Moray MP Douglas Ross led a House of Commons debate on Monday evening to once again highlight how his constituents continue to be hit with extortionate delivery charges from companies, simply based on where they live.
It was the latest attempt by Douglas to change the “unfair and punitive” practice which he says has hit customers in Moray and across rural and remote areas for far too long. He highlighted independent research from the Scottish Parliament that revealed extra charges have now topped £45 million, including over £4m worth in Moray.
He used his speech to highlight many specific examples where constituents have been unfairly punished. This included an anecdote from Jim Oliver from Inverness who was seeking to buy a gardening tool worth £40 for his mother-in-law, who had been told there would be a £2,000 delivery charge.
When Mr Oliver tried, a serious computer glitch meant that he was then shown that it would cost over £200 million, more than the world’s most expensive footballer, Neymar.
Douglas also raised examples of an Elgin woman hit with a £70 surcharge several days after purchasing a bed, a Findhorn constituent getting asked to pay a further £40 in additional delivery charges and a constituent in Elgin faced with a big delivery charge but then discovered there would be no charges at all, if it went to a relative in Rothes only 10 miles away.
Responding for the UK Government to Douglas’ speech, Paul Scully agreed to meet with the Moray MP and some of the worst performing companies responsible for the charges.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “I was pleased to once again lead a debate on this deeply unfair practice which has gone on for far too long. People in Moray and across our rural and remote communities continue to be hit by these punitive charges simply due to where they live which is completely unacceptable.
“It is a welcome step forward that the Business Minister has agreed to meet with me alongside some of the companies who are most responsible for imposing these charges on my constituents. The Minister will have been left in no doubt about how widespread and incredibly unfair this practice can be on so many people in Moray.
“While it might have been a glitch, one company didn’t even seem to care that a customer might have thought the delivery charge for a gardening tool would have been more expensive than Neymar.
“There are literally hundreds of examples because this is continuing to occur all too often. I have raised this ever since I was elected at Moray’s MP and was determined to send the strongest possible message once again in this debate.
“I hope this meeting can be arranged as soon as possible with the companies responsible and every possible measure explored to end these extortionate charges once and for all.”