Yodel parcel delays hit Street, Glastonbury, Wells, Frome and Shepton Mallet shoppers

Expert advice on protecting your consumer rights as festive deliveries face disruption

Shoppers across Street, Glastonbury, Wells, Frome and Shepton Mallet may face late deliveries as Yodel grapples with a capacity crisis affecting nationwide parcel processing.

The courier, which serves major brands like Very, Argos, and AO.com, has urged businesses to redirect parcels to alternative carriers as it can no longer guarantee its 24-hour delivery service. Issues with HGV drivers arriving late have disrupted schedules and collections, leading to delays for customers in the region.

The problems come at a critical time, following Black Friday sales and in the lead-up to Christmas, one of the busiest periods for parcel deliveries.

Nick Drewe, founder of online discount platform Wethrift, explained the situation, saying:

"Yodel has reached out to its business clients, urging them to redirect parcels to alternative carriers to minimise delays for customers. However, this disruption will undoubtedly impact thousands of shoppers, particularly during such a busy period.

"For consumers, it's important to know your rights if deliveries are delayed or go missing. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the seller – not the courier – is always responsible for ensuring your parcel arrives."

What to do if your delivery is late or missing

If you paid for next-day delivery or a guaranteed delivery date and the service is not fulfilled, you can request a refund for the additional delivery cost. If the parcel doesn't arrive at all, you are entitled to a replacement or a full refund.

Mr Drewe added:

"Consumers should contact the retailer first, not the courier. The seller must either locate the parcel, resend it, or issue a refund. If you don't get a satisfactory response, escalate the matter to the Retail Ombudsman or request a chargeback from your bank."

Steps to take:

• Contact the retailer and refer to the Consumer Rights Act, stating, "Failure to deliver within a reasonable time and after the agreed deadline is a breach under the Consumer Rights Act 2015."
• If the seller is unhelpful, escalate the matter to the Retail Ombudsman or request a chargeback through your bank for card payments.

PayPal and credit card protection

If you paid with PayPal, the Buyer Protection Guarantee could reimburse you for the full value of the item and postage. Credit card purchases between £100 and £30,000 are protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, meaning you can claim directly from your card provider.

Safe place delivery risks

Local residents are urged to carefully consider their choice of a 'safe place' for deliveries, such as sheds or neighbours. Mr Drewe explained:

"While nominating a safe place can be convenient, it comes with risks. If the parcel goes missing, the retailer may argue that the delivery was completed as agreed, which could leave you without a refund."

The disruption is expected to affect thousands of customers across Somerset. Shoppers in Street, Glastonbury, Wells, Frome and Shepton Mallet are encouraged to act quickly and know their rights if their parcels are delayed or go missing.