Scots are “running out of patience” with UK government inaction on unfair delivery charges – after new research revealed that Scottish shoppers are forced to fork out an extra £43.1 million each year in delivery surcharges, compared to the rest of the UK.
SNP MSP Richard Lochhead (pictured) has now written to Tory minister Paul Scully MP to call for urgent action from the UK government to tackle these unfair surcharges, and “ensure that this is the last Christmas that Scots have to put up with these rip-off surcharges.”
The Fair Delivery Charges campaign to end rip off delivery surcharges, led by Mr Lochhead, has received cross-party support in Holyrood, but UK Tory Ministers have so-far refused to introduce legislation to tackle the problem.
Richard Lochhead MSP said:
“It’s incredibly frustrating to see these figures rising year-on-year, despite cross-party support for my Fair Delivery Charges campaign.
“The campaign has made a positive difference, but given that online shopping is on the increase – particularly this year due to Covid-19 restrictions – so is the postcode penalty paid by households and businesses.
“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 can really hit families in the pocket, especially when buying Christmas presents for friends and family.
“These unfair postcode penalties must be tackled once and for all – we need the UK Government to step up and legislate to ensure that this is the last Christmas Scots are forced to put up with these rip-off surcharges.”
