Supermarket delivery driver damaged property
Supermarket delivery driver damaged property
Author
Discussion

Mr Ben

Original Poster:

311 posts

201 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
What do you do when you've exhausted all apparent avenues and remain stuck?

Ask the internet and the good folk of Pistonheads of course!

A good few months back a delivery driver from a well known (green liveried, 4 lettered) supermarket decided to reverse onto our driveway and hit the wooden electric gates.

Once we've gotten past the 'serves you right for shopping with a council supermarket (the one and only time I've allowed the missus to use them) and, 'worse "I've got electric gates" post ever' shenanigans, I'm at a loss with where to turn next.

Long story short, driver accepted liability, photos of damaged gates and delivery truck taken, and sent with accompanying email and proof of payment for repairs to customer services etc

Automated response only.

Further emails sent with increasing levels of frustration, still only automated responses.

I don't do social media but the missus plastered chain of events on Twitter (or X, whatever it's called), nothing.

I hate the idea of using an Ambulance chasing type outfit but, short of visiting the local store and relieving them of goods to the value of damages incurred, I'm at a loss.

Ringing the local store it-self (where delivery would have come from) has resulted in the success I would have got calling petrol station station opposite.

Any ideas (both sensible and sarcastic) welcome!

Thanks


Nezquick

1,741 posts

150 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
I think you need to write a letter to their head/registered office, and set out your complaint in full with photos etc. I would address it to their Claims Department or Head of Complaints.

Give them 14 days to respond. If they don't respond, I would send it one more time and given them a further 14 days and threaten them with legal proceedings should they not respond. If they still don't come back to you, you will have to pursue it via Money Claim Online

TIGA84

5,532 posts

255 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
Sadly you've covered the important areas of your gates and the sub par supermarket chain so I'm unable to offer anything of help, or indeed sarcasm.


vaud

58,128 posts

179 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
Google "CEO email" and find the CEOs email address.

Write a short, clear email with bullet points and detail and ask them to look into it.

It will get picked up by their exec assistants and sent downwards to customer service. Such emails from the CEO office typically get assigned to a more senior manager for resolution.

It does vary, but I have had good success with this approach.

LivLL

12,262 posts

221 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
Would your house insurance be useful to pursue this? No point having it if you never use it.

LotusMartin

1,127 posts

176 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
Sainsbury’s delivery van has damaged our property twice now- couldn’t have been more helpful and fast in sending compensation. It wasn’t as much as your claim would be, but it was appreciated.

No help to you I’m afraid!

asfault

13,580 posts

203 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
Depends on the company but I assume their policies are all the same. There's a form the driver fills out with details of any collisions and you get info from that usually sorted out pretty quickly and driver has a meeting with manager when back in store.
But we have also had the opposite of your situation a customer claiming damage to their property when on reviewing the van cctv the driver was nowhere near the damaged fence as he parked on the road.

Sheepshanks

39,397 posts

143 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
LivLL said:
Would your house insurance be useful to pursue this? No point having it if you never use it.
I was thinking that too - leave them to it.

You'd think a big firm would sort it but daughter's car was written off by an Argos van (in front of police who were attended the accident the van driver was rubber-necking). She claimed in her insurance and her insurer had to start legal proceeding before Argos's insurer responded.

Thats What She Said

1,180 posts

112 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
In your shoes, I'd be onto my home insurance and let them sort it all out.

Jordie Barretts sock

6,018 posts

43 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
Just write, recorded delivery to Customer Services here:



Give them a reasonable time to respond, say 14 days. After that, a letter before action giving a further 14 days, then MCOL.

No need to involve your insurance or going all 'emails to the CEO' which will be read by some PA and ignored.

Perhaps ring the Head Office in Leeds first and speak to someone. Get their email address and send the letter above, by email as well.

Mr Ben

Original Poster:

311 posts

201 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies.

Will use that online form in tandem with direct to CEO.

If nothing, I'll write letter to complaints threatening legal route.

Thanks again,

jamieduff1981

8,092 posts

164 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
Sheepshanks said:
LivLL said:
Would your house insurance be useful to pursue this? No point having it if you never use it.
I was thinking that too - leave them to it.

You'd think a big firm would sort it but daughter's car was written off by an Argos van (in front of police who were attended the accident the van driver was rubber-necking). She claimed in her insurance and her insurer had to start legal proceeding before Argos's insurer responded.
This - this is how many large organisations operate.

MitchT

17,089 posts

233 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
Delivery driver from the same supermarket put the crates down in our doorway and managed to smash the bottom off the end of the "tunnel" protruding from our Sure Flap Microchip Cat Flap worth over £50. Twitter was ignored. Customer service email that we'd used for a previous complaint no longer active. Ended up phoning the local store and speaking to a manager there who told us to get three prices and buy a replacement for the cat flap from the cheapest of the three, then take the receipt to the customer services desk. We did this and they refunded us in cash.

Obviously your situation is a little different but I think your best bet is to speak to the manager of the store from which the delivery came. If necessary go there and speak to them face-to-face. The harder it is for them to hide the quicker it'll get sorted.

Slowboathome

4,461 posts

68 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
vaud said:
Google "CEO email" and find the CEOs email address.

Write a short, clear email with bullet points and detail and ask them to look into it.

It will get picked up by their exec assistants and sent downwards to customer service. Such emails from the CEO office typically get assigned to a more senior manager for resolution.

It does vary, but I have had good success with this approach.
I agree with this.

If you don't see action within 14 days I'd send a recorded delivery letter to the CEO letting them know that they have 14 more days to respond after which you'll issue a claim against the company via Small Claims Court or Money Claim Online (if the cost is over £10k).

beagrizzly

11,168 posts

255 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
Thats What She Said said:
In your shoes, I'd be onto my home insurance and let them sort it all out.
This exactly. Maybe the OP isn't insured? One of our neighbours had their house hit by a van, and it was sorted through the buildings insurance policy, with that provider then claiming against the van insurance.

pisdonthread

57 posts

187 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
The same company had a driver reverse into our garden wall and knock it over. Not before beaching himself on the wall and needing recovery. This was before Christmas and I have tried a number of avenues including emailing the CEO and absolutely no contact has been made with me to rectify the situation. I have pictures and liability obviously shown with them. They just ignore everything.

matrignano

4,675 posts

234 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
Small Claims court?

You will definitely get a response by them, maybe not the one you expect, but at least it will be a starting point

TheK1981

312 posts

99 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
Did the driver fill in any forms at the time? They should have a log book in the van at all times which contains a part they give to the 3rd party, using the details from there, its supposed to be pretty quick to get sorted from what ive heard at our store,

It would maybe worth logging with 101 as the driver didnt give details to be able to contact them/their insurer, get a ref number, then email that and the details to the ceo office, also mention that the driver failed to provide the required info,

Dont be surprised if you get a 1st reply, nothing for 10 days, and then quick results,

The big yin

293 posts

65 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
Hope this helps.
ASDA UK Owner Email and Telephone
Mr Zuber Issa Owner

Email ceo@asda.co.uk

Telephone 0113 243 5435
Switchboard 0113 243 5435
Website https://www.asda.com
Social Media T F Y P

Postal Address Asda House, South Bank, Great Wilson Street, Leeds, LS11 5AD

119

17,412 posts

60 months

Friday 10th May 2024
quotequote all
Just contact your insurer and let them deal with it.

Assuming you are insured.