Parcelforce 'prioritising big businesses over Colchester customers'

Parcelforce Worldwide has come under fire from a current delivery driver who has been working for the company for more than three years.

The staff member, who has asked the Gazette to keep his identity hidden, is based at the firm’s Essex depot in Chelmsford, but often delivers packages in Colchester.

He claims a dwindling workforce has resulted in a huge backlog of parcels, which has ultimately forced the business into focusing more on “top” customers over residents.

Concerns - Parcelforce's Essex depot in Chelmsford (Image: Google Maps)

The whistleblower, who has blamed bad management and poor money-saving measures for the demise, has also said workers are now suffering from stress.

“A lot of staff have left in the last 18 months and apparently more are leaving soon, everyone is fed-up,” said the Parcelforce employee.

“We are told to make sure certain parcels are delivered over other stuff and we have a top customer list which we have to deliver to ahead of general items.

“Generally it is business customers and we are reminded during an afternoon debrief to deliver the top customers’ items.

“It's very unfair on the normal members of the public who don't get their items.

“About six weeks ago we also had a route revision and everything was changed.

“All the drivers were taken off their routes and put somewhere else. Some drivers had been in their area for more than ten years.

“We currently have over 2,000 undelivered items at our depot in Chelmsford and apparently there's another loaded trailer at the central hub still to be sent.”

The Gazette has since seen a message which was sent to the worker instructing him to not “forget to prioritise” his so-called top customer packages.

Defence - Bosses at Parcelforce parent company Royal Mail has played down the claims (Image: Public)

A spokesman for Royal Mail, the parent company of Parcelforce, said: “Over the last ten years, the number of addresses we deliver to has grown by more than two million.

“Since before the pandemic the number of parcels has risen and we have therefore revised routes to ensure they are fairer and reflect the growth in addresses and parcel deliveries.

“Royal Mail does not operate a policy of prioritising parcels and we regularly remind colleagues [all deliveries] should be treated with equal importance.

“At particularly busy times we may occasionally clear parcels to free up space and address health and safety concerns so that we can keep all mail moving efficiently.”