longer due to strikes.
Re proof of delivery. For parcels only there is a reference code on the proof of postage which will show if it is delivered. It doesn't track, it's just a delivery confirmation. It also isn't available in large letters unless you are a business sender using the online service.

Proof of postage for non signed for parcels has a reference number. You can enter this online and see if the item has been delivered or not. If it shows it as delivered this will be enough for the seller to win a not received case.

If I ever contact a buyer it automatically opens a case. Nothing I can do about it. It's didn't used to be like that but it is now

Not much you can do other than hope the buyer is honest when it finally arrives. There's definitely been an increase in people trying to pull a fast one recently.

Next time make sure you get proof of posting so you can track the number online. Usually if you tell them you know it's been delivered on X date the parcel miraculously appears.
I had one who waited a month to claim. Problem was it wasn't confirmed as delivered on the tracking site. I didn't believe her story so told her Royal Mail said it had been delivered and it suddenly appeared at her neighbours house 🙄.

Be aware though that although you're covered for up to £20 through Royal Mail if the parcel is actually missing, unless you have the original receipt they wont pay out.

Was it a parcel? You get a 16 digit code from the post office. If it is shown as delivered then eBay will close case in your favour

On ebay, with Proof of Posting number uploaded, This is what Order Details should look like on items that have been delivered. 16 character reference uploaded. Not recorded/signed, just regular 2nd class & PoP. Unfortunately, since RM strikes started happening, I notice a lot of items (I sold on ebay & posted via RM). are showing as never delivered (!!). What a mess. I had a bad experience as seller with Evri so don't want to use them again, and everyone else charges more. What a mess.

The buyer has closed the case, now. I sent her another message with a photo of the proof of posting earlier and said fingers crossed she receives it today, and it looks like she has since she closed the case.
I had no idea about the reference number on the proof! That's great to know for in future.
She hasn't messaged me at all outside of choosing to escalate with eBay, but all's well that ends well. I'm relieved.

....yep, just entered the ref number on the Royal Mail site and sure enough it works, and has been delivered!

eBay have said they'll remove any negative feedback left about postal delays during the strike period; but why do they let people open a case so early? Their T&C's should match the service given by Royal Mail.