Pricing map will help rural communities identify unfair charges.

Richard Lochhead MSP (pictured), who has led the fight against unfair delivery fees, has welcomed a new online parcel delivery pricing map launched by the Scottish Government to help residents of rural communities identify unfair delivery charges.

Figures from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) showed that in 2019, Scottish shoppers were forced to fork out an extra £40.1 million in in delivery surcharges relative to the rest of the UK.

MSP for Moray, Richard Lochhead, has led the fight against these unfair fees, securing a commitment from Advertising Standards Authority last year to crackdown on firms that, despite advertising UK-wide delivery, penalise residents and businesses in rural Scotland with extortionate delivery surcharges.

The free service available at www.fairdeliveries.scot is part of the Scottish Government’s ongoing action to tackle unfair delivery charges.

Richard Lochhead MSP said:

“It is completely unjust that, for years, shoppers across Scotland have been expected to fork out huge sums of money each year on these unfair delivery surcharges.

“Although some retailers and couriers have acknowledged the problem, far too many continue to charge customers in Scotland sky-high delivery surcharges.

“It’s simple – Scottish shoppers shouldn’t face added fees simply because of their postcode.

“This new website will help to make it easier for everyone – particularly those in rural communities like Moray – to identify unfair surcharges, find the best deal for purchases, and encourage companies to review their pricing.

“Of course, the Covid-19 pandemic has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people using online shopping.

“Now, more than ever, delivery charges across the UK should be fair and transparent, and people should have the information they need to make informed choices.”