Parcel2Go 'underpayment request' emails - I smell scam?

[skodaphile]

I recently used Parcel2Go to arrange the collection of three parcels of printed paper from a business, to be delivered to me at my business address. I paid £17 inc VAT by card.

I have now received three separate emails, each requesting further payment due to the weights supplied being allegedly inaccurate? They are looking for an additional £31 inc VAT!!! The emails allege that the overall consignment weight is a total of 43.5KG. This is an absolute lie - it was advised by the sender as 16KG, (5, 5 and 6KG). In fact, the emails suggested one parcel was booked as 10KG - a weight that I definitely didn’t specify in the first instance!

Having googled the issue, it would appear this is a common occurrence:

http://real-deal-blog.com/2015/12/18/parcel2go-and...

http://www.ripoffreport.com/r/parcel2gocom/bolton-...

https://www.reviews.co.uk/company-reviews/store/pa...

Trouble is, I am relying on weights specified by the sender, and they have no proof. (Although they have absolutely no reason to lie - it was me paying for collection) P2G have the bloody parcels now, so they appear to have got me by the S&C's...

I have emailed this morning two addresses found online - there is none available on P2G's website, and no telephone number either. I await their response.

Where do I stand legally? Fraud team? There are allegations of unauthorised card payments being taken by P2G - surely that's illegal?

Thanks.

[skodaphile]

NGee said:

Parcel2Go are not couriers. They are merely middle men that use lots of different courier companies. So Parcel2Go will definitely not still have your parcel (although the actual courier firm used might).
If the bill from Parcel2Go is genuine it will be because the courier company has billed them for the alleged extra weight and will not deliver it until they get paid correctly.
Your best bet is to contact the courier company concerned directly and ask them what's going on.

Yep, I understand that, but I paid P2G, and the emails are from them, so my contract is with them. Hence they are my 1st point of call.

[skodaphile]

Alucidnation said:

Have you called them?

On what number? No number available on their website...

NGee said:

skodaphile said:

NGee said:

Parcel2Go are not couriers. They are merely middle men that use lots of different courier companies. So Parcel2Go will definitely not still have your parcel (although the actual courier firm used might).
If the bill from Parcel2Go is genuine it will be because the courier company has billed them for the alleged extra weight and will not deliver it until they get paid correctly.
Your best bet is to contact the courier company concerned directly and ask them what's going on.

Yep, I understand that, but I paid P2G, and the emails are from them, so my contract is with them. Hence they are my 1st point of call.

OK fair enough, they might be your first point of call but it will be the courier company which instigated the extra cost (and might still have your parcel). Parcel2Go won't have weighed the parcel, the courier company [might] have done, so you can still ask them what it's all about and find out what's gone wrong.
Where does the tracking number say the parcel is now?

Edited by NGee on Monday 23 January 12:03

Out for delivery Must admit I'm surprised - the email seemed to infer they were holding it to ransom.

The courier company is Hermes. Looking at comments online, they will only tell me to contact P2G...