“If I pay someone to deliver something, I expect it to be delivered properly”
Evri have apologised to Mr Curliss(Image: Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)
An East Belfast man has hit out at courier giant Evri after his Amazon delivery was left hundreds of yards from his home — despite saying he left clear instructions.
Andrew Curliss, 64, from East Belfast, said a recent mis-delivery was the latest in a string of poor experiences with parcel deliveries.
Mr Curliss ordered medical supplies on December 30 to his house at number 90, but on January 2, the parcel was delivered to a house at number 91 — some 500 yards down the same street. The courier’s proof-of-delivery photo, he said, “could have been any doorway in the UK” and did not display a house number, so he was unable to determine the location where the parcel had arrived.
READ MORE: Heartfelt tributes to ‘an absolute giant of the Belfast music scene’ following his deathREAD MORE: Road traffic collision in Co Armagh closes main road
Mr Curliss told Belfast Live that he had experienced “constant issues” with this delivery company.
The East Belfast resident said he only recovered the parcel a day later when a resident from number 91 in his street kindly brought it round to his home at number 90. But, the actions of the neighbour, while welcome, was too late as Amazon had already issued a refund and he had reordered the much-needed goods.
Mr Curliss said he had no intention of seeing the seller left out of pocket and agreed to return the parcel, but refused to pay the postage given that he believed the initial error lay with Evri.
“I don’t see why I should be out of pocket for their failings,” he said. “It’s not just about this parcel — it’s about a duty of care. If I pay someone to deliver something, I expect it to be delivered properly.
“We live on a terraced street — people walk past your front door all day. Things get soaked, stolen, or blown into the road.”
Mr Curliss added that he has seen other Evri drivers leave parcels on neighbours’ doorsteps.
“I know the couriers are trying to make a living,” he said, “but they need to read the instructions.
“For decades parcels were delivered properly — now it’s a complete mess.”
In a statement, an Evri spokesperson apologised to Mr Curliss and said the error was due to “a genuine mistake by the courier.”
“Our priority is to handle every parcel with care, and we apologise to Mr Curliss for the initial error, which resulted in his parcel being incorrectly delivered to a neighbour. Any customer needing support with a refund or replacement should contact the retailer as a first step, and we’re pleased that the retailer was able to support Mr Curliss. We’ve also reached out to the seller to ensure neither they nor Mr Curliss are out of pocket.”
Mr Curliss said Evri has since offered to cover return postage and make a goodwill gesture.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter.
