Disappeared, delayed or without attempted delivery directly to the parcel shop: delivery problems with parcels dominate the complaint statistics of the regulatory body RTR. “From January to the end of November, we registered a total of 6,100 complaints about the receipt of mail,” the authority said.
There was a similar number of complaints in 2022. However, RTR director Klaus Steinmaurer puts things in perspective: given the volume of the broadcasts, the number of complaints is negligible. This year, RTR expects that more than 380 million parcels will be transported in Austria by the end of 2023.
“There are always a particularly large number of parcels in transit in December due to the Christmas activities,” says Steinmaurer, head of the telecommunications and postal department, referring to the intensive online shopping before Christmas. To ensure delivery runs as smoothly as possible, RTR has drawn up a list of recommendations.
Fraudulent SMS
The RTR repeatedly registers complaints and questions about text messages, chat messages or e-mails that supposedly provide information about the whereabouts of parcel shipments and sometimes request ‘fees’ for onward transport. “This is simply fraud,” says RTR.
Postal companies based in Austria do not charge money online for the onward transport of packages and do not collect account information. The postal providers do not request address details during the delivery process and do not send via messenger services such as WhatsApp. “Particular caution is required here,” says Steinmaurer.
Be careful with cash on delivery
It is purely out of courtesy to take over a package for a neighbor. There is no obligation. If you take over a mail item, you are in principle not liable for anything, but you must ensure that the mail item is not damaged. “Cash on delivery parcels will only be handed over if the required amount has been paid upon delivery. Here we recommend that you carefully consider whether you will actually get back the money invested if you take over from a third party,” says Steinmaurer.
Money gifts as valuables
Vouchers or cash gifts are often sent, especially at Christmas. Depending on the postal service provider and the chosen shipping method, different liability rules apply. “Ensure that the contents can be shipped in accordance with the contractual terms of the relevant postal service provider, are sufficiently insured and are also properly packaged,” the RTR advises. If these contractual requirements are not met, shippers generally bear the risk of loss or damage to their packages.
Parking permit
Recipients can allow a postal service provider with a delivery permit to leave items at a specific location in their absence. However, if a parking permit has been granted, you agree to all consequences. This also includes the loss or damage of a shipment. The RTR therefore advises to only grant a storage permit if a truly safe, invisible and clearly demarcated location is available that protects against unauthorized theft, but also against damage, dust and moisture.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
