FASTWAY COURIERS FAIL.

mogwai10 · 23-11-2010 9:25pm #1

For the second time this year i have had a parcel signed for by a complete stranger(Also with illegible handwriting),when delivered by FASTWAY Couriers,the driver can-t remember what house he dropped it in(Funny that)and of course none of my neighbours know anything about any parcels.Just wondering if anybody else has had the misfortune of dealing with these people?

dudara · 23-11-2010 10:39pm

If you don't receive a parcel, then contact the retailer. They are the people responsible for getting your parcel to you (they engage the courier services).

There is no real benefit in complaining to the courier as your contract is not with them.

If they learn parcels aren't arriving to recipients, then they can start to put pressure on the couriers.

mogwai10 · 23-11-2010 11:00pm

Thanks for the advice.

10-10-20 · 24-11-2010 10:11pm

I've the opposite with Fastway.
Their local courier calls me for auth to leave the package in the porch.

Works for me as there is nobody home most days.

MunsterCycling · 24-11-2010 10:51pm

All couriers with Fastway are independant, its like a co-op. Thus you will get the "I don't give a cr@p" crowd and the professional.

AvaKinder · 24-11-2010 10:52pm

OP My mam had the exact same problem with Fastway last week. An absolute joke, they sent the driver back out to see if he could figure out where he left and he claims he can't remember!

busman · 25-11-2010 9:54am

10-10-20 wrote: »

I've the opposite with Fastway.
Their local courier calls me for auth to leave the package in the porch.

Works for me as there is nobody home most days.

You might be happy but I'm sure the company that sent the package might not be as impressed!

Sponge Bob · 25-11-2010 12:01pm

If he calls and is given the go ahead then there is no problem. He should record these calls to cover his own ass though. One of my local couriers leaves my packages in the local garage ( behind the counter) if given permission to do so. At least he has a record of the call and a CCTV of him entering the garage with a package.

dollydishmop · 25-11-2010 1:46pm

Have to say, my local Fastway courier also rings me before he delivers...but mainly because he can't get the van down our track and he can't turn around easily once he's down by the cottage :pac: ...so he rings me when he's 10 mins away and I drive out to meet him at an arranged place a mile or so from home.

If I can't get there for whatever reason, then, with the petrol station owner's permission, I ask him to leave the parcel(s) at a local petrol station for me to collect later that day.
The petrol station owner signs for the delivery.

In the past, when its something that is time critical he has even offered to bring it home with him from the depot, so I can collect it from his house (20 mins away) the night before, rather than wait for the next-day scheduled delivery. Like same-day delivery, except I collect

Now that's what I call good service!

Its an arrangement that works well for us so far.

wickerman07 · 04-05-2011 11:04am

My delivery was due on a Friday...its now Wednesday and it still hasn't arrived...I've been "promised" that il receive it tomorrow.

Delivery man called...i was at the shop at the time so I called the number on the slip when I returned. He was literally 5 minutes from my house and said that he wouldn't turn back and that id have to wait till the Tuesday(Bank holiday weekend).

On the Tuesday I had to go to work so I called him to ask him could he deliver it there instead. He said he that couldn't as it was in a different zone....I live on Dominic Street in Galway and work on the Docks (a 4 minute walk)...

Ive used UPS in the past and such requests were never met with any difficulty....if I was out of the house at the time they would return that day or would drop off at a different address if requested.

Keep well clear from these!

paconnors · 04-05-2011 11:33am

Not trying to back fastway but all couriers are self employed and the city is cut up into different zones. Part of there contracts they cant go into other zones.

maxer68 · 04-05-2011 11:57am

wickerman07 wrote: »

My delivery was due on a Friday...its now Wednesday and it still hasn't arrived...I've been "promised" that il receive it tomorrow.

Delivery man called...i was at the shop at the time so I called the number on the slip when I returned. He was literally 5 minutes from my house and said that he wouldn't turn back and that id have to wait till the Tuesday(Bank holiday weekend).

On the Tuesday I had to go to work so I called him to ask him could he deliver it there instead. He said he that couldn't as it was in a different zone....I live on Dominic Street in Galway and work on the Docks (a 4 minute walk)...

Ive used UPS in the past and such requests were never met with any difficulty....if I was out of the house at the time they would return that day or would drop off at a different address if requested.

Keep well clear from these!

A UPS driver will ahve a much larger zone than fastway and also most are directly employed, so they can get permission to go out of their zone.

With Fastway, they are all independent couriers and they have smaller areas but a huge volume - most will have 200 drops / collections a day. A different street, even within a small area can be another driver's area and they cannot enter it.

Like all delivery companies, it works a dream when everything is in place, but domestic deliveries are fraught with dificulties as you are dependent on someone being there at the same time as the driver. - Applies to ALL delivery companies.

Where possible use a work address - parcels will always get delivered on time.

daheff · 04-05-2011 12:34pm

had the same issue with fastways....delivered to a random house down the street. Lucky for the courier the people there took it in!

Leaves the intended recipient in the embarassing position of having to rely on the good will of other people (that u may not know) to get a parcel delivered.

wickerman07 · 04-05-2011 3:40pm

thats true and i accept that they are more restricted but this is maybe reason enough to use UPS instead

thehairyelbow · 10-05-2011 5:24pm

Guys, I've worked for various courier companies down the years, and please believe me when I say Fastway are the worst of the worst! Some of the things they and their drivers have done and continue to do would make you cringe. Stay away from them! They don't care about customers. How they are still operating is beyond me. They just want your money up front for the labels, and tough luck if anything goes wrong with your consignment. Customer service is not in their vocabulary. Use Nightline, DPD, An Post, bring it there yourself before getting involved with Fastway.

Niamh2011 · 03-06-2011 7:08pm

The hairyelbow I would be interested to find out where you developed that opinion about Fastway? Did you work for them???

Oh_Noes · 03-06-2011 7:13pm

I've also had issues with them in the past, I complained to the people who I had purchased the items from originally and they said they've had a lot of problems with them.

I've gotten damaged items (visably damaged in transit), I've had them just leave stuff at my door, knock and walk away and I've had them ring me to meet them down the road when there's a perfectly good space outside my house.

But as someone said, they're independant contractors so the levels of professionalism vaires. The specific area I had problems in is Westmeath/Roscommon.

thehairyelbow · 08-06-2011 10:37am

Niamh2011 wrote: »

The hairyelbow I would be interested to find out where you developed that opinion about Fastway? Did you work for them???

Couldn't have developed my opinion otherwise, could I??

Niamh2011 · 08-06-2011 11:45am

thehairyelbow wrote: »

Couldn't have developed my opinion otherwise, could I??

Is that supposed to be a smart comment ??? I was just asking a question.

So if you worked for them you owned a run? Or you were just subcontracted in? Not that its any of my business I was just wondering if this was personal experince.

Mountjoy Mugger · 08-06-2011 11:51am

Do you have any connection with Fastway Couriers, Niamh?

Two posts; both querying another poster on his comments.

Mr. Presentable · 08-06-2011 11:57am

wickerman07 wrote: »

My delivery was due on a Friday...its now Wednesday and it still hasn't arrived...I've been "promised" that il receive it tomorrow.

Delivery man called...i was at the shop at the time so I called the number on the slip when I returned. He was literally 5 minutes from my house and said that he wouldn't turn back and that id have to wait till the Tuesday(Bank holiday weekend).

On the Tuesday I had to go to work so I called him to ask him could he deliver it there instead. He said he that couldn't as it was in a different zone....I live on Dominic Street in Galway and work on the Docks (a 4 minute walk)...

Ive used UPS in the past and such requests were never met with any difficulty....if I was out of the house at the time they would return that day or would drop off at a different address if requested.

Keep well clear from these!

So basically, you were not there to take delivery so it's someone else's fault. The drivers have routes, so it is not unlikely that your home and work are different areas - the line has to be drawn somewhere.

I have used Fastway for my business for several years - never had a lost package, never a misdelivered package, never a damaged package.

Niamh2011 · 08-06-2011 12:06pm

Mountjoy Mugger wrote: »

Do you have any connection with Fastway Couriers, Niamh?

Two posts; both querying another poster on his comments.

Yeah my husband just got a run and I am concerned with how many past couriers seem to really dislike them.

thehairyelbow · 08-06-2011 12:48pm

Niamh2011 wrote: »

Yeah my husband just got a run and I am concerned with how many past couriers seem to really dislike them.

I am wondering if this is the right place for this. My opinions are based on my experiences from being engaged with the aforementioned company. Unfortunately they are not good experiences. If, as you say, your husband has "just got a run", then my advice to him would be to do his homework and tred very, very carefully.

BnB · 08-06-2011 10:58pm

We've used them for over 2 years now. Wouldn't be very heavy users. Maybe 2 or 3 packages a week. We've never had a problem with them. Our local driver goes out of his way to accomodate us. We wouldn't dream of moving away from them. We're in Limerick

lisatiffany · 13-02-2015 6:37pm

I've only used them this once and won't be using them again. Both yesterday and today they said the driver rang but no one answered, I had my phone right beside me all day and not one call from them came through. I checked with them to make sure they had the right number and they did. Then they said the van broke down, fair enough. Then today they promised it would be here and once again the tracker said it was out for delivery but they didn't drop anything off. Again they said they rang, but they didn't and customer support wouldn't answer the phone. It's ridiculous how some courier companies get to operate these days. I had a similar problem with UPS before and after a week of them not delivering or ringing I just went to the depot and picked it up myself.

Miaireland · 13-02-2015 6:42pm

The fastway driver in my area is a joke. He leaves your item on the window sill of your house nearest the road so anyone who is passing can pick it up. This is regardless of whether you are home or not. He signs for the item himself.

All the other couriers in the area are great. They normally ring and see if you are home and if not arrange an alternative place to drop your item for you. They never just leave it with a random neighbour.

lisatiffany · 13-02-2015 7:21pm

Miaireland wrote: »

The fastway driver in my area is a joke. He leaves your item on the window sill of your house nearest the road so anyone who is passing can pick it up. This is regardless of whether you are home or not. He signs for the item himself.

All the other couriers in the area are great. They normally ring and see if you are home and if not arrange an alternative place to drop your item for you. They never just leave it with a random neighbour.

It's illegal for him to sign it himself, and it's most likely illegal to leave it on your window sill too. I'm just going to call head office Monday morning and request the name and number of the driver, I'd make a complaint about the company too but Fastway seem to be all about selling a franchise so there is very little transparency. If I was in your situation and knew ahead of time they were leaving it on your window sill I'd find a way to get them on cctv or video and present that to head office.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 13-02-2015 7:30pm

lisatiffany wrote: »

It's illegal for him to sign it himself, and it's most likely illegal to leave it on your window sill too. I'm just going to call head office Monday morning and request the name and number of the driver, I'd make a complaint about the company too but Fastway seem to be all about selling a franchise so there is very little transparency. If I was in your situation and knew ahead of time they were leaving it on your window sill I'd find a way to get them on cctv or video and present that to head office.

A few issues here. Firstly it is only illegal if he signs your name. He can sign the docket to say nobody was home. It is not illegal to leave the parcel on a window ledge.
Finally, you have no contract with the courier. Your complaint needs to be raised with the sender, who does have a contract with the courier and is also the one responsible for delivery of the item.

lisatiffany · 13-02-2015 7:48pm

It's not illegal to leave it on a ledge outside of an address without even properly notifying the receiver that it's there? What kind of a fairy tale fantasy world do they live in? one where theft obviously must not exist. I'd honestly love to hear head offices reply to that kind of professional behaviour. I get that he can sign a docket stating that no one was home, but he should not be legally allowed to sign it and then leave the package there for anyone to wander up to and take. The docket should state that no one was home so the parcel went back in the van for tomorrow or the following day/etc.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 13-02-2015 8:10pm

lisatiffany wrote: »

It's not illegal to leave it on a ledge outside of an address without even properly notifying the receiver that it's there? What kind of a fairy tale fantasy world do they live in? one where theft obviously must not exist. I'd honestly love to hear head offices reply to that kind of professional behaviour. I get that he can sign a docket stating that no one was home, but he should not be legally allowed to sign it and then leave the package there for anyone to wander up to and take. The docket should state that no one was home so the parcel went back in the van for tomorrow or the following day/etc.

Let's be clear here. "Should not be legally allowed" and "it is illegal" are two very different things. If the latter then please state the statute.

Again, complaints should be addressed to the sender.

I don't condone their manner of operating and have a bugbear about couriers in general but please let's stick to facts and take the correct course to remedy things.

Deagol · 13-02-2015 8:35pm

Fastway are the company that Nespresso use to collect the recycleable coffee pods. You leave the special bag full of pods outside the door once you've notified Nespresso and they arrange collection.
I think I've had to ring at least once everytime to query why my bag hasn't been collected. They always say that Fastway were supposed to have collected it.

I've actually seen the Fastway van come round my estate and glance towards my house and keep driving. Make what you will of that

ABajaninCork · 13-02-2015 9:23pm

Fastway have delivered to me in the past. In fact, I know when the drivers are due and make sure either I'm here to greet them, or tip my neighbour off to keep an eye out for me.

Driver knows me by name. A couple of times, I've raced home to meet him only to see him coming down the hill, yelling he's left the parcel next door!

galwayjohn89 · 14-02-2015 12:03am

Fastway (like a lot of couriers) really depends on the local courier. My one will always attempt delivery and ring to ask me if I want it left anywhere. Now, when one is due for delivery and I'm out I'll text the driver and tell him to leave it in the green bin. Find Fastway brilliant and Fedex awful for my home address. For the office, Fedex are brilliant.

Odyssey 2005 · 14-02-2015 12:18am

I stopped dealing with Nespresso and Littlewoods because of Fastway Couriers. Between throwing parcels of coffee pods over the wall to climbing over a 6foot wall and putting parcels into sheds in my back garden and signing MY name on the delivery docket.. Am still waiting for customer services to call me back,months later.

Shelflife · 14-02-2015 1:15pm

There are good couriers and bad couriers, same goes for the actual drivers. We as customers enable the bad ones to get away with it by not complaining properly.
If a courier just left a package on my doorstep or threw it over a garden gate and signed my name on the package I would simply tell the company that I bought the product off that I never received the goods.

It's not acceptable to leave product that you will subsequently eat or drink outside where dogs, cats or vermin have access to it.

A bit of give and take is necessary but they are obliged and contracted to deliver the product to the address stated, not the local shop, not your neighbour and not your back garden.

If the company you purchase from get enough complaints they will change to a courier that does the job properly.

Odyssey 2005 · 14-02-2015 2:02pm

Shelflife wrote: »

There are good couriers and bad couriers, same goes for the actual drivers. We as customers enable the bad ones to get away with it by not complaining properly.
If a courier just left a package on my doorstep or threw it over a garden gate and signed my name on the package I would simply tell the company that I bought the product off that I never received the goods.

It's not acceptable to leave product that you will subsequently eat or drink outside where dogs, cats or vermin have access to it.

A bit of give and take is necessary but they are obliged and contracted to deliver the product to the address stated, not the local shop, not your neighbour and not your back garden.

If the company you purchase from get enough complaints they will change to a courier that does the job properly.

Got a pain in my arse reporting it, both to the courier company and the senders. Couriers didn't seen to take 3 complaints seriously and no call back. As for saying the package never arrived, I thought about that but that's unethical and the driver just gets away with bad practice. Easiest thing to do was close the two accounts and explain why.

GekkePrutser · 26-03-2015 7:39pm

I just found this thread - got a delivery today (100 euro tablet) from Amazon Germany that went from UPS i-parcel to Fastway.

I was tracking it today while I was at work, planning to collect it from their depot this evening like I always do with DHL, An Post, Nightline etc. But around 1pm I saw:

"Authority to leave. Authority to Leave - Your parcel has been delivered. According to your instructions a signature is not required."

I assumed he had left it with a neighbour (not uncommon for a parcel that does not require a signature).

However, tonight at 6pm my girlfriend comes home and find the parcel just dumped on the floormat in front of our apartment, where anyone could steal it. He did not bother trying to call me or left a 'you weren't there' note, apparently.

I'm definitely going to complain at Amazon and Fastway, this is totally ridiculous. A real company shouldn't use these numbnuts.

jaymcg91 · 27-03-2015 12:22am

Fastway are the worst couriers around. If I know that they're the couriers for a company (and they seem to be for more and more - I imagine that they're the cheapest), I just automatically send it to Parcel Motel. €3.95 is worth it, the stress of going and arguing with them about delivery of my parcels isn't worth it (they ALWAYS claim they knocked and I was out, even though if I see on a tracker it's out for delivery I'll sit in my kitchen next to the door to wait).

ShaShaBear · 27-03-2015 12:34am

Ordered an expensive phone as a present from Carphone Warehouse, Fastway courier left it with a stranger in the same housing estate as us and said he left it "with her wan than minds retarded childer". Still no idea who this is, and it took two calls to the office to make him go back and get it. My partner got epic amounts of abuse at the door for being too lazy to get it himself and after my partner said he would report him, he threw a pen at him and then broke out front gate slamming it as he ran back to his van. Won't ever use the service again!

jaymcg91 · 27-03-2015 1:17am

Yeah I had an issue with a courier and they basically said "not our problem" and gave me his personal number to "text him to sort it out". Like how are these morons even in business.

Del2005 · 27-03-2015 9:51am

jaymcg91 wrote: »

Yeah I had an issue with a courier and they basically said "not our problem" and gave me his personal number to "text him to sort it out". Like how are these morons even in business.

Because they pay the drivers F all and are constantly replacing them with drivers earning even less.

People are always looking for the cheapest option and this is what it leads to as the only place that most companies can cut costs is pay, as everything else is going up. So the consumers looking for "free" delivery, the sellers are looking for discounts from the distributors, the distributors are looking for discounts from the courier companies who are forcing drivers to work at nearly a loss on most jobs.

GekkePrutser · 27-03-2015 6:09pm

Del2005 wrote: »

Because they pay the drivers F all and are constantly replacing them with drivers earning even less.

People are always looking for the cheapest option and this is what it leads to as the only place that most companies can cut costs is pay, as everything else is going up. So the consumers looking for "free" delivery, the sellers are looking for discounts from the distributors, the distributors are looking for discounts from the courier companies who are forcing drivers to work at nearly a loss on most jobs.

Mine was not free though, I paid Amazon 10 euro for delivery (it came from the UK despite ordering on amazon.de).

Strange enough for the free 'SuperSaver' delivery they use An Post which is way more reliable.

While I also hate companies ripping off their staff (and often forcing them to work as an 'independent' contractor to cheat them out of their benefits), getting a low wage is no excuse for not doing your job properly. Just don't take the job then.

Del2005 · 28-03-2015 1:07am

GekkePrutser wrote: »

Mine was not free though, I paid Amazon 10 euro for delivery (it came from the UK despite ordering on amazon.de).

Strange enough for the free 'SuperSaver' delivery they use An Post which is way more reliable.

While I also hate companies ripping off their staff (and often forcing them to work as an 'independent' contractor to cheat them out of their benefits), getting a low wage is no excuse for not doing your job properly. Just don't take the job then.

Note that the reliable company is the one paying a decent wage to their employees!

jaymcg91 · 28-03-2015 1:53am

Del2005 wrote: »

Note that the reliable company is the one paying a decent wage to their employees!

I understand that, but why would somebody work a job that they're nearly making a loss on? If you choose to take the job then don't do it half assed.

I agree though, this is driven by consumers looking for 'free' delivery though.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 28-03-2015 9:10am

This must vary by location because Fastway are the line couriers I actually like. They cab find my house and arrive at a decent time of day. All the others struggle to find us, they say they called and nobody was home although we were here, and can take weeks to deliver.

But generally I feel we have ended up with the service we deserve because we have become obsessed with cheap or free delivery and buying from the cheapest suppliers.

Del2005 · 28-03-2015 9:14am

jaymcg91 wrote: »

I understand that, but why would somebody work a job that they're nearly making a loss on? If you choose to take the job then don't do it half assed.

I agree though, this is driven by consumers looking for 'free' delivery though.

Most where probably in it before it went to s**t and like taxi people now can't afford to get out, the companies cutting constantly cutting rates and other questionable actions doesn't help.

I'm not excusing the drivers but especially in this country it's nearly impossible to find an address, even in modern industrial estates never mind out towns and cities. They could be spending hours looking for an address, you'd be amazed at how many people can't give directions to their own home, and then are under pressure to get the rest of the parcels off.

I never couriered but I know a lot who did and when the money was good it was a tough job and now that the money is crap the driver isn't even making minimum wage a lot of the times.

wingnut · 30-03-2015 5:47pm

BnB wrote: »

. We've never had a problem with them. Our local driver goes out of his way to accomodate us. We wouldn't dream of moving away from them. We're in Limerick

Have gotten occasional deliveries from them in Co. Limerick - no issues. Seems like YMMV given they are a franchise.

ED E · 11-04-2015 3:48pm

Fastway are a right farce here. Last delivery and the current one I'm waiting on have both been terribly handled. Status messages are straight lies. Three attempts to contact me logged, amazon never provided them my number....

I order a lot, and everyone has the odd mess up, had my first from an post in years recently, but fastway are consistently pathetic. Will be writing the retailler I just ordered from to complain, an post or I won't bother again.

wandatowell · 13-04-2015 4:43pm

My Fastway guy is top class. I'll ring him when I won't be around to sign for a parcel (he's generally in my area from 10-11 everyday and he'll hold off on the delivery until I'm home later in the day. Suits both of us perfectly.

I've never sent a parcel but after reading the above post I dont think I will either.

my friend · 13-04-2015 4:44pm

mogwai10 wrote: »

For the second time this year i have had a parcel signed for by a complete stranger(Also with illegible handwriting),when delivered by FASTWAY Couriers,the driver can-t remember what house he dropped it in(Funny that)and of course none of my neighbours know anything about any parcels.Just wondering if anybody else has had the misfortune of dealing with these people?

When I order stuff if the shipper is Fastway I cancel

Odyssey 2005 · 13-04-2015 5:37pm

my friend wrote: »

When I order stuff if the shipper is Fastway I cancel

Ditto. Even closed my A/C with ppl who use them for transport.

FASTWAY COURIERS FAIL.

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