Fastways couriers - number unobtainable - problems?

[completerookie]

We use Fastways couriers, had occasional probs, but nothing out of the ordinary and have been quite happy. but lately we've been hearing from the driver etc of problems brewing,

yesterday, we had absolutely no response from any of our contacts, - they have some of our parcels (£3-400 worth)
today, the phone number is classified as "un-obtainable"

anyone know of any "issues" with them elsewhere in the country? (we are nottingham ng postcodes) in case that affects anyone sending to NG postcodes from elsewhere

kev

[completerookie]

at last, got through to someone, seems they have "driver issues" - even the lass that answers the phones is out on the road.
All deliveries in the Nottingham franchise are currently being channelled through ParcelForce and are subject to delays - currently due for delivery on "tuesday"
the good news "seems" to be that our items haven't dissappeared up in smoke, merly delayed.

[Paul Bulpit]

Not totally connected, we had purchased upfront 'National' and 'Local' tickets from the Southampton (SO - Eastleigh) depot. When we used up the national tickets we decided not to renew, (poor tracking, limited delivery areas) but still wanted to use up the local ones. Obviously we don't have that many local deliveries.

We had similar problems to you, our postcode franchisee gave up, then Eastleigh was taken over by Portsmouth (PO) and service continued for a few weeks - Portsmouth sent in an agency driver.

Eventually it all dried up - currently there is no franchisee driver for our collection postcode regardless of which depot he would work from.

So if anybody would like to buy a book of local brown labels off me.....

They cost £2.95, I have forty left at two quid each (plus VAT) and of course users will know that these can be used anywhere (that you have a successful franchise operating). PM Me!

[completerookie]

pfb5 - sorry for your probs down in Eastleigh, brings back memories, know the area well, born just 400yds from the high street there !

we've become disillusioned with them, and have been drawing down the stock of pre-paid tickets.
luckily, we now have just 20 or so of various tickets left, we're going to wait until the new franchisee get the contract, and once he's contacted us, we'll use up the "old " tickets, but I think that will be that,

its always been a trade off with Fastways, occasional delays, excuse number 48, excuse number 12 etc, wrong distribution depot, but having said that, no worse than some of the other couriers, sometimes things go wrong, I just wish they (fastways) and any other service provider would just "come clean", say they made a mistake, put it right, and possibly offer a sweatener (its not rocket science to keep the customer on your side)

the job now is to find a courier (at the right price) that takes larger boxes (wheelchairs) all under the traditional 25kg limit at a sensible price, anyone got any good ideas (remember its the size of the box that occasionally upsets them)

kev

[Paul Bulpit]

know the area well, born just 400yds from the high street there !

That reminded me, a year or two ago I had been waiting for a particular page to be completed on your father's website - in the meantime I lost the link and forgot about it. Found it now - 1913, Aug. 11th - thanks!

the job now is to find a courier (at the right price) that takes larger boxes

We get on quite well with City Link..... they shift plasma TV's that must be about the same size?

___________
Paul

[completerookie]

That reminded me, a year or two ago I had been waiting for a particular page to be completed on your father's website

He's now finished the Andover Fire Brigade Diary website, over 300+ pages, from 1908 through to 1916 together with some other interesting pages,
He's now been contacted by the "National Library" and is in the progress of having the website "cloned" so that it can be preserved for posterity, (should he ever forget to renew the domain) and then on top of that, had a page in the "BBC - Who do you think you are" magazine all about the site - not bad for an old boy of 75+ and his first website.

We get on quite well with City Link..... they shift plasma TV's that must be about the same size?

we'll get on to them on Monday. thans for the clues, it also looks as though they are prepared to carry "breakables" and treat them with care so thats also encouraging

thanks
kev

[Paul Bulpit]

it also looks as though they are prepared to carry "breakables" and treat them with care

Don't know where you got that from - it ain't guaranteed (or insured) by any means!

(PS : I've got the book that father refers to on Photo 1910 page - he already has the relevant images, there are others but they are later than his period).

[completerookie]

Don't know where you got that from - it ain't guaranteed (or insured) by any means!

sorry, probably inferred from the "they carry plasmas" mention

Dads away at the mo, I'll tell him about the thread when he gets back, I'm not sure where he got the photo's from, the quality is not hot, he only lives up the road in Shirley, I'm not sure if he's seen the actual book, or got a photo sent to him

kev