Scottish shoppers are still being ripped off by extra delivery surcharges, as the amount added onto shopping has risen to £43.1million in 2020.
Figures from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe) show that delivery charges have increased by more than £6.8 million since 2017.
The charges have created a postcode lottery with people living in rural parts of the country being left out of pocket due to the unfair charges.
The region most affected by the charges is Inverness and Nairn which is estimated to have paid an extra £7.7million in delivery charges.
The Fair Delivery Charges campaign to end rip off delivery surcharges, led by SNP MSP Richard Lochhead (pictured) , has received cross-party support in Holyrood, but UK Tory Ministers have so-far refused to introduce legislation to tackle the problem.
Commenting, SNP MSP for Moray, Richard Lochhead, said:
“It is hugely frustrating to see that shoppers in Scotland have been forced to fork out an additional £43.1 million on parcel delivery surcharges this year simply because of where they live.
“Despite widespread support for the Fair Delivery Charges campaign charges continue to rise year-on-year.
“Since I started this campaign, the cost of these surcharges has increased by an eyewatering £6.8m.
“The campaign is making a positive difference but given that online shopping is on the rise, particularly this year due to the COVID-19 restrictions, so is the postcode penalty paid by households and businesses in Scotland.
“Scottish consumers in rural areas – who are often more dependent on online shopping than those who live on the mainland – should not have to live with these eye-watering surcharges.
“Having to pay extra delivery charges will really hit the pockets of working families this festive season.
“We know times are tough for businesses at the moment, but consumers should not be bearing the brunt of these challenges.
“I would urge all delivery companies to level the playing field for everyone and stop adding on these ridiculous surcharges.
“Enough is enough – the Tories at Westminster can’t sit on their hands any longer.
“It’s time for the UK government, to introduce meaningful legislation that will put a stop to these unfair surcharges once and for all.”
