The Scottish Parliament is set to debate delivery charges after a north-east MSP raised a motion which he hopes will stop his constituents being “fleeced” by national companies.
Anger has built up across Moray and the north with customers often being forced to pay as much as £50 for deliveries due to their “isolated” location.
In December, a major retailer’s delivery charges in Moray were condemned as “shocking” by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Halfords quoted a price of £50 to deliver two car towels, priced at £5.99, to a Speyside-based resident.
The firm argued the £50 charge was applied due to the products being ordered through the firm’s website from an independent supplier and the system is now being reviewed.
A petition circulated in April calling for a standardised charges across the UK attracted nearly 1,200 signatures.
And now, Moray MSP Richard Lochead has raised the issue in parliament over the “excessive rates”.
The motion reads: “That the Parliament understands that, compared with other parts of the UK, people in Moray, the north of Scotland and other rural areas are often charged excessive rates for parcel deliveries; and recognises what it sees as the frustration of consumers living in postcodes such as IV and AB, who have to pay these charges, which it considers unfair”
Mr Lochead said: “I’m contacted by constituents on a very regular basis who are sick to the back teeth of ordering something online only to discover they must pay a higher delivery charge than customers in other parts of Scotland and the UK.
“I know this practice of charging higher shipping costs for delivery to AB and IV postcodes is widespread and the feedback I’ve had from constituents is they are totally scunnered at being ripped off by these greedy companies.
“One constituent told me she can get cheaper delivery to her Moray home from Germany than within the UK, and many folk have been in touch who are hugely frustrated by the fact they could get much cheaper delivery if they lived just a few streets away.
“As a local MSP, I’m determined to keep challenging companies who are fleecing my constituents and to put pressure on couriers to start treating customers in Moray and the North of Scotland fairly.”
