Post details: More Hard-To-Find Telephone Numbers - Amazon and Home Delivery Network

Wed, 20 December 2006

Permalink 01:13:46 pm

More Hard-To-Find Telephone Numbers - Amazon and Home Delivery Network



Fairly well hidden, although it is available via a ring-back service, the Amazon customer service number is 0800 2796620.

Home Delivery Network don't have a number anywhere on their website. Their telephone number is 0870 1545400.

Comments, Trackbacks:

Comment from brendon grimshaw
Home Delivery Network are just about the worst transport (sic) you can ever get involved with. Before you even think about using them my advice is to seek treatment from your doctor.
You cannot contact them. Their tracking information is useless. I had a tracking number. It showed the parcel sitting in a depot for 4 days. No problem I though I would ring up the depot and sort it out. No telephone number listed. Back to the number quoted on my dispatch note.
Now wait for this.
YOU CAN'T ASK THEM DIRECT. THE ONLT WAY THEY CAN FIND THE PARCEL IS FROM THE NUMBER THE DRIVER WROTE ON THE CARD WHEN HE COULD NOT MAKE THE DELIVERY. HOLD ON THE DRIVER HASN'T BEEN!! I CANT HELP YOU WITHOUT THAT NUMBER.
This has got to be the most stupid way to run any business!!!
You can't contact anyone in HOME DELIVERY NETWORK.
However being in computers for most of my fife it was not a great leap of thought to find the name of the Managing director and then check his expected e-mail address worked. See the BT site for checking mail address, and sure enough this bloke had a mail address.
Off went my mail...result!
No reply from him but the Head of Customer Service sent me a mail back promissing delivery this morning.
And in the words of the song "I'm still waiting"
Why don't you mail them and tell them what you think of Home Delivery Network... Best we can hope is it screws up his mail system for christmas like he has scewed up mine.

Managing Director walter.blackwood@hdnl. you put in the rest
Customer services Elaine.Boyle@hdnl.
please feel free to pass these mail addresses round they have no right to sit and do nothing about this sort of service. Sorry lack of service.
Thank you
23/12/06 @ 12:24
Comment from Nicola Churchill
I agree Home Delivery Network are a joke, before christmas a parcel was sent to me from holland not once but 3 times and on every occasion it was sent back with no reason. Their customer service isn't any better and if you want to find their number you will be searching for a long time as it isn't featured on their web site believe me I searched. DONT USE THEM
11/01/07 @ 12:07
Comment from Shane
Well, I have to somewat disagree with you both. A od service has been provided by them to us here.
In-case you are here looking, this is the phone number they give for tracking and all other enquiries 0870 1545400, however no-one wants to pay a phone call at those rates so search that phone number on here... [search google for saynoto0870 and it will be the first link] using the search feature enter the above number, hit enter and try to choose your nearest Depot. I've used the tracking number on the website and by phone to ask something. My cossignment tracking number has worked a blast, if the parcel/package has no tracking, as soon as it reaches a depot tracking is started. I'm sure that every delivery company, and any company infact, has its hiccups. And for the amount of deliveries they make, I would say that your deliveries are just that, if even big ones at that.
23/01/07 @ 09:10
Comment from Aileen O'Brien
I've been waiting for 5 days for them to ring me to organise when I can pick up my parcel. I've rung them 6 times and I reckon have spent the same amount on ringing them as on the original item! One guy was very rude indeed. I'm still waiting. They're appalling
23/01/07 @ 19:22
Comment from Laurence
Here is the number that amazon use to contact them:
0800 2796620
30/01/07 @ 13:26
Comment from craig elliott
An awful service, I have been waiting 7 days for a 24 hour delivery, my parcel has been passed back and forth in the midlands... will it ever get passed the watford gap! No phone number no appologies!
31/01/07 @ 14:44
Comment from jen
home delivery network are rediculas. left a card saying my parcel was with a neighbour but the address was down the opposite end of my road and when i went there the little old man didn't have a clue what i was talking about. finally got hold of the company to be told it wasn't their responsability as the parcel had baan delivered. would like to know whos it is then. think i'll be chasing this up for a while yet
02/02/07 @ 08:24
Comment from hannah
I ordered all my family xmas presents online at the beginning of december thinking that was enough time to get them before going away on the friday b4 xmas.

First the goods turned up a huge 2 weeks later. By turned up I mean that after going backwards and forwards between different people at hdnl's customer contact centre I finally gave up trying to get sense out of them and went to my local depot myself to say stop sending your drivers out because I am not home I will pick up from here and save you the hassle. They had absolutely no problem with this and I finally got my stuff...

... only to find out there was someone else's things in my parcel. The depot organised paperwork immediately for me to return the parcel (only one week to xmas at this point).

I then decided to give my work address as at least I thought here some1 would be 'in' for delivery.

After waiting to the last but one day before I was due to go away I gave up waiting and just said look I'll have to pick up from the depot again. The second depot (work and home fall under separate depots) again very compliant and understanding.

In conclusion - give them the right info and the depots are great (I dealt with two north east ones and both exemplars for good customer care).

Try the customer contact centre only if you are prepared to get very very annoyed and frustrated at their utter lack of customer care skills. The operatives might not all be bad but I delat with four different people each equally as atrocious as the other.

Don't even consider asking them for the depot number as they know darn well who the depots are but will not under any circumstances give you the number. They will email them and that is it.

For Gateshead the depot is in the Felling industrial estates (old White Arrow Express) and Sunderland the depot is on Commercial Road in Hendon. For both depots you can normally drive round the back if the office staff have gone home.
07/02/07 @ 18:05
Comment from Peter From Leicester
After reading all the coments on this site I know that I will naver use HDN. Thanks for the info.
08/02/07 @ 13:13
Comment from Eileen Jones
I have also been the unhappy victim of this company's complete incompetence. However, I have tried to e mail the MD using the address supplied by Brendan Grimshaw but the address has not been recognised.I assume he has changed it following an avalanche of unsympathetic correspondence. If anyone has an up to date e mail I would be glad to have it.
09/02/07 @ 18:36
Comment from Pete
HDN tracking system said they had 2 failed deliveries, and had left cards each time. Funny how I was working in my hall the whole time, and never saw or heard a vehicle, no ring or knock at the door and certainly no cards. Amazon apologised and said they would "follow it up". Its difficult to NOT use HDN with Amazon, as they use it by default on many items, and you have no choice unless you upgrade to much more expensive shipping options. The lack of contact details of ANY KIND on their website just confirms their incompetence, as they obviously have far too many complaints to afford staff to man the phones or email relies. Avoid if you can...
13/02/07 @ 12:32
Comment from Sue Pritchard
After reading all the messages on Home Delivery Network Ltd. I was really worried. I am waiting for a parcel from Amazon via the service and have been advised that it will be delivered within a 3 day time slot. I cannot stay at home for 3 days for good reasons which I explained to Amazon via their ringback service. The person at the other end seemed to be able to track down the parcel and give a date and timeslot for it delivery. I will wait to see if and when it is delivered on the date they have given me (16th February). In the meantime, if your order is with Amazon and it is due to be delivered through Home Delivery Network it looks like you need to get in touch with Amazon right away to find out what is happening with your order. I cannot understand why a big firm like them are bothering with this set-up.
Sue
13/02/07 @ 13:58
Comment from andy
**Deleted by Admin**
Comments about the company are fine; comments about specific, named members of staff aren't.
14/02/07 @ 22:30
Comment from Lisa
I have been waiting for a delivery for 3 days - having checked on the hdnl website - it states that they cannot locate my address! Strange.... they have delivered here approx 3 times in the last 3 weeks!! Lazy I call it - have they never thought to do what most other people do and look in a map book, use a sat nav or access internet map sites for info??? Just a thought! Get with it hdnl - it really isn't that difficult! Also had the same difficulty with getting a tel no and giving them a delivery no (as it hasn't been delivered - durr!). Allegedly it is getting delivered tomorrow - we'll see.
15/02/07 @ 14:25
Comment from andy
**Comment deleted by admin**

Andy, I appreciate your comments, but you cannot repeatedly accuse people of corruption. If you have a grievance with HDL, which it sounds like you do, I suggest you speak to the relevant bodies.
15/02/07 @ 23:24
Comment from jon
errrm just a comment on some of the comments i have seen on ere i work for hdnl and i say if the cust isnt going to be in at time of delivery then y order the goods, IF U LOOK AT THE NAME OF THE FIRM IT SAYS HOME DELIVERY NETWORK THAT MEANS CUSTOMERS NEED TO BE IN the homes otherwise u will miss it now yeh i see we have annoyed some ppl in terms of not gettin the parcel on time but u pay for the service witch is not that much if u want more flexibale times n such pay more and u will get more thats what i say!!
16/02/07 @ 01:21
Comment from p sampson
Jon, Jon, Jon.

Dear employee, I sympathise with your loyalty to your employers, I really do. What you point out (that it is a HOME delivery service) may well be true. But unhappily irrelevant.

What you fail to consider is that we, the final targets, have no say in the matter. We do not and would not choose you. It is your customers (i.e. typically Amazon) who choose you.

Perhaps you could let them (and your employers) know - preferably as quickly as possible lest you get too depressed from all of this slagging off you're seeing - that maybe you aren't the best choice of courier for the customers of your customer.
16/02/07 @ 09:43
Comment from Sue
Update on my delivery: Amazon gave me a firm date of 16th February and a firm time slot (10-12 am). It actually arrived yesterday (15th February) when as I explained to them I would not be in. It was left behind a car in my drive - so no-one signed for it and I was lucky it was still there when I arrived home. I unpacked the item and found it to be faulty. I have arranged with Amazon to have it replaced. I do hope this does not arrive via HDL. We must all write to Amazon and ask them why they insist on using a firm who experience more difficulties in operating their business than other carriers seem to.
16/02/07 @ 10:46
Comment from Amit Gupta
I agree with everyone here recently I got same kind of experience my order despatched from amazon on 8th Feb but haven't received untill 16th Feb and still don't know when I am gonna receive. On speaking Amazon they placed new order and then again it is in same que. on website it shows it will be delivered by 5th March (a month to complete order). Spoken to customer care got same kind of rubbish answer expected from customer care department. They thried to offer me 5£ but that's not somthing I am expecting from them what I am expecting is my order to be deliver and they can't answer on that. Don't know what should I do next.

Any way I got HDNL's number in case if anyone intrested in calling them. The number is
08450706030
16/02/07 @ 14:52
Comment from amiba
I'm so glad to find I'm not the only one ripping my hair out for their lack of service!!!

I only found out 2 days ago using the tracking system that there had been 2 delivery attempts earlier this week, as everyone's been saying, they can't seem to do the simplest task of LEAVING A CARD.

No phone number/email address/etc on the website, so emailed Amazon telling them to make HDN call me so I can arrange a re-delivery/collection time, or at LEAST give me their contact number. Amazon gave me a rubbish automated answer saying "it's out for delivery so it'll be delivered soon!" completely ignoring my question, and so I missed the delivery again, obviously as I'm at work during the day.
Emailed Amazon again stating the same thing, no reply from Amazon,
saw this website & called up the Depot directly, and the lady there was very helpful but....

The parcel's just been returned to Amazon!!!!

ARRRRRRGHHHHH

By the way, in order to contact your nearest depot, just use 192 and search for Home Delivery Network!
This certainly seems to be the most efficient way of sorting out this problem. The phone gets picked up right away, and the people there generally seem to be helpful (looking at comments on other message boards and from my experience).
16/02/07 @ 15:38
Comment from komadori
I have also missed a parcel sent by Amazon via HDNL (and in answer to Jon, it is difficult to be in when the first delivery is made if you do not know when that is going to be). I telephoned them two days ago to arrange re-delivery today. Spent all day at home, no delivery. Tracked the parcel on their website this evening and it shows that they did not even attempt a delivery today. Utterly useless.
16/02/07 @ 20:32
Comment from Steph
I too am a victim of the Home Delivery Network. I haved purchased hundreds of items from Amazon over the last few years with no problems, but since they started using this courier company, things rapidly went downhill. The first time HDN left me a note saying they would deliver following day as I was out. I tried phoning the company, but several hours later could not get through. I wanted to explain that I have to work in the daytime (As do many other people) and would not be in. When I did eventually get through later that evening, the staff were surly, rude and most unhelpful. By chance my wife was at home when they arrived the following day. The same thing happened a couple of weeks later. I explained that I had a secure area to the rear, but the very uninterested employee on the other end of the phone was again very unhelpful. By luck though, I was at home when the courier arrived, otherwise the parcel would have been returned to Amazon. Last week, I noticed that Amazon were showing a parcel had been sent several days earlier. As it hadn't arrived, I checked the status. HDN's tracking said it had been delivered. I contacted Amazon who contacted HDN who said it had definitely been delivered. They suggested I go knocking on my neibours' doors to find it!
Needless to say I told them to cancel the order, and cancelled all my outstanding orders with Amazon, explaining that while they dealt with such an awful courier company, I would be doing no further business with them.
I thought that City Link were the worst couriers in the world. These morons beat them hands down. I do my online book shopping with WH Smith now.
17/02/07 @ 09:36
Comment from Steph
Have just read comment from jon 16/02/07.

If jon's attitude is typical of the whole company, which it appears to be, that obviously explains everything.

Come on Amazon, come to your senses. This company will destroy all you have worked for over the years.

17/02/07 @ 10:24
Comment from jon
right alot of ppl think im wrong what i sed but really i think i av a point in what i say i dnt order anything unless i know i'm going to be in or ive made arrangements to leave with me neighbor i work and have parcels delivered fine.. our company is not that bad as we deliver for alot of companys and the best home service for a cheap price we have a 99% del rate and the 1% is u lot just what im trying to say is that if u order then make arrangements we are not royal mail who charge u loads for flexabilty and royal mail dnt come on 4 attempts they make u pick it up plus we are the only service with a tracking system other companies dnt and amazon will not use anouther company as really we have done a good job for them since we had joined a contract and we are a cheap firm who delivery service in my eyes is quality feel free to doubt me but u av think to ur self am i making arrangements to get my parcel delivered wen im at work
17/02/07 @ 17:39
Comment from Sally
Doesn't wash with me - I booked a delivery for today; no-one came - apparently the reason recorded is "flats" - because we live in a flat?

So what? We live in a block of 7 flats and have a doorbell - not even a card was left. I've been at home all day. I guess it's a bit cold outside, to get out of the van and actually make the contracted delivery.
17/02/07 @ 18:02
Comment from james
I work for hdnl and I say, what do you expect for gods sake, it is incredibly frustrating to try and deliver a parcel to someone ( who has asked for next day delivery) and is not in... Why ask for that service if you aint gonna be in ...now that’s stupid...

There is also many a situation in normal deliveries that no one is in and we try our best to either find a neighbour to take your parcel or find somewhere safe to leave your item, remember if you are delivering 150 parcels a day and you spend 2 minutes looking for a neighbour that’s in or a safe place to put your parcel, because you decided to go out on the day of your delivery... on each parcel that is 2.5 hours of your day wasted... there is a facility where you can actually state where you would like your item left if you are not going to be in ... if we do not leave it in a safe place the item is returned what would you rather.. not receiving an item or it being left somewhere safe.. I think with the amount of parcels we deliver as a company we do a good job, so quit complaining and show some respect for a job that can be and is sometimes demoralizing.
19/02/07 @ 03:08
Comment from Jay
I hope that my Nintendo Wii comes today, and IN TIME!!!

I have nothing against HDNL, I just hope it comes cos it is already half-term here so I really want it. It is meant to come today, lets see wat does happen. I will keep everybody informed

P.S I have used this company three times before but this time it is going to a different address
19/02/07 @ 17:22
Comment from Steph
Thanks for letting us all know what you think of Amazon's customers James and Jon! I wonder if Amazon share those sentiments?
I have shopped for years with Amazon, with no problems or complaints, - until they started using your company. Previously with their other delivery providers, I was left a card and was able to collect from the depot if desired. Sometimes the parcels were left with a neighbour,or in my secure area, but ALWAYS a card was left. The people answered their phones promptly and were courteous and helpful. I didn't have to spend hours trying to get through on the phone. So who is stupid eh?




19/02/07 @ 23:01
Comment from pennie wilson
what a joke dont use this company i sent a parcel through them on the 8th off feb on a 2/4 day delivery and it is still sat at aberdeen depot i willnot be useing them again thats for sure
20/02/07 @ 16:59
Comment from jon
just a comment on steph about james n mines comments u said u never had any problems with us maybe u didn't think that amazon choose us because they were paying for other services witch was redicolus money and if u do some research show me are a brilliant company and for ure info u can not shop again but i say wen u do shop at anywhere else they probily use us so u gunna be in the same predicament i think we av thousands of clients like Argos,little woods,amazon,eBay, etc etc so shows we ain't that bad delivery service ill stick to me comments before if u order goods stay in for them and then u cant comment on this site that u av missed them or for that matter get some 1 in to receive the parcel
20/02/07 @ 19:19
Comment from Hilary Sudlow
Home delivery network ---wher shall I start?
Card arrived, I rang them ,they had already tried to deliver a second time, but apparently the delivery was "refused".

By who????

They sent it back to their depot in Droitwich, (I'm in West London), and then onto a company called Studio, who told me they didnt have it and know nothing about it.
Same thing happend a week later with a second parcel.

Somebody in "Studio" now apparently has 2 parcels belonging to me, according to Home Delivery Network.

How do I get them back???


Answers on a postcard please, or on this site if you prefer.
20/02/07 @ 20:47
Comment from Paul Marsden
HDN where do I start ??!!

Firstly they tried to collect my parcel at 7.30am without either knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell but just put a card through anyway !! saying they would call on the next working day !! After calling them they did return to collect the parcel this was on the 9th Feb on a 4day delivery we are now on the 20th some 11days later and the parcel has not reached its destination worse still neither HDN or Parcels 2Go (the booking agent )know where my parcel is and each are telling me to contact the other. I have no idea what to do now but will try all the numbers and email addreess left above. This is the first and only time I will ever use this company. If either of the people who work for HDN can assist in the whereabouts of my parcel then that would be helpful as the people I have spoken to really couldnt give a monkeys !!!!
20/02/07 @ 21:46
Comment from KATE
USELESS is a kind word for this company.
Changing to a different courier now, cheaper AND next day delivery AND you can contact them
21/02/07 @ 13:38
Comment from Dee
I too work for HDNL and can empathise with some of the customers leaving comments. However, please don't judge all depots in the same light. Believe it or not, we have similar problems with Call Centres (who you ring when a driver HAS bothered to leave a card saying you've missed a delivery). Like you, we have to deal with "generalised" comments and a handful of drivers who try to shirk their full duties. There are far more GOOD drivers but as the old adage goes, bad news travels faster! Give me an example where any public service company doesn't have a problem area and I'll say you're telling porky pies.
21/02/07 @ 18:47
Comment from paul marsden
dee it's not just the drivers to blame as my parcel was missing for 12 days and at one point it turned out that the parcel was at the stoke depot for at least 5 days before being sent !
i personaly have found hdn totaly unhelpful to the point where i knew what would be said every time that i rang them and that must be at least 20 times only to be told that it was not thier problem even though they collected the parcel , they had the parcel at thier depot and they were supposed to be delivering the parcel !
this has got so bad that even parcel2go who acording to hdn were responsible for the parcel would not reply to my emails for the last 2 days , talk about bury your head in the sand !!!!
just to point out my parcel has a value of £450 and was sent with parcel2go because i did'nt trust parcelforce hmmmmmm how wrong you can be .
my parcel by the way was deliverd today and has tacken a grand total of 12 days from stafford to west sussex but the best of it is i have had parcels deliverd from the USA AND Hong Kong that only took 4 days !!!!
Anybody wants my advise STAY CLEAR OF PARCELS2GO and DEFINATLY STAY CLEAR OF HDN !!!!!!!!!!

21/02/07 @ 20:26
Comment from Jay
I got my Nintendo Wii on 19/2/07 at 7.50. I actually respect the company for delivering the parcel earlier than expected and even when they loaded the parcel onto the wrong van they did'nt leave it until the next day but they sent it anyway. Well done HDNL
21/02/07 @ 22:09
Comment from Chris
In over 10 years of shopping online I have NEVER had to deal with a shower such as this company! I finally gave up on the call centre and phoned my local depot after the website was updated showing I had missed a delivery for the FOURTH time despite me being in all day.

The first thing the lady said was "Do you live in flats?" as if that was somehow a valid reason why the driver wouldn't ring the doorbell or even leave a card. The lady I spoke to there seemed to be about as bright as the drivers. I am supposedly getting a call back later today to say they have taken it off the truck and I can collect the parcel, but I'm not confident.

I shall not be making any large purchases from Amazon as long as they continue to use this company. I am sure they must be vastly cheaper than Parcelfarce, City Link, etc. but as the old adage goes : "You pay peanuts, you get monkeys!"
22/02/07 @ 15:56
Comment from jon
just a comment on Chris now anno ur upset but calling an advisor on the phone is not the right way to go about it. and basically if thats the way u feel about the company then u go pay the extra u never no u might even miss that 1, and then they will be the bad 1ns end of day u ain't in and u missed it and yeah she asked if u was in flats because some times drivers cant get access so u shud ask some 1 to stay in for u or a neighbor, end of day it was ur fault for not staying in u ordered it.
22/02/07 @ 16:05
Comment from Chris
Comment for Jon - I presume you work for HDNL. If you actually took the time to READ my comment you will see that today I WAS IN ALL DAY and yet the driver did not leave a card or ring the doorbell!

I guess if I typed my comment like an illiterate baboon using lots of '1's' and not spelling words properly then you might have understood it the first time perhaps?

Unfortunately I do not have any choice with orders from Amazon. They use HDNL and therefore I accept that if I want to purchase large items from them then I am at the mercy of HDNL.

I also still don't understand why being in flats is a problem. I live in a house converted to two flats. Royal Mail, Parcelforce, ANC, City Link, DHL and FedEx have never found this a problem. Why should Home Delivery Network?
22/02/07 @ 16:19
Comment from Stuart
Jon. I appreciate you replying to people's concerns on here, but I'm going to delete further comments from you unless you:

a) convince me you are genuinely an employee of HDNL. Feel free to email me (address at the bottom left of this page).
b) Type proper English. I don't know about anyone else, but your posts are incredibly hard to understand.
22/02/07 @ 16:20
Comment from jon
sorry about that start i would say that i am more of a texting person me self but hey and yes i am a genuine worker for HDNL but i cant find your email anywhere

and just a comment on the subject of Chris yes i did read your comments but i wasn't just on about today u said it was your fourth card witch should tell you that we have been extra nice in coming on them 4 times not many companies do this and for such a cheap firm as ours.

:)
22/02/07 @ 17:43
Comment from Chris
Jon, this parcel was returned to Amazon after nobody being there on the second delivery attempt, rather than being held at the depot like I would have expected.

It has since been dispatched again by Amazon using HDNL and I finally got to pick it up from the depot today. The lady at the depot had no idea why the driver had said that he attempted delivery but did not ring the doorbell or leave a card.

I personally think it was raining and he couldn't be bothered to get out of the van and walk 12 feet to the door!

When the lady asked me whether I lived in a flat and she said sometimes the drivers have access problems in blocks of flats, I think she meant that they have problems as there isn't a back garden with a fence to throw the parcel over and drive off!
22/02/07 @ 17:57
Comment from Alex
I've had mixed experiences with this company, they completely lost an Amazon parcel to me which Amazon eventually replaced by Royal Mail. Today I was expecting a parcel from Dabs but I was out and really wasn't happy to see that they would deliver again tomorrow before I could contact them and arrange to pickup (as I will not be in at all tomorrow), so I called anyway and explained and asked to pickup, the call centre said the depot would call back in 24 hours (not Saturday) and so I may not get chance to pickup until Monday, now very annoyed I agreed because it would be better than missing delivery tomorrow and having to wait a further 24 hours. Thankfully the very pleasant guy from the depot called half an hour later and said I could pick up the parcel from 6am tomorrow and even on Saturday.

I realise that most delivery networks can't offer specific times etc at prices shoppers will pay and I accept missing deliveries because I'm out at work so I'm always quite happy to go and collect from a depot so why on earth do some companies make it as hard a possible to collect from a depot, it would be much easier if they operated like the post office: we tried to deliver....., your parcel will now be available from tomorrow morning at......, please call for re-delivery.
22/02/07 @ 19:54
Comment from James Mardell
Had bad experience with some courier companies in the past, but HDNL really take the biscuit. I had a 2-part Amazon consignment coming out to me last week, the first part of which arrived uneventfully on Thursday 22nd. Friday 23rd was a different story, with the driver apparently "unable to find" my address!. When I contacted the local depot on Saturday morning I was told that it was a relief driver who had attempted the Friday delivery, due to the normal driver being off that day. I was also told that my parcel would be re-delivered on Monday when, luckily, I would be in. On checking Monday morning, I was told by the depot that, unfortunately, the parcel had not been loaded onto the van and that the earliest they could deliver was now Tuesday. I explained that I would be absent Tuesday and would prefer to come down and collect it today. When I finally arrived at the depot, which is several miles away, I was told there had been a mistake and that the parcel had actually been loaded onto the van after all! The driver was now obviously attempting delivery to an empty address, as I was at the depot! Having rushed home, I hope I am in time for the delivery this afternoon, and will not have to endure another "unable to deliver" popping up on their website. Not once, by the way, has the word "sorry" passed the lips of the HDNL staff. The guy I met at the depot seemed to think it was just my tough luck!
26/02/07 @ 13:57
Comment from craig
I'm also a very bemused HDNL customer, although not from Amazon but from a purchase from Ebay, the sender decided to choose an insured 24h service. The parcel arrived 2 weeks later, after a couple of days i contacted the sender who was going on holiday to get the tracking number. I was lucky as i had the tracking ID so i could watch the parcel go back and forth from the west midlands on the web but found the lack of a phone number on their web page annoying. Additionally after about 10 transit records the web stopped updating for my delivery.

I found their phone number on this Blog and contacted them, i found thier customer services to be very appologetic on 3 seperate calls however everyday i was promised that it will be delivered tommorrow, knowing the web was not up to date i took thier word for it. The excuse was it got routed to the wrong depot - but why does it take so long to send it to the right one!

I think the comment by Jon saying 99% delivery service is ok, would you fly on a plane if 1 out of 100 times it crashed. I think the company have missed the point if the think anything other than 100% service is acceptable. Assuming they deliver more than 100 items per day they will be having atleast 1 upset customer everyday. So be prepared for more comments on this blog and other blogs by everyone here

Actually that is the point... Have HDNL realised we are the customers, it is us waiting for birthday presents, important purchases to be delivered when they are promised.

So i think it is time that HDNL change their focus and stop hiding behind a web page and become customer focused
27/02/07 @ 22:27
Comment from James
This company is an absolute disgrace.
'Putting the customer 1st' is their slogan..

Why do they insist on delivering when people are clearly at work, then making the 2nd delivery the same time?

Why is their a complete lack of contact information, or addresses on their website?

Why do you sit on hold for 5-10 minutes every time you ring them?

Why dont they deliver on Saturday?

Why cant they gaurantee a delivery time? 7am - 7pm but we cant say we'll deliver after 5pm.

They won't even change the address of delivery.

So the only option is to go and pick it up from the depot (bear in mind there is no address on the website) which defeats the whole point of internet shopping and paying 4 quid for delivery.

Has anyone contacted Watchdog?

the worst deslivery company i've ever dealt with
28/02/07 @ 10:23
Comment from Lyndall Dawson
Appalling service. What more validation than to find this site with all your feedback. Has anyone contacted Watchdog yet? How can this business still be in operation?
01/03/07 @ 22:38
Comment from gil
I too have had a saga with an Amazon parcel despatched via HDNL.

When I tracked the parcel, just out of interest because the estimated date had not yet passed by, I found it was bouncing between Hitchin (close to my home) and Droitwich (sorting centre) and had already visited both twice. As far as I could see it was going to go on doing that. It took 3 calls to Amazon (system whereby they call you back) to get a phone call from Romford Depot, which is where parcel should have gone but that was Amazon's fault, not HNDL's who called as soon as Amazon actually did what they had promised which was contact them.

After the HDNL call I decided to be proactive and call Droitwich myself - numbers of all the depots are easily to be found on 192 so HDNL are not hiding as much as they could choose to.

From that point on, the service could not have been bettered. Polite efficient staff at both Droitwich and particularly Hitchin who did what they promised and called back several times to keep me up to date. We spoke at 10pm, at midnight and at 8am this morning. The last call came again from Hitchin at noon today, just after the parcel had been delivered, to check that all was well.

So yes, flaws in the system, but if you can get to a human being (and stay calm yourself :-) )then you can get good service in the end.
02/03/07 @ 12:57
Comment from David
Perhaps Home Delivery Network should be reported to WATCHDOG BBC
02/03/07 @ 16:41
Comment from Pags
I have received a delivery card claiming to be both first and second delivery attempt but giving no indication of parcel numbers.

I rang the 0870 number to be greeted with an anticipated wait of 11 minutes. My immediate reaction, and that of my husband was that it was a spoof delivery aiming to coin it in on premium rate phone calls, so I was surprised to discover on this site that it's a legitimate company.

I have tried BT for the local office - no go. So I have no idea where to go to collect the parcel, and as I have no parcell number and no indication on the card that anything is for our particular household I seriously wonder if there is any point ringing the national number at all. I'm not even sure WHAT the parcel is as we have ordered a number of things from ebay. I guess I will have to wait and see what fails to arrive?

I'll let you know how it goes!
02/03/07 @ 19:15
Comment from Pags
I have been on the Amazon site which confirms thatthey posted a parcel out to me on 27th February, via the Home Delivery Network, with an estimated delivery date of 1 Mar 2007 - 6 April 2007!

This says it all really. Exactly HOW am I supposed to be in to wait for such a delivery? I don't have that many days holiday in the year.
02/03/07 @ 19:30
Comment from nic
so frustrating, not only do they not bother to ring your doorbell, but they dont leave attempted delivery slips so how on earth are you supposed to know they have called? shocking service and outrageous that they expect the customer to do all the leg work trying to track where your item is without any contact info or local office info. they clearly dont care about their customers and hire drivers that either cant read/write or are lazy as hell... suprised that they are still in business to be honest, never have these problems with royal mail or dhl.

03/03/07 @ 01:17
Comment from Jms
I ordered a golf club from Direct Golf, and so far HDN have had had failed 2 failed deliveries so far as I have not been home. I do wonder if their supposed 9am to 7pm hours really do exist, and whether anyone has ever received a parcel from them in the evening?

To be fair, I rung the national number, got through straight away and they have scheduled a redelivery for Thursday when I have a day off.

Here's hoping they can prove my scepticism wrong and deliver my parcel without too much hassle.
05/03/07 @ 15:37
Comment from sue
crazy if you ask me iv waited 5 weeks for a set of three suitcases to be deliverd i rang again today and told they had been sent out on the 3rd of feb still waiting then i was told they have been put down as a lost parsel .ha ha how can you loose a box the size of three suite cases .wen he dose decide to deliver he trys not to knock on the door and leave them in a very small shed at the front of my house and never leaves a card .unbeliveble when the delivery driver lives next door to my daughter dont you think .iv tryed ringing but get no were .think it needs investigating myself .
07/03/07 @ 10:07
Comment from Jay
I don't work for this HDNL but if you think about it, it is a very hard job delivering parcels and sometimes even big company's have to hire retards to do work but you really should stop annoying them about the bad service

If 99% of their parcels get delivered 1 of 100 get lost so where are the other 99 people who actually got their parcel

I might be just a 13 year old kid but come on give these guys a break and if you want to know, they do deliver at night, lol my NINTENDO WII!!! came at 8.59 pm cos they loaded it onto the wrong van but they still came along for me anyway.
07/03/07 @ 21:33
Comment from John
I too work for hdnl from their corby depot, i would love to know what people want us to do with their parcel?? I cover northampton town centre including many flats which are impossible to gain entry to sometimes due to broken entry sytems or non english speaking residents. People seem to think we have hours to deliver one parcel!!! We are expected to make between 18 and 30 deliveries an hour dependant on area. We don't have time for the people who leave little notes on their doors asking us to ring them as they only work 15 minutes away and will pop back or can we deliver it to their work address way outside our area!! Quite a few people on here take us drivers to be thicko's but many of our supposedly superior customers are the thick ones!! Such as the people who ask what the parcel is?? They order it and expect us to have x-ray vision ?? Its a brown box for god's sake!!Or when asked to take a parcel for next door and ask " have you put a card in telling them the parcels here??" Oh yeah cause we knew you'd be in, we knew you hadn't fallen out with them and would refuse to take the parcel and many more things!! Also in reply to the guy who ordered from golf direct if he looks at the label on the parcel he will see the word pod in the corner. That means we cannot leave it without a signature. So if he is at work and so are his neighbours then obviously back to the depot it goes!! Very likely on the second attempt the following day the same people will be out so his parcel cannot be left with anyone.
08/03/07 @ 19:08
Comment from Tim
I was out when the parcel was delivered, it was left under the back wheel of our car in the drive. The packing was damp when I collected this, the £40 book was just about dry. For all they know, we could have been away for days and with all the rain we have had lately, the book would have been ruined.
12/03/07 @ 08:54
Comment from sarah
My delivery has just been returned to Amazon due to the fact that my address was incomplete - they had my correct name, correct address, and full correct postcode, so not sure quite what they were expecting!! not using Amazon again until they change delivery companies.....
12/03/07 @ 16:03
Comment from james bradley
I for one agree with all the coments i have read, I work for home delivery network on the heavy goods form worcseter. the place is a joke. But i have to say that when the customer is not there and i have to return the goods they have ordered i lose money,Not just pence but pounds, Now i know that you want you goods you have been waiting for but the bottom line is the company mergre with both kays and littlewoods has LOST THE PLOT!!! I have never Know the bussiness to be so childish. The managers just pass the book down to the drivers and mates.So when we find out about the new contracts that, STATE DELIVER TO ROOM OF CHOICE, UNPACK ITEMS, REMOVE PACKING FOR PREMISES, We cannot do this for health and saftey, I would be liable for damage. YOU RELY ON YOUR WAGE TO PAY YOUR BILLS.So please dont have ago at us when your not in and your goods have gone back to the depot, Or you have not been told a deliver date, We just get paid to do a job, AND I INTEND TO MAKE ALL OF MY DELIVERS EVEN TO A NEIGHBOUR IF I HAVE TO JUST TO GET PAID. If you cant be bothered to wait in or leave us a note, or better still answer your phone WHat more can we do
12/03/07 @ 17:11
Comment from RJ
Here's my status report. The email from Amazon said to expect delivery on the 12th, so I'm hardly going to be waiting in on the 9th to receive it, am I?

And as for the three "Carded" lines...I have not received a single card yet.

It's quite simple - leave me a card to say you've been, tell me where to collect it, and I will come and get it. Is it really that hard??!

08/03/2007 00:00:00 Customer Parcel Data Received
08/03/2007 17:54:46 Sort Centre - Droitwich Spa Sorted
09/03/2007 04:03:25 New Cross Depot Received
09/03/2007 07:30:06 New Cross Depot Loaded onto vehicle
09/03/2007 10:14:02 New Cross Depot Unable to Deliver Carded
09/03/2007 17:10:36 New Cross Depot Unable to Deliver Carded
09/03/2007 17:10:43 New Cross Depot Received
12/03/2007 07:11:29 New Cross Depot Loaded onto vehicle
12/03/2007 09:22:05 New Cross Depot Unable to Deliver Carded
12/03/2007 14:20:17 New Cross Depot Received
12/03/2007 14:20:18 New Cross Depot Unable to Deliver Held
12/03/07 @ 17:29
Comment from Paul
Same sort of thing.

08/03/2007 00:00:00 Customer Parcel Data Received
08/03/2007 19:30:01 Sort Centre - Shaw, Oldham Sorted
08/03/2007 23:42:00 Leeds Depot Received
09/03/2007 06:36:42 Leeds Depot Loaded onto vehicle
09/03/2007 09:40:02 Leeds Depot Unable to Deliver Carded
09/03/2007 13:48:23 Leeds Depot Received
09/03/2007 13:49:09 Leeds Depot Unable to Deliver Carded
12/03/2007 06:31:17 Leeds Depot Loaded onto vehicle
12/03/2007 14:06:28 Leeds Depot Received
12/03/2007 14:08:43 Leeds Depot Unable to Deliver Carded


I rang them and the guy on the other end was very unhelpful. making out like I had missed them and they would be trying again on Monday. Of course he wouldn't listen no matter how much I insisted no attempt was made to deliver the parcel and the same thing is going to happen on Monday.

I had been in all day and had no cards and heard nothing.

I emailed dabs to bitch about them and say I am now reluctant to order anything from, I hope everyone else is doing the same so these companies drop this joke of a courier.
12/03/07 @ 20:56
Comment from Jason Garbutt
I work in the freight industry and we often use couriers to deliver small items to business and home premises. All drivers are told to call in ifthey have a problem delivering and then leave a copy of the collection / delivery note for the customer to contact us.

Does anyone at the Home Deliveyr Network do any of the above ??

Thats a BIG FAT NO ! I have been trying to track a parcel for the past week and eventually DABS gave me a tracking code and link to the HDN website... type in the code and see that they claim to have carded my home 4 times !!... wooo must be invisible cards because I havent seen any of them (I received Royal Mail on all the dates claimed so know there wasnt a mysterious force field protecting my letter box)

I thought I know... I will call them and go an collect it... ermm except no phome number on their website. Ok.. found a number from on here and called them - was pleasently surprised to get through first time and was "sorry cant help you our computer system has been down all day" So I asked for the local depot number... and was told "cant give you that either as the computers are down"

If I had ben given a choice in courier by DABS I owuld have picked Citylink / Business Post / Parcel Force - why on earth did they pick such a useless bunch as HDN ?

And as for all the so called employees of HDN who post on here - do they stay home when they are expecting a delivery ?? I Doubt it...

My parcel was due for overnight delivery - yet they didnt even card me on the next working day....

Maybe they are trying to save the enviroment by not using paper / card products....

13/03/07 @ 20:17
Comment from Jason Garbutt
Just a small ray of hope for anyone living in the Romford area of Essex.

Home Delivery Network Ltd
Spilsby Rd
Harold Hill
Romford
RM3 8SD

Telephone: 01708 374240


Not that anyone asnwers the phone.... still Im a little closer to getting my parcel
13/03/07 @ 20:26
Comment from Thomas Perry
It is all very well saying that you shouldn't arrange a package to come if you are not going to be in. But we are not given a time (or a day!) for when the package will arrive (if under 25kg?).

As far as i know now,
15/03/2007
07:33:05
Nottingham Depot
Loaded onto vehicle

What does that mean to me? Is it going to be delivered today? Do I need to wait in the house all day? Is it even going to come today? No idea. If I go to the shops or library for some books for 30mins I can be sure (sods law) I will miss them. By the sound of things rearranging delivery is far from simple.

I have been told my parcel will be 1-3 days between 8am-6pm
That is a LONG time to have to stay in the house! If I was given (or even better asked) more precisely when I wanted it or an estimate of it's ETA I would be happy to be in to wait for it!
15/03/07 @ 14:45
Comment from JonS
Hmm..I read through this whole thread.

Firstly for balance, I ordered from Amazon and HDN delivered within 24 hours of it being dispatched. So they do get it right sometimes.

I also called the local depot after reading this to make sure. They answered very quickly and checked and replied very politely and efficiently.

I am sorry everyone here, but if you buy from Amazon, you DO have a choice. You have a choice of free supersaver delivery which will go via HDN for larger items, or you can pay for express delivery which goes via citylink normally.

Even with Citylink, their delivery times are 8-6. So you STILL have to wait in all day potentially. This is NORMAL.

The posters on here who really do have a right to complain are those that did not get cards through their box to say a delivery was attempted. And for those that were in all day, thats even worse. Those are the deliveries HDN should step up and agree to investigate and fix the problem!

I just wanted to inject some balance here.

16/03/07 @ 17:16
Comment from TheDon Sansone
HDN have delivered to me about 20 times during 2006 and all have been satisfactory.

I did however order from an online print company registered in Surrey for 200 Postcards to be printed and delivered to me. I got a tracking number with UPS as the delivery agents and when checking the tracking - The postcards were actually printed in a town in Germany !! They were collected and went through 2 depots in Germany and airfreighted to Barking,UK. This part of the whole process took just over 24 hours.... but then it stayed at Barking for 4 days !!!

Its not only HDN.... I think England has problems in sorting and delivery of parcels full-stop !!!
17/03/07 @ 13:44
Comment from TheDon Sansone
Check this out as the delivery history... they originally shown that the parcel would be expected to be delivered on the 26th, but later the tracking report was rewritten just saying OUT FOR DELIVERY ::

NOTTINGHAM,
GB 28/02/2007 13:01 DELIVERY
28/02/2007 4:44 IMPORT SCAN
28/02/2007 4:43 OUT FOR DELIVERY
BARKING,
GB 27/02/2007 23:00 DEPARTURE SCAN
BARKING,
GB 23/02/2007 23:00 DEPARTURE SCAN
23/02/2007 20:28 A PROCESSING ERROR AT DESTINATION CAUSED THIS DELAY;THE PACKAGE WAS MISSORTED AT THE HUB. IT HAS BEEN REROUTED TO THE CORRECT DESTINATION SITE
23/02/2007 20:28 IMPORT SCAN
HERNE-BOERNIG,
DE 22/02/2007 13:05 EXPORT SCAN
22/02/2007 11:16 ARRIVAL SCAN
NURNBERG,
DE 22/02/2007 4:18 DEPARTURE SCAN
NURNBERG,
DE 21/02/2007 23:56 ARRIVAL SCAN
KLIPPHAUSEN,
DE 21/02/2007 20:17 DEPARTURE SCAN
21/02/2007 18:21 ORIGIN SCAN
21/02/2007 17:00 PICKUP SCAN
DE 21/02/2007 10:53 BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED
17/03/07 @ 13:48
Comment from KB
I won't bore everyone with the details of my experience with HDN but for some unknown reason whoever delivered my package (worth over £100) left it in a basement dustbin!! How this is a safe and secure location I will never know but I have vowed not to order from Amazon till they change companies.
17/03/07 @ 16:59
Comment from Steph
I will not spend my money with any company that uses HDN. I used to spend a lot of money with Amazon, now I spend it with Play The prices are about the same, delivery is free for any amount spent, and they use Parcel force and the Royal Mail. No problems now.
18/03/07 @ 20:09
Comment from Steph
I once worked for White Arrow, so I understand the problems these drivers face.

They say that shoppers with Amazon have the choice of paying for a decent delivery service like the Royal Mail or Parcel Force or choosing the free delivery option with HDNL.

We actually have a third choice - to use Amazon or not! I told Amazon what they could do with their business as long as they use HDNL.

You drivers also have a choice - work for a decent delivery company, or HDNL!!

This HDNL is the most unprofessional company I have ever encountered.
I really wonder how they get the business they do.
18/03/07 @ 20:18
Comment from Steph
Oh, and I would urge all dissatisfied Amazon customers to tell Amazon why they will get no more business! They may wake up one day.
18/03/07 @ 20:21
Comment from Georgia
I didn't order next day delivery, I ordered 2-3 days with Topshop. Amazingly, I apparently have my item.... which is great, considering I don't, I haven't seen it, and I have had no card. Gotta love them.

Last time they threw the package in my back garden and didn't leave a note.

And the first time, they delivered, but the courier was smoking and blew it in my face. NICE.
19/03/07 @ 10:46
Comment from ay-tech
just 2 help ppl in the east mids i found the adderess for nottingham center the phone number is 01159860431
21/03/07 @ 17:16
Comment from SDA
forget white arrow, forget littlewoods, forget reality, forget b/express. Home delivery network, like ALL new buisness has its truamas, please be patient,,,,, ratio of complaints to the amount of items delivered are second to none,,, it is a name that you will become accustomed to for the better reasons, give them a chance,, we all want chances, and you will see.sda waemur.
21/03/07 @ 19:02
Comment from jamie
i work for hdnl, firstly as a driver and now a manager, i understand peoples concerns about our customer first side of the business, the company has invested thousands on training and asessing drivers, on which a trained customer first champion goes on deliverys with the driver and do tell him the rights and wrongs of his delivery methods, apart from actually babysitting the drivers we have to trust that they are following the correct procedures which are:If you missed the first attempt the driver will try and deliver the parcel to a neighbour, if this is'nt possible they will then leave the parcel in a safe and secure location and out of the elements.
if this is'nt possible then the driver will leave a card stating the date and TIME that delicvery was attemted, they will also leave a UPI number on the back of the card which you will also see a contact telephone number.he card will also tell you that we will try and deliver the parcel againg the following day.
if the 2nd attemted delivery is failed then another card will be left again with a contact number.
The parcel will then stay in the depot for 5 working days then it will be returned to sender.
For the comment about the drivers working hours, due to driving law our drivers are required to be clocked in the depot no longer than 9 1/2 after clocking in
comment about delivering on saturdays:yes we do deliver on saturdays (next,tesco,argos,m&s, interflora) can all verify this
I have seen alot of complaints about the amazon deliveries, as part of the service agreement with amazon there parcels are a standerd 48 hour delivery wich means we aim to deliver them within 48 hours upon RECIEVING THEM IN TO OUR DEPOT, and not from your order being placed, back to the delivery methods, as with any company, you will find people who try to take short cuts, how ever any complaints that are brought to the attention of the managment are dealt with accordingly, recently we have sacked drivers, took them of their routes ect due to complaints and investigations, i can only speak for our depot but hope this has clarified a few points
21/03/07 @ 19:58
Comment from jamie
and if you do have a complaint here you go
Home Delivery Network Ltd , Heathfield Industrial Estate , DEVON , TQ12 6TN , 01626 832545
Home Delivery Network The , Hitchin , HERTFORDSHIRE , SG5 1RT , 01462 421336
Home Delivery Network , Eastleigh , HAMPSHIRE , SO50 4NG , 023 8061 9866
Home Deliver Network Ltd , Lynx Trading Estate , SOMERSET , BA20 2NZ , 01935 432924
Home Delivery Network , Sunderland , TYNE AND WEAR , SR2 8QS , 0191-564 0924
Home Delivery Network , Dafen , DYFED , SA14 8QW , 01554 777877
Home Delivery Network , Warwick , WARWICKSHIRE , CV34 6QP , 01926 311404
Home Delivery Network , Rochdale , LANCASHIRE , OL11 3JR , 01706 352537
Home Delivery Network , Eastleigh , HAMPSHIRE , SO50 4NT , 023 8061 8398
Home Delivery Network , Yate , AVON , BS37 5QZ , 01454 316101
Home Delivery Network , Glenrothes , FIFE , KY6 2RU , 01592 773297
Home Delivery Network , Stoke On Trent , STAFFORDSHIRE , ST6 4PB , 01782 836071
Home Delivery Network , Park Royal , LONDON , NW10 7UA , 020 8961 8774
Home Delivery Network , Bolton , LANCASHIRE , BL3 6AX , 0870-154 5414
Home Delivery Network , Fareham , HAMPSHIRE , PO15 5ST , 01489 581544
Home Delivery Network , Lenton Lane Industrial Estate , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE , NG7 2TG , 0115-986 0431
Home Delivery Network , Gateshead , TYNE AND WEAR , NE10 0ES , 0191-495 2211
Home Delivery Network , Oldbury , WEST MIDLANDS , B69 3EX , 0121-552 5541
Home Delivery Network , East Kilbride , LANARKSHIRE , G75 0YA , 01355 233085
Home Delivery Network Ltd , Newbridge , MIDLOTHIAN , EH28 8LD , 0131-333 3651
Home Delivery Network Ltd , Morley , WEST YORKSHIRE , LS27 0BN , 0113-253 8226
Home Delivery Network Ltd , Basildon , ESSEX , SS14 3DT , 01268 286666
Home Delivery Network Ltd , Mitcham , SURREY , CR4 4HX , 020 8685 1032
21/03/07 @ 20:14
Comment from ay-tech
4 ppl using the track and trace, i have found out that it is very slow updating. to prove it i checked at 9pm last nite same as 8am same morning. checked 730am next morning and sed it was recived in notttingham depot, so give the track and trace a little w8 and see what happens..... Yet again it kind of crp because u want 2 no it there and then, no good l8r when its delivered! Tyvm jamie for the numbers help me alot!
22/03/07 @ 07:56
Comment from ay-tech
got my parcel 2day, very friendly man, i guess that hdnl isnt toobad, lets just hope that it happens again!
22/03/07 @ 19:22
Comment from Tintin
HDN.........Have been waiting in for two days for an item to be delivered.

Have had a varied selection of reasons for failed delivery, Cannot Locate (twice), Carded and refused. How can a driver card an address he cant find, and the same for refused. Both of which I believe are lies as delivery is to a business address (only a small company) but staff are on site from 7am to 7pm.

Have also been told various things from customer services (phone number thankfully supplied on here), the last excuse being that the goods were returned to supplier and a second item despatched (this happened on one day, allegedly). Checked with supplier and this is not the case, they also pointed out that the item would be returned to depot for 5 days for collection.

Now heres the funniest thing, we, as a company are a direct despatch supplier for Littlewoods/GUS who own HDN, they seem to be able to pick up from our company with NO problems.

I like many in this blog I have a number of years experience of purchasing on line, and I can honestly say that HDN are by far the worse, for delivery, communication and customer services.
23/03/07 @ 10:49
Comment from Tintin
Sorry forgot this.

Does anyone know the telephone number of the HDN Reading Depot (Berkshire)?
23/03/07 @ 10:51
Comment from mary
Reading Depot phone number is 0118 9413939
23/03/07 @ 11:08
Comment from davel575
I AM A DRIVER FOR HDNL AND THE NO OF TIMES WE DELIVER TO A HOUSE WHERE NO ONE IS IN WE TRY NEIGHBOURS ECT. IF NO ONE HOME WE POST A CARD SAYING WE WILL RETURN NEXT DAY .CUSTOMER OFTEN SAYS THEY WERE IN .WHY LIE .WE KNOW YOU AREN,T
23/03/07 @ 17:27
Comment from Steph
Jamie, I'm sure if your staff carded on the first attempt, and the item then went to the depot awaiting collection, you'd have far fewer problems. The post office use this system and I have no problem with it whatsoever. Now I use Play instead of Amazon, I get my books and DVDs quicker; if I'm not in on the day, which is usually the case, I simply collect it the next day from the depot.
Your driver never left a card for the last items I had ordered from Amazon. It was only when I checked on the Amazon site that I discovered the items had supposedly been delivered. Eventually after more wasted days, HDNL told Amazon they had left the parcel in a secure area, (where was the card left, I asked)and then it was suggested that I check with my neighbours to see if they had received the card or the parcel. That was the final straw. I lost patience with both Amazon and HDNL. It will take a lot more than reassurances to get my custom back. The only possible reason I may stop using Play is if they begin using using HDNL. I would rather pay a little more and collect my goods from WH Smith's store delivery service.
Your company really needs to get its act together, and your drivers need to stop making lame excuses and whingeing about how many people cannot be at home waiting for this "Home Delivery" and how they don't deserve this service anyway.

Steph
23/03/07 @ 20:37
Comment from jcm
I'd been at home all day today waiting for an Amazon item to be delivered, and no courier turned up. I'd been tracking the "parcel" on Home Delivery Network's website, and this morning I noticed it'd been LOADED ON VEHICLE, but when I looked at the website again this evening,it said UNABLE TO DELIVER and CARDED. Well, there was NO card through my letterbox or anywhere, and no vehicle turned up outside my door, because I've been waiting all day for it. For a courier service to tell such a blatant falsehoods on their website is despicable.
23/03/07 @ 23:03
Comment from jcm
I forgot to add, according to HDN's website, my parcel is back at the local depot. I will be ringing them tomorrow and try to collect the parcel personally, because I don't feel the need to be fobbed off with more lies and "phantom" deliveries. They wanna watch it--they'll soon put the spooks out of business.
23/03/07 @ 23:14
Comment from Steph
I hope you've complained to Amazon jcm - I wonder just how much aware of this problem they are. I am sure we are only a very tiny tip of an immense iceberg here - most people won't be aware of this site to help vent their feelings and state their frustrations.

Steph
24/03/07 @ 11:50
Comment from chris
has any1 oreded a ps3 of amzon, which use HDNL and still have it been "sorted"
24/03/07 @ 12:09
Comment from Stephen
Ive ordered a ps3 with an expected delivery date of 23rd of march and its still says it being 'sorted'. After phoning HDN I was told its actually another 2 hours further away in Birmingham. What shoddy service and complete different information than order tracking. Hope amazon will stop using this f grade service.
24/03/07 @ 16:15
Comment from jcm
Steph, I did contact Amazon about how dire HDN were, and told them in no uncertain terms about the anger I felt, especially after spending all day at home waiting for my Amazon item to arrive (to no avail.) I basically labelled Home Delivery network as a cowboy courier service, and I don't think Amazon liked that much, because they replied that they found the service offered by Home Delivery Network to be "excellent." Maybe Amazon are on a 12 month contract with HDN and have to lump the poor level of service till the contract expires, or else HDN will sue them if they terminate the contract prematurely.
24/03/07 @ 16:48
Comment from jcm
Stephen, I totally agree, HDN's website tracking system is the pits. If you email or phone Amazon about your delivery woes, then maybe they'll do something in future. Like Amazon told me, they value any kind of feedback, as it helps them to provide a better service to their customers.
24/03/07 @ 16:57
Comment from Steph
When I complained to Amazon, they said they had had other complaints and were treating it as a serious matter, but, they said, I would not be made privvy to any outcome.
Amazon have lost my respect as well as my custom (They offered me a £3.00 voucher)and they know what they can do with that!.

Over £200 of my custom has already gone to Play since Amazon lost the plot, and there will be plenty more to follow, as Amazon will be aware!

So come on someone at Amazon - what exactly are your thoughts about this??
24/03/07 @ 19:45
Comment from Steph
(To give Amazon the opportunity to reply, I sent them a short email with the URL of this site.)

24/03/07 @ 19:54
Comment from Steph
Wow - I received a response from Amazon within literally a few minutes!!!

They did say they appreciated my feedback but stressed that "the service offered by HDNL to be excellent and this is
primarily the reason why we are using their services"

So there you go - everything in the garden is rosy. We must be the tiny, unfortunate minority guys!

I think I did the right thing by moving to Play
24/03/07 @ 20:19
Comment from Sid
I ordered large electronic item of amazon, two weeks ago after one day HDN had sorted it in its depot in Oldham near manchester. It's still there.
25/03/07 @ 13:19
Comment from jamal
I have been tracking the "parcel" on HDNL website early in the morning and noted LOADED ON VEHICLE, when it did not arrive later on in the afternoon I looked at their web site it said UNABLE TO DELIVER and CARDED twice within the paste of 5 minutes. I agree for a courier service to tell such a blatant falsehoods on their website is despicable.
27/03/07 @ 16:55
Comment from Diane
Guess where the Home Delivery Network driver thought would be a good place to leave my parcel? Outside of the house, in a RECYCLE box!! Can you believe it!! I mean, anyone passing the house could have taken the parcel, not to mention the RECYCLE people!! Why on Earth is Amazon using this company?!?
27/03/07 @ 19:48
Comment from Steph
Have you asked them Diane? They told me that the service HDNL provide is "excellent".

Something is not right somewhere!

I would be interested in what their response is to other complaints.
27/03/07 @ 20:39
Comment from Tango
I received my PS3 yesterday at 9.30AM.

I ordered from Amazon and it does state on the site that its 2-5 days and it did give me expected arrival from 23-29th March.

I was at work on Monday and I was carded and its said it try the next day and hence it arrived so I agree with davel575.

The only gripe I have with them is the updating of the website as its slow and updated every 12hrs, which I think is unacceptable

I may have been a lucky customer

Tango

Kent
28/03/07 @ 08:54
Comment from Jim
If you're looking for a depot telephone number try google maps. Search for businesses in a particular area, worked for the new cross depot anyway. Whether getting that phone number helps however is another thing.
28/03/07 @ 18:32
Comment from jamie
back again , reference to the ps3 situation, our depot delivered over 350AMAZON ps3's on the official launch date:23rd
and yes despite loads of advertising and build up there were still customers not in, about the collection at depot, the main reason that we try to redilver the parcel as it is part of the service level agreement we have with the various companys how ever any customer who wishes to collect from the depot just has to phone the number on the back of there card or phone the respetive number i posted last week
29/03/07 @ 19:20
Comment from nigel
Well Amazon, which golf course was this deal signed on! Now don't get me wrong if I'm not in a hurry to receive something then super saver is fine, assuming of course that there is some way of actually receing the goods ordered. I received my first card today, no delivery numbers listed hence they can't help you. I'll get my next card tomorrow when I get home after work (yes guys, we do that, thats how we buy things!) at 9pm an hour after their call centre closes - oh, and I assume it's called a call centre because you just call and call and call in the evenings. So, I wont be able to speak to hdn until Saturday, assuming the call centre answers of course. That means that whatever they can do to deliver the parcel won't happen until Monday at the earliest, when I'm back at work. I don't suppose you can pick parcels up from this lot can you? Didn't think so. That'll teach me for not spending £4.79 to get the post office to deliver it.

Amazon, dump them before we dump you!
29/03/07 @ 19:28
Comment from Mike
I've been "carded" three times in a row, but have yet to see a card!

Was in all day today (100% guaranteed for jim, james) and definitely not one attempted a delivery, despite the huge sign outside the door because woman at depot (who wouldn't talk to me until I explained where I got the number) thought the driver couldn't find it.

This is New Cross by the way, number is 0207 7321444.
29/03/07 @ 22:16
Comment from Steph
Why do HDNL drivers (and managers, presumably) think that people have nothing better to do do than stay at home, waiting just in case a friendly HDNL driver just might turn up????

People (many of us) have to work to buy these things you are allegedly trying to deliver. Comprende??

Or are you just going to launch into another "Well you shouldn't order things if you can't be at home....." routine.

Hell's Bells!!!! You are supposed to be providing a SERVICE!!!!!!!
30/03/07 @ 17:25
Comment from Steph
I've dumped Amazon already, Nigel!

I gave them the chance, and they told me what an excellent service these morons are providing.
30/03/07 @ 17:29
Comment from Celticchick
HDNL are either incompetent or dishonest. There is no other explanation for their total and utterly dismal performance. Every single time they are the carrier I have this fiasco where they claim to be attemping delivery and leaving cards but there are never any cards. The fact that they refuse to give depot contact numbers speaks volumes. I have now told companies that I will not buy products from them if they use this courier and am kicking up an almight stink with anyone who might listen and put this bunch of cowboys out of business. They do not deserve to be in business. If big boys like M & S, Amazon etc get enough complaints they will take away their business. Some of the problem seems to be them being used as subcontractors which muddies the waters still further.
I think I might get the tv consumer boys onto this as well.
If anyone can give me a contact number for the newhaven depot I will be very grateful.
31/03/07 @ 13:51
Comment from Celticchick
and jon - i have also had the experience of being in all day when they claim to have called - and I would not mind so much if I missed a delivery if they would just leave a darn card as they claim to - cos honey you may be doing your job right but some drivers sure as heck ain't. How do you explain that every SINGLE time I have a delivery from HDN it goes wrong? That driver doesn't need babysitting he needs sacking.
31/03/07 @ 13:56
Comment from CR@GZ
Before people start to totally discrace the HDNL can I point out that HDNL is the uk's No1 Courrier formerly known as Buisness Express and is / always has been part of the same company Littlewoods (catalogue) The whole company is known now as Shop Direct Group. As for the dissgruntled customers .. If only you new how much hard work me and the rest of the staff put into sorting all your parcels Loading 60 ft trailers day in day out full to the brim ready to be sent to our delivery guys then on to you people, It involves alot of strain , and way too much stress from the slave driving management too make sure you get your orders on time and in good condition .. we pick / sort /pack / deilver millions of parcels per week (more than royal mail!!) 365 days a year .... So obviuosly there will be some small problems with certain customers. And as for taking custom away from hdnl ... mmm that would be good in one way for me .. It would mean less breaking my back trying to sort and load all your damn tvs, furniture, clothing , knickers you name .. You must think we have it easy.. the answer is we dont. But overall we do give you a good service and just for info purposes .. The amazon Contract is worth £10 milion per year (thats alot of PS3's , tv's , books .. u name it) delivered using our 24 hr working system so it would take a hell of a lot of custmomers to for HDNL to loose the contracts and 1 more thing If you do not get your orders delivered on time .. this is due to the contractors not shipping the items to us on time or in most cases they provide us with the wrong customer details on the items labels which means they have to be returned or relabled. So just try to remember whats involved here, Its not just a simple From A to B delivery service, theres all the other things involed in this from labeling to security and times this by 1 million per week then you might just have an idea how big of an operation this really is and that overall we do a good job otherwise we wouldnt be the UK's number 1 and Largest Courrier service :) If anyone posting here would like any info regarding what Really happens with your orders with HDNL mail me at cragz05 at hotmail co uk and ill try to answer them
01/04/07 @ 18:00
Comment from Ade
You can get any HDN Depot phone number simply search 192, just enter Home Delivery Network and the town and it should come up, it will even give you a map.
02/04/07 @ 12:44
Comment from Simon Turner
One of the worst companies i have ever had the misfortune of dealing with. Im used to ineptitude of home delivery companies but HDL are by far the worst. They have attempted to deliver three parcels and failed on all three occassions to deliver on the reaarnaged day. I actually now refuse to deal with companies that deliver via these wasters. I only managed to get a delivery was by emailing the whole managerial team. Try them on wlater.blackwood @ hdnl .co .uk, chris.bowden @ hdnl .co .uk, frank.henderson @ hdnl .co .uk, keith.milum @ hdnl. co .uk, devon.beckford @ hdnl. co. uk, sally.reed @ hdnl .co .uk
02/04/07 @ 15:50
Comment from Cr@gz
Simon

Not only do I work for HDNL but im also a customer , and I can honestly say Ive had no problems with the delivery side, each parcel has arrived on time , in good condition and even the diver was a nice bloke too. If your parcel did not get delivered after 3 attempts then i can only assume you wasnt at home waiting for the parcel on the specific dates they were supposed to be delivered. What should our drivers do ? stand at your door step all day waiting for you to collect ?. Defontatly not , they have far too many other customers waiting for items and its impossible to please everyone.
03/04/07 @ 07:23
Comment from Cr@gz
crazy if you ask me iv waited 5 weeks for a set of three suitcases to be deliverd i rang again today and told they had been sent out on the 3rd of feb still waiting then i was told they have been put down as a lost parsel .ha ha how can you loose a box the size of three suite cases .wen he dose decide to deliver he trys not to knock on the door and leave them in a very small shed at the front of my house and never leaves a card .unbeliveble when the delivery driver lives next door to my daughter dont you think .iv tryed ringing but get no were .think it needs investigating myself .

5 weeks is a long time, and i probably know the reason as Ive had to load alot of those suitcases lately,the problem with them is when they come down the shute to the converyor belt which I load onto the trailer the packageing is poor quality and they often rip open on the way down to me, If we come across damaged packages in the sortation centre we then have to send them back to another department called Discepancies, where they await inspection from the staff in that department, esentially could take a day or two as this department is low staffed, this also means the parcel is effectivly lost in transit and untrackable on the track and trace system until the parcel has been inspected and deemed suitable for scanning back into the system then sent through the system back to me or the relevant depot trailer loader.Once these trailers are loaded they are then sent to its main depot (specific towns), Ready for the drivers at those depots to deliver them.. This whole process could delay your parcels deilvery up to 5 days but it is rare.
03/04/07 @ 07:45
Comment from Simon Turner
Cragz, the whole point of my complaint is that i was in. ALL DAY.Its no reflection on the driver its just very clear that the company is INCOMPETENTLY MANAGED. My door fronts onto the street, so no claim can be made that they attempted to deliver and i wasnt in. I just thinks its farcical that any company can operate in such a way. I now only use companies that deliver via royal mail. at least if they deliver and i am not in , i can collect it from the depot. Like most people, i work 9-5 and have to take a days annual leave to wait on for items not to arrive. Why is this? Tesco, Argos, Ocado can all manage to deliver reliably in a slot of a couple of hours. Why cant HNDL
03/04/07 @ 10:10
Comment from Ade
I've read all your moans and groans but the point is that home delivery is not as easy as it may seem, and yes you are all going to come back at me with this and that but I have got many years under my belt working in the home delivery parcel game and I am not going to bore you all with the many stories I could tell from both sides of the fence.

I will say one thing though, it may not be much consolation to all you unhappy customers of HDNL, but if you think they treat their customers badly they certainly don't treat their people any better. I worked for HDN and its not good, I still work in the parcel distribution industry and its nice now to work somewhere you feel appreciated and rewarded, there is life away from what is a company that has a constant ''blame culture''
03/04/07 @ 12:11
Comment from Cr@gz
Firstly ..
Well said Ade couldnt agree with you more.
Ive worked at HDNL for the last 8 years and I will admit I often wonder what the hell im still doing there,It would be true to say that the staff are treated as bad if not worse than some of these customers are and maybe that is where the company is at fault. Its not exactly a nice environment to work in and the only good things about HDNL are the "perks of the job" like having 26 days a year holidays and the 15 days "bonus days" as i like to call them (sick pay scheme).
So i do agree that if the staff were treated better and the management got there acts together then the perfomance of the staff would increase resulting in an overall better service to its customers.

But Obviously a company with a £100 million a year profit margin would consider its self highly successfull and would not be in any rush to sort any of the issues mentioned here, even though the companies slogan is "putting customers first".
04/04/07 @ 07:52
Comment from mSm

Hi
I have ordered from Amazon in the past and this is the first time my parcel has gone to HDNL.

I missed the first delivery - fine - could be expected to be in (before all the HDNL employees, say 'shouldnt have ordered something if I woudlnt be in for it - Amazons notification stated it will arrive within the next 4 days - am i supposed to take 4 days off work?)

Anyway a card was put through door and that was fine - no complaints (so far) stating a re delivery will be attempted today.

Today i happen to be at home ALL DAY... and about lunchtime I called the Park Royal depot to find out if they can advise where my parcel is on the route - not an exact time just a rough idea. Guy was very helpful and went on to say that parcel was despatched from Wembley office and duly gave me the number.

I called Wembley and spoke to someone less helpful...

he answered my questions with - we are the depot, we dont talk to customers, call Cust Services.

I reasoned that potentially they wouldn't know specifics, still he droned I should call them.

I asked the following specific questions -

Do you know (from your records) which van and route my parcel is on? - YES
Do you have ability to contact driver - YES
Can you find out where I am on route (as i need to go out fro 15 mins) - NO you are a customer, we are a depot and dont speak to customers. Call cust services in liverpool they can advise.

Will they be babel to give me specific info I have asked that you are refusing to give me - Call cust services in liverpool they can advise.

So I called them. Operator seemed helpful, but of course all she could say was your delivery is on its way and can arrive any time. I relayed the story - can you call the depot as they CAN get the info but WONT get it for me - No we cant make outgoing calls.

So its now 1731 - no delivery. I have been told that they deliver 7am to 7pm, but from Amazons tracking note...

yesterday the timings were -

Date Time Location Event Details
Apr 03, 2007 04:24:21 PM WEMBLEY DEPOT UK Arrival Scan
Apr 03, 2007 02:57:00 PM WEMBLEY VAN UK Delivery attempted - recipient not home
Apr 03, 2007 07:17:44 AM WEMBLEY VAN UK Out for delivery

so is he still out an about today..


i will let you know just after 7 - oh and even though THEY may not turn up, its up to ME to sort out a redelivery - dont they have phones that dial out, dont they care about the customer.... but we arent the customer - we arent paying, its Amazon that are paying.....

More later
04/04/07 @ 17:36
Comment from Steph
I agree that the management are to blame Cr@gz, and I do sympathise with what some of you drivers have to put up with.

You mention the high profits, and I expect that that is all that matters to them. I suppose that we the public are not classed as "customers" of HDNL though, they will be the companies like Amazon that are also making a nice profit. Hence the contempt for us and the severe lack of "customer services".

In return I have contempt for Amazon and HDNL as companies, and I will not be doing any business with them if I can help it.
04/04/07 @ 17:38
Comment from Medi
OK, Im reading this and I can see that Im not the only one who now hates Home Delivery Network.
They are useless- they have this no 08701545400- but no one there knows anything - in fact they are thick.
SO after I have waited 2 days for my delivery- and HDN lying that they have left me a card- funny as I am home alll day- havent even been to shop and they discust me! I have finally found out which depot item is- Its in NEw cross- So call 118 118 - as HDN will not give you numbers- they say they dont have them- thick and useless! so call 118 118 and get the depot number- and they can acctually contact driver for you and get the time and info for you. New Cross Home delivery network depot number: 02077325595.
05/04/07 @ 10:29
Comment from jools
I myself have recently been a victim of Home Delivery. I groaned when I read the threads on this company - the majority of which contained negative reports and feedback.

I am in the process of writing a letter to the CEO of the entire Littlewoods Shop Direct Group who owns many companies including Home Delivery.

'Putting the Customer 1st' is not I think a priority of theirs. A typo maybe for '1st' should read 'last'?

I ended up having to fetch my parcel from the Wembley Park depot. Defeats the object of paying for a courier service really when you have to collect it yourself, doesn't it? Why can't the companies see sense and deliver when we are not working??? City Link aren’t much better.

From my hellish experience it seems that their staff are not trained properly and there are inconsistencies with what they tell the customer. The company also needs to look more closely at the competencies of its employees. I am certainly not impressed with their customer services and the depot staff.

The depot at Wembley I think typifies their service nationwide - it is a very dirty and run-down place, the staff are flippant, the location a mystery to find and they treat you with no respect or courtesy.

I have done some research and found out that the Head Office is indeed in Liverpool - address FIRST FLOOR, SKYWAYS HOUSE SPEKE ROAD SPEKE LIVERPOOL L70 1AB. I found this through 'Snoop4 Directors'. It didn't take long to find their number listed. Funny enough Littlewoods Shop Direct Group site lists an 0870 number but thanks to saynoto870 here is their Head Office phone 0151 432 1000. If you want to get to the very top man in charge he is called Mark Newton-Jones, Chief Executive.

Sadly I believe that it is another example of where mass mergers, take-overs of smaller companies and ruthless corporate development has ruined everything. Nowadays it seems that companies are purely interested in making profit sadly at the expense of its staff, company policies, the service it provides but more importantly the customer. I have given feedback to the sender for info.
05/04/07 @ 17:16
Comment from Danielle
Hello everyone,

I have no idea if this has been announced in previous posts as I have not read them all yet, however, I just had a long chat with a chap at Amazon's customer services regarding my current troubles with HDNL and asked if Amazon intended to stay with them as it was putting off a lot of people from ordering. I am pleased to say that this chap told me that Amazon did NOT intend to extend their contract with HDNL due to the cheer amount of complaints they received.
So people, let's hope the contract runs out soon, and that Amazon use a delivery company staffed with people who do their job properly.
07/04/07 @ 13:49
Comment from Steph
That's interesting Danielle. However even if what this customer services rep has said is true, Αmazon won't get me back. I was a good, loyal customer for many years until HDNL came on their scene. After I complained several times, Amazon finally told me that HDNL were providing an excellent service. That was NOT what I wanted to hear. I promptly began shopping with Play, who offer an equally extensive range of products at similar prices, however postage is Free regardless of the cost of order, and they despatch via Royal Mail and Parcelforce. Just what I need! And no problems.
09/04/07 @ 18:18
Comment from Laura
Hey Guys,

I've never dealt with this company personally but my colleague has had problems with them today where the driver refused to leave the items with a neighbour and would not wait 5 minutes for her mum who lives around the corner you can see her front door from my colleagues house to come down and let them in.

My colleague had been assured that the delivery man would call when delivery was 10 minutes away, no call was received. she cannot get hold of the depot and everyone at HDN seems to be being very "not our fault" about the whole matter.

If you go on the BBC website and type WATCHDOG in search they have an easilty accesible contact us form where they will investigate all complaints.

lets hope they can get some sort of resolve!!!!

Good luck!!!

Laura
12/04/07 @ 18:57
Comment from Paul Hoolihan
The telephone number for HDNL deliveries in the Manchester area is 01706 355223 for other areas ring 0870 1545400 or go to saynoto0870 com to find a geographical phone number in your area. Good Luck.
12/04/07 @ 19:33
Comment from Renzo
Well, HDNL have managed to complete (or even attempt) exactly 0 out of 6 deliveries from various sites to my house since November, and their online tracking system says I've been "Unable to deliver: Carded" eleven times. Needless to say, I've never received a single card, and (as is probably expected in these stories by now) was actually at home on two of the times I was supposedly "Carded".

Why lie? Is it to break up the unacceptable but never-explained run of "Unable to deliver - Not attempted"s which proliferate every online tracking report, which might otherwise jeopardise the contracts with suppliers?
13/04/07 @ 12:17
Comment from MEO
I am also having problems wih HDN and not receiving much help from the 0870 number on the card. I phoned them orgainise delivery for the today as I am off work but no parcel has arrived. They say depots fault for not sending package out and they don't know why. They also don't seem to care there is a glitch in there system. Do these incidents get audited and followed up?

Phoned them to ask them if I could pick it up and they said no problem, they would phone the depot and let them know. Would not give me the depots number as they can't aparently, (I sure they could if they tried) so I got it from 192 instead.

The lady at the depot was exasperated that the helpline keep sending customers to the depot, she says they generally need 24rhs notice incase the package is in a van or not sorted. She also said she had no record that my parcel was meant to be delivered that day, however she was helpful and did say that she would sort it out. Yipee.

Now I just have to make a 1hr 45min round trip on my day off.


For those in the Glasgow area your depot is

Reality
12 Stroud Rd
Kelvin Industrial Estate
East Kilbride
G75 0YA

01355 233085

13/04/07 @ 12:21
Comment from jason coldwell
newhaven phone number

01273 516197

14/04/07 @ 22:00
Comment from john watson
No wonder the company are laying people off.
14/04/07 @ 22:09
Comment from Robert
Was left 2 cards for failed delivery. Cards had NO PARCEL NUMBER. I called to inquire about the package I was told that no assistance could be given without a parcel number! When I asked this cretin if I could speak to a supervisor he told me that I could only speak to a supervisor if I had a parcel number. If I could swear on this site I would but I don't want to be deleted. The HDN is a complete farce and should be put out of business.
16/04/07 @ 18:07
Comment from John watson
If the driver had to wait 5 minutes for every customer he wouldn't get all his delivery's done, think about it. Plus with collections make sure they are wrapped ready to go. don't expect the driver to wait 5 minutes while you wrap ot.....thick some people are.
16/04/07 @ 20:58
Comment from Louise
I received 2 cards (with no parcel number) & called HDNL following 2nd attempt to re-arrange delivery for the following week. I then received 2 more delivery attempt cards that week even though I had told them I would be at work...doh! When I then called to tell them this they said they could hold the parcel for 2 more days if I could collect it from the depot (about 15 miles away)which I agreed to reluctantly. The depot were supposed to call me following day with the details - when they didn't call the next day, I called HDNL again to find that they had returned the parcel to Amazon!!! I was so annoyed that after the unapologetic person at the call centre kept repeating that there was nothing he could do, I asked to speak to the supervisor who was of course unavailable but would call back...that never happened.
I have since complained to Amazon who have acknowledged my complaint but claim that they think the HDNL service is excellent so I referred them to this website.
16/04/07 @ 21:07
Comment from Steph
Louise; Amazon told me the same. Do as I did and shop with Play. They have the same stuff mostly at the same prices, and they do not use HDNL. Their delivery is free for all items. Amazon lost out on another £369.00 order from me today - a camcorder which I would normally have ordered from them until they told me how good HDNL are. I now class Amazon as on par wth HDNL - A bunch of idiots, as evidenced by John Watson above!!!
16/04/07 @ 22:03
Comment from Haykey Ashton
Home Delivery Network, what a joke! I don't have access to a computer often and was unable to use the online tracking service. But when I did I found that HDN tried 4 times to delivery my goods of which the money was taken from my account quick enough. But was a card left to say that they have tried, also, my neighbour works from home, do you think they tried leaving it with him, no. Well I do not believe for one minute that they acutally tried at all. And thanks to this site, I was able to get a number to call them. Well delivery will be rearranged for tomorrow, we shall see but i am not hold my breath!
18/04/07 @ 12:01
Comment from Amy
What an absolute joke, I have waited in for 2 days for a parcel delivered by Home Delivery Network. According to my tracking report they have attempted 4 times to deliver my parcel.
A bit fat lie!
I have not left the flat for 2 days, taken time off work in anticipation of this delivery and am now told they have attempted delivery but there has been no answer.

Perhaps the ability to pair up an address with a door number is not a prerequisite for working for HDL?
18/04/07 @ 15:50
Comment from Steph
...or the ability to string coherent sentences together, apparently...
18/04/07 @ 17:27
Comment from Ade
I think my sentences were and are quite coherent.
19/04/07 @ 08:33
Comment from danielle
well i aint never had a problem with home delivery, my parcels always come on time and my delivery driver is really friendly and polite u couldnt ask for a better driver
19/04/07 @ 16:02
Comment from danielle
im talkin bout the norwich hd
19/04/07 @ 16:05
Comment from Steph
You and and at least one other are exceptions Ade. Besides, it seems you had the good sense to leave HDNL.

I haven't heard any senior staff of HDNL make their excuses, nor has anyone at all from Amazon tried to defend their stance.
Is this discussion beneath them? Or do they simply not care!!!
19/04/07 @ 19:09
Comment from Cr@gz
This thread is defonatly turning into an anti-hdnl thread and its still getting longer by the day, its that popular i feel like starting a proper webpage/forum just for all you very happy HDNL customers, how about wealllovehdnl dot com ? sounds good no ?

Look I work at one of HDNL's national Distribtuion centres which are the backbones of the entire delivery network and and im going to let you all in on a secret, our Centre and no doubt most of the others have been receiving monthly news letters for some time now, which talk about this and that with regards to the company, Plus theres other things involved but they are supposed to be starting a website where we can all register, and browse aswell as have our say about certain things in a forum type blog .. believe you me this will veiwed by many workers including a number of managers so what ill do is , once the site is up if it isnt already, ill post the web address here then you can all feel free to join up and post all these comments there , You will no doubt get the attention of hell of alot workers and managers and at the same time be able to get your points across directly.

But if any of you people want to take your matters to the very top then i suggest trying to contact The Barclay Brothers ... there the twins who run this whole show, but i must say you would probably be waisting your time .. I imagine it would be like trying to contact the royals directly .. impossible :)

Got any questions ? maybe I can help ... cragz05 hotmail uk

20/04/07 @ 05:41
Comment from dywana
have a problem with your parcel,do what i did and phone the sort direct on 01905 615561 or even better you could try the boss on 01905 615547
20/04/07 @ 12:32
Comment from james loveday
I have never in my life ever had the misfortune of having to deal with a company such as this. I had bought a parcell of ebay and the seller promised immediate dispatch which when I had to use my tracking number this was true. However the courier firm promised 2-3 days delivery. This was not true because I had to wait over one month for the item and could ony recieve it once I had it sent to ny next door neighbour. This company said that my home address did not exist. But they delivered it to the house number one up from my own, Perhaps somebody can tell me why when one of their vans passes my house almost twice daily does a parcell sit in the depot for a month and why my house does not exist especially when I'm writing this in my kitchen.
23/04/07 @ 11:27
Comment from anthony knight
Agree with all of the above regarding the useless service provided by Home Delivery Network. In this day and age, to expect someone to do what they say and arrive on the day they say they are coming is obviously just too much to ask. I have waited in all day and guess what...no delivery. Thank you so much to dwyana for the phone numbers. You should speak to the control room and ask for Thelma on 01905 615547. She told me that the depots are open from 6pm in the evening so the best bet seems to go and pick it up yourself! I tried calling BT who use this service, but of course, BT, ironically for a telecoms company don't answer the phone either!!!!
24/04/07 @ 18:02
Comment from Andy Lane
A Fair and Objective assessment. I had a package due for delivery using the Free Delivery option from Amazon. I got kind of worried when I read the stories here - and when I saw the status of my delivery as "Unable to deliver Carded". My delivery address was a 24 hour facility with security all the time on the front desk, and no letterbox! However, an e-mail as suggested by Simon Turner (Above 02/04/07) to the team at HDNL seemed to work. I got an immediate reply, "YEs, the driver had tried to deliver to the wrong address", and the package arrived correctly the same day.
25/04/07 @ 09:35
Comment from allen
3 calls to HDNL; each time a different story. Finally get through to the Park Royal depot using the number above - turns out it's open till 8pm (which the standard HDNL call centre denies). On mentioning this little anomaly to the person at the depot he says they don't tell customers they're open till 8 to encourage them to come sooner. Beautiful.
25/04/07 @ 12:07
Comment from Simon
I to have stopped using Amazon due to their inexplicable allegiance to the joke that is the Home Delivery Network. As recommended above, i now use Play. Basically, the same Amazon but they use the Royal Mail. Even if i am out, they leave a note and i can collect from my local post office. Please people, see the light. Its time to make our voices heard to put an end to appalling customer service. Boycott Amazon. Boycot the home delivery network
25/04/07 @ 13:22
Comment from Steph
You're right Simon! Play offer free delivery on All orders, no matter how small. Several other companies do too, so I think that Amazon will soon start losing out to competition. When they started out, they were good, and had no competition. Now they're not-so-good and there's plenty.
25/04/07 @ 20:41
Comment from Vicky
I placed an order with Topshop and homedelivery network were due to deliver to my work address. The tracking shows they tried to deliver twice yesterday and left a card, well we dont have a post box so i'd like to know where they left the card!! Topshop customer service numbers are all un recognised so i managed to get the home delivery number from here!! The lady tried to contact the driver and said she was sorry but this perticular driver never answered the phone and therefore there was no way to find out where he was trying to deliver too!! It is a complete joke!! How can you not have any way to get in touch with your drivers... apparently it is on the van to be delivered again today... i'll be having words with the driver if the package turns up..although i dont hold my breath !
26/04/07 @ 10:16
Comment from newc
They have a freephone number for customer services! It is 0800 0515506

Be warned, they can take a while to answer, but the woman I spoke to was polite and as helpful as can be expected when telling me my parcel won't be delivered when amazon said it would be. This seems to be amazon's fault though, not hdnl's. Amazon have now changed their site to reflect the real delivery time for this item.

Annoyingly however I can't collect from depot as amazon stop them from doing this! If I'd been a customer from another firm then I'd have been allowed to collect :/

I got the number off someone at a depot, number obtained from google maps.
26/04/07 @ 10:17
Comment from Shropshire Lass
Does anyone know the address of the Wrexham Depot please - just spent 12 mins on phone to be told they can only deliver 9 - 5 pm Mon - Fri - no good for us working girls. Parting shot from operator - you can collect from our depot in Wrexham await a phone call back. Also recd 2 cards but tracker system says 3.

I ddint choose this delivery company telegraph living did.
26/04/07 @ 18:27
Comment from Caty
I have read most of this string and agree completely with those people who said it's not good enough a) to expect the real customers to be in from 7am to 7pm and b) to expect to be able to hide from us by not publishing contact information.

I did not chose HDN. My supplier did - and they're the only supplier in the UK of the goods I need. HDN's website says categorically that they deliver on EVERY day of the week, but this isn't true. Most people work Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.30. So even if you know what day to expect the delivery (and Jon et al - thanks for the comments about it being 'home' delivery so you need to be at 'home', but when? 24/7, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, in case?) I've worked out that you've got a 20% chance of being in, assuming that you take 1/2 an hour to get to work. Which I don't. I leave at 7.15 and arrive back at 6.30. Not only do I have no chance of being in, the depot addresses are not on HDN's website and the only number I've got I need the parcel number for - which the driver hasn't written on the card.....

I would say I'm never in when any deliveries are attempted, regardless of the carrier, but it's only common sense and basic good customer service to give your customers access to information so they can help themselves, like putting the depot address on the card. And it'd save you a lot of trouble delivering and redelivering too.

And, while I'm ranting, someone (I forget who) hit on the real problem ages back in this discussion. Delivery companies in this country are chosen by suppliers, who are the 'clients', and those of us who are in need of the customer service are forgottten. Had it been an option for me I would have happily paid extra to have Royal Mail deliver. But it wasn't, so I'm stuck.
27/04/07 @ 19:38
Comment from Steve C
My experience this week:

I paid for next day delivery. I spent all day at home and got no delivery and no card.

I checked HDN's website, and it stated it was delivered, but this was only updated after their phone lines were closed for the day.

I rung next day and was told it was delivered to a neighbour. The call center staff member was very polite though, and appologised.

My suspicion is the driver was lazy and tried to save time and energy by dropping off my parcel to my neighbour while he delivered their parcel.

Off topic: I rung Dabs, who the order was through to try and get a refund on the extra delivery charge I paid for next day delivery. They just stated "It was delivered next day", so a double whammy of bad customer service!
01/05/07 @ 10:14
Comment from Steve C
My experience this week:

I paid for next day delivery. I spent all day at home and got no delivery and no card.

I checked HDN's website, and it stated it was delivered, but this was only updated after their phone lines were closed for the day.

I rung next day and was told it was delivered to a neighbour. The call center staff member was very polite though, and appologised.

My suspicion is the driver was lazy and tried to save time and energy by dropping off my parcel to my neighbour while he delivered their parcel.

Off topic: I rung Dabs, who the order was through, to try and get a refund on the extra delivery charge I paid for next day delivery. They just stated "It was delivered next day", so a double whammy of bad customer service!
01/05/07 @ 10:20
Comment from Tanya
Sorry I dont have more time to read all the comments but the comment from HDNL employer Jon (16.02.07) for me, sums up the attitude of HDNL Customer Service, or should that be 'poor customer service'? Customers always order goods for home delivery, but unless they’re given a delivery date, how can they be expected to ensure anyone will be in. I was given a timeframe of 3 days, well I for one cannot give up 3 days annual leave to wait in for a parcel. Last Tuesday I was left a ‘calling card’ by HDNL with no parcel number (luckily my Amazon confirmation email had already supplied this) the card said they would deliver on the next working day. I telephoned the national rate number and was on hold for some 15 minutes (admittedly they do tell you how long you’re likely to be on hold but what can you do when you need to get through to them but wait?) when I got through to ‘customer service’ I explained that I would not be in the next working day and I wanted to arrange delivery on a day I would be in. I was told, ‘I’m sorry but you cant arrange redelivery until you’ve had your second card’ so I said, my second card will come tomorrow but I shall be at work so what’s the point of that?’ the call handler insisted I could not arrange redelivery at that point. Wednesday I get home to find another card (still no parcel number on it) I call them and have to hold again, I arrange delivery for Friday, Friday comes and I wait in all day, no parcel, no card. I call at 1.45pm to say they’ve usually come by now I don’t think they’re coming, can you check with the driver. Only to be told that as drivers are not given company mobiles they cannot be contacted I would have to wait until 7pm to see if it arrives. At 6.30pm I call again (hold again) to say its nearly 7pm I don’t think he’s coming can I arrange redelivery for tomorrow (Saturday) to be told ‘I’m sorry but they don’t deliver on Saturdays, you’ll have to wait until 7pm if you want to arrange redelivery’ at this point it is minutes to 7pm because I’ve been on hold so long. At 7pm there is still no show so I call AGAIN to say I’ve lost a day’s annual leave and they haven’t been. They say they’ll get a supervisor to call me back. Saturday morning I get a call, I explain the situation and say can you deliver it to my neighbour on Monday (after arguing the toss because she says it should really be a next Tuesday delivery and I point out that actually it should have been a YESTERDAY delivery) she agrees. On Monday I decide not to go to work because this book is valued at £50 and I don’t want it to go astray so I wait in. I sit upstairs reading and decide to load the washing machine, I cannot believe it, - armful of dirty laundry walking down the stairs and I see a ‘calling card’ in the letter box (still no tracking number) – my doorbell hasn’t chimed all morning! I ring them and say what is the point of coming to an address and not ringing the bell? It wasn’t left with my neighbour and although I wasn’t meant to be in, I was and STILL I don’t receive my delivery. I am no as mad as anything, I call and am promised a callback from depot, no call, call again in the evening, promised a call from supervisor, no call, call again today and promised a call from depot. Finally the call comes and (after I insist that I’m not taking a 3rd day off work for a delivery that may never arrive) they tell me my parcel will definitely be with me on Saturday – I’m not optimistic but watch this space…
02/05/07 @ 12:17
Comment from Steph
I suggest you cancel the order with Amazon Tanya, and not waste any more of your valuable holidays and time, and order from Play!
Their prices are as good as Amazon's or better, and free delivery via the Royal Mail.

Amazon and HDNL deserve each other.

Stephan
02/05/07 @ 20:21
Comment from hdnl driver
I am a HDNL driver and have been for the past 13 years, I am sick to the back teeth of listening/ reading the gripes and moans of customers. Our depots are delivery depots, we do not hold any stock, we do not send out the parcels we just deliver them. But as we are the only person in the loop the customer sees we are the ones that get all the verbal.

This is how it works, you order a parcel from said company on the net or wherever, they send it to us when they feel like it, the very next morning we try to deliver it.

Today I had a load of grief from one woman who said she had been waiting six weeks for her parcel but the date on the label was dispatched 27th April.
So dispatched from said company 27th overnight to the sorting depot, sorted onto the trailer that delivers to my depot over the weekend delivered to us 1st, I delivered on the 2nd bearing in mind there was a weekend involved in all this I don’t think that’s bad at all.

I would like to add you can have your parcel delivered to your place of work, have it addressed there from the start, saves all the agro, you can do it I deliver stuff all the time to people at work.

Or do what I do, on the rare occasion I do order anything from the net I have it delivered to my grans,

Think about what you are doing when ordering, am I going to be in all the time? Do my neighbours actually like me? Will they take the parcel in or slam the door in the drivers face (it happens every day to me), do I live in a village full of named houses and is the name of my house clearly visible (and legible) from the other side of the road? Do I have a name plate at all? Is it called the bungalow on a street full of bungalows? The cottage is another unimaginative name! Do I have electric gates with no buzzer on? Etc etc

Think about this for a minute, all the rounds across the country have almost doubled in size beginning this week, I had 180 deliveries to do today, if you are not in or I cant find your house because of any reason (some listed above) I am not going to mess about your delivery at most is worth about 70p to me, (I get paid for unable to locate or card left) I’m just going move on to the next one.

Make life easier for us and yourself by thinking when you fill out the delivery address when you order.

And remember we are the only people you will ever see in this loop and most if not all of the mistakes are made before we even load your parcel onto the van of a morning so be nice, and move that hanging basket that’s hiding your house name.

Mind you I did earn £33,000 last year so it’s not all bad
02/05/07 @ 21:15
Comment from hdnl driver
This will wind you all up a bit more, a few weeks ago I went into work on a Saturday, I delivered 560 catalogues, I was in the pub just having my first pint at 1pm, and I got paid £650 for HALF a days work.

I love this job sometimes
02/05/07 @ 21:38
Comment from hdnl driver
This ones just for the drivers out there………………………………

Great big house, electric gates, brand new range rover 2.4 kids, dog , holidays abroad every year,



Tommy Hilfiger shirt and jeans £2 per week for 40 weeks

Don’t you just love em, 10 bob millionaires; bet there’s some on your round

ALL THE GEAR, NO IDEA

discuss
02/05/07 @ 21:44
Comment from another driver
I don't work for HDNL but I am a driver for another delivery company and I have just had what we drivers just love, arrived to make the delivery at the said house after spending 20 minutes looking for it, yes no house name visible, note on porch window, ''driver, please call back after 1.00pm''. Don't think so, after all I still have 150 parcels to do.

IF YOU ORDER SOMETHING FOR DELIVERY TO YOUR HOME BE THERE, QUITE SIMPLE REALLY
03/05/07 @ 11:14
Comment from Emma
Im am having real trouble with HDNL, it was not my choice to use them but my hub from BT is meant to be delivered but they cant seem to find the address!!! how come BT have the exact same address and can deliver bills but a parcel cant arrive.

It was sent once and signed for by a complete stranger who they cant give me any information about, apart from a name that they dont know how is spelt or where he lives????

Still waiting for the driver from that to call me...in the mean time asked BT to send another one, which also hasnt arrived when I tried calling htnl they said I could pick it up from the depot...great...BUT....they dont have any numbers or address for the depots!!!!! I have to wait for the depot to call me.

All in all the service is awful, I cant understand why big companies like BT are still using them, and if anyone out there has any numbers or address for the depots can they please let me know. Thanks
03/05/07 @ 11:34
Comment from Simon
Sainsbury's, Ocado,Argos. All companies that can (and actually do) deliver your orders in the time slot of a couple of hours. Royal Mail, try to deliver, if youre not in leave a card and you can collect from the local post office. Home Delivery Network, fail to deliver in a 12 hour time slot, unable to operate doorbells, read house numbers or write parcel numbers on delivery cards (if they bother to leave a card) and uncontactable. I always avoid companies that deliver via these jokers. PLAY is much better than Amazon
03/05/07 @ 13:52
Comment from Simon T
Sainsbury's, Ocado,Argos etc. All companies that can (and actually do) deliver your orders in the time slot of a couple of hours. Royal Mail, try to deliver, if youre not in leave a card and you can collect from the local post office. Home Delivery Network, fail to deliver in a 12 hour time slot, unable to operate doorbells, read house numbers or write parcel numbers on delivery cards (if they bother to leave a card) and uncontactable. I always avoid companies that deliver via these jokers. PLAY is much better than Amazon
03/05/07 @ 14:45
Comment from Steph
With jokers like you recent delivery drivers who posted and apathetic, uncaring management who can't be bothered with complaints , its no wonder HDNL are the absolute pits!!!! You do not deserve to be in business.

I can see why the Royal Mail are winning back business.

You really are pathetic.
03/05/07 @ 17:45
Comment from hdnl driver
simon, who delivers argos you muppet?
HDNL do, and have been doing since they first started home delivery,

emma, i wouldnt wait by the phone too long, you will never get a phone call from a driver.

your bt bill gets there because the postman only delivers to a hand full of streets and he goes to every house every day.

one of my favorite lines "the postman knows where we live"

just listen to yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


03/05/07 @ 22:49
Comment from delivery driver for hdnl
forgot we do sainsburys too, and tesco, and m&s and bid up, warehouse wines, sunday times wines and amazon and dabs amongst others so theres a few more simon wont be ordering from.

i try my very best to deliver all my aprcels and get my collections every day, thats one of the reasons if i have another 11 months like last month i will earn between 38 and 40,000 quid this year.

best of all is i turn up for work at 7 am and i am always home in time to pick the kids up from school at 3.30 i actually only put about 6 hours worth of work in per day.
i bet thats better than your job.

i bet your blood is boiling right now
03/05/07 @ 22:59
Comment from Stuart
'...if i have another 11 months like last month i will earn between 38 and 40,000 quid this year.'

'...I got paid £650 for HALF a days work.'

How very 80s. Are we supposed to be impressed?
03/05/07 @ 23:08
Comment from Malcolm Thorpe
I appreciate that some people have had bad experiences but I can only applaud Amazon and HDS.
I have ordered 2 items and they have both been shipped and delivered within 4 days or ordering.Long may this service continue.
04/05/07 @ 10:04
Comment from delivery driver for hdnl
its such an easy life getting money for old rope, i just cant help but brag.

it beats bleeting on about ording stuff knowing full well there will be nobody in, then having the cheak to complain about it.

i think you should all write to the md and demand sunday deliveries. that way i can earn double time.
not too fussed about saturdays thats only time and a half, i dont need the money that bad but double time might be worth considering.
i dare bet you still wouldnt be in though
04/05/07 @ 19:21
Comment from Steph
I have the feeling that most people on this site wouldn't pay you in brass washers,Mr or MS delivery driver! By the way, it's spelled "cheek". heh, heh.
04/05/07 @ 20:35
Comment from Steph
......and sheep bleat!
05/05/07 @ 18:17
Comment from Steph
Maybe you and your pals ought to buy some education with all that money you're earning.
05/05/07 @ 18:19
Comment from Jade
I ordered a pair of shoes, which were delivered by HDNL,i was not happy as the delivery arrived after 5 working days and to my horror upon opening the door, stood the driver who was wearing them. I wouldn't have minded but it was quite clear they would not fit him, especially whilst wearing sweaty, white sports socks.
Slightly dissatisfied with service.
08/05/07 @ 15:05
Comment from Cassie
After recently having a leg amputated due to an ice skating accident, i decided to order a more life like artificial leg from Limbs Direct which was delivered by HDNL. I received my new leg within the delivery time specified. However it arrived without packaging and upon further inspection i noticed a large amount of dead flies caught between the artificial toes. I did not think much of this at the time, however, 2 days later, the mystery was solved. A good friend of mine, who i served with in Vietnam told me of a strange occurence whilst he was driving back up the M20. To my horror, he observed a HDNL vehicle driving in the opposite direction on the M20 with my artificial leg hanging out of the window whilst blaring out 'House of Pains' hit song 'Jump Around'. Needless to say, i cannot dance to this song again without having horrific images of the described scene.
08/05/07 @ 15:36
Comment from delivery driver for hdnl
cheek,cheak, lambs bleeting, who cares? I can afford it
08/05/07 @ 20:10
Comment from another HDN victim
All I can say to the HDN driver is - you're a prat and if you had 2 GCSE's to rub together you'd get a decent job rather than sucking up to this crap company by defending their crap service!
09/05/07 @ 12:13
Comment from delivery driver for hdnl
I actually have 4 o’levels, I also spent a number of years at university and have a degree in electronic engineering, and I also have letters after my name.

Take a look in your local paper in the jobs section and see what companies are willing to pay. 9 jobs out of 10 I applied for I was told I was overqualified

Not everybody ends up in their dream job after leaving uni, but this suits me the hours are almost part time, and I earn a very good living

Just out of interest what do you do for a living?
09/05/07 @ 19:26
Comment from Emma Foulds
The contact number for the Gatwick Dept is 01293 517004. This is a far more satisfactory method of getting things done as it cuts out the call centre where they receive peanuts for a salary so it doesn't take much to work out the calibre, and no information is forthcoming whatsoever
10/05/07 @ 16:23
Comment from amy
HA!
you drivers are ridiculous. bragging about your salary is so not cool.
i am still waiting for a delivery from Dorothy Perkins, yesterday on the HDNL site it said that my parcel had been recieved, then it changed to say it could not be delivered. Today i was 'carded' again, after a weeks waiting i have had enough! I just want my clothes!
I have tried calling the depot but they aren't answering!
I'll drive down there tomorrow, i just hope i don't have to deal with one of the loser drivers above.
10/05/07 @ 18:22
Comment from Steph
Well Mr 4 o'Levels my names o'Reilly and I'm Bill Gates's brother. Last year I went to the International Space Station for my vacation as I am also a Russian Billionaire. Yeah!

I'm sure thousands would believe you though.
10/05/07 @ 20:59
Comment from Ayorkor
I placed an order with Boots and have been at home ALL day awaiting delivery from HDN.
To my utter disbelief, they have left a comment on their tracking facility to the effect that they have delivered and then the next line goes on to state that they have 'carded' the address as they were unable to deliver.This is simply adding insult to injury. Judging by the tone of the e mails left by their staff on this site, I know the sort of people I'm dealing with.
Suffice to say that I'll not lower myself to their level. I'll make sure I get my delivery money back from Boots as this is disgraceful! To say I am angry would be an understatement... livid is still no better.
11/05/07 @ 00:15
Comment from Micky
Top tip about the 192 to find the depot's number, answered at once and someone tracked my order immediately, sadly it's vanished and a 'depot search' will be needed, I'm guessing that's code for 'it's been nicked'

The HDN tracking stopped a week ago with the enigmatic status of 'carry over' which I now know to mean that it was to be delivered the following day

I'm annoyed with both HDN and Amazon in that no-one seemed to care about this until I chased it

As a further bonus the item has never appeared on Amazon My Accounts so the only proof I have ever had is the confirmation email from Amazon

sigh

(it's a digital radio btw)
11/05/07 @ 11:10
Comment from Nick
I die inside a little now when I see Amazon have shipped something with HDNL. I have had several missed deliveries at home where no card has been left at all - the only way to find out what's happening is by tracking the parcel online. In fact I've never even seen a card from HDNL, so I've got no proof such things actually exist at all. The service definitely reflects badly on Amazon, and whenever I'm after a book now I'm more inclined to use a different supplier such as Play. A shame, because until HDNL showed up Amazon's performance had been exemplary as far as I was concerned.
11/05/07 @ 12:49
Comment from Steph
I was an Amazon fan from almost the outset Nick, and I spent a lot of money with them. When they insulted me by telling me how good HDNL were though after pathetically poor service, they lost my respect - and custom.

Stephan
11/05/07 @ 17:42
Comment from Tim
Putting the customer first???!?!

I work at a large University - our building has a reception desk that is open from 8am until 5pm every weekday. Try arguing that this customer is never in, Mr HDNL van driver (oh yes, sorry, I forgot... *You Do!!* - regularly...)

*Every* single delivery by HDNL has either been 'refused' (odd seeing as our receptionist is not in the habit of turning couriers away), 'carded' (not sure why they would need to leave a card in a building with a reception desk that is staffed all day and in any case we've never seen any of these mysterious cards) or just stuck in the depot (sometimes the wrong one) for days.

I have checked our building CCTV at the times the drivers have allegedly either been refused delivery or left cards and guess what - no HDNL vans or drivers are anywhere to be seen!

I've got to say that any company that cannot manage to deliver to a building that is 100 yards from the main entrance to the University (the nice security guard on the gate will even point out the building to you as you enter), a building that has a staffed reception desk open all day (including lunch time cover) and that consistently lies about refused deliveries or cards being left really shouldn't be in this business.

We have 10 to 15 deliveries every week and in 8 years have probably had a total of 3 or 4 problems in total with deliveries from DHL, ParcelForce, CityLink, FedEx or any of the other companies that we deal with (all of which were resolved quickly, efficiently and politely). We have had a 100% failure rate with HDNL. I know every company can't get it right 100% of the time, but I think these facts speak for themselves.

We now many it a condition of any company with which we have a purchasing contract that we will not deal with them unless the guarantee not to ship with HDNL. With a purchasing power of over £100 million per annum, we have this luxury. I can only sympathise with individuals who are forced to endure the excruciatingly bad service from this joke of a company.

It is absolutely clear from other posts on here that the delivery drivers are under enormous pressure and are paid based on the number of deliveries made rather than for the job they do. I would imagine that they have to hit daily targets and at the end of the day and it's more cost effective for them to log a failed or 'carded' delivery even though they have never been near the premises. Any company that pushes its employees to the point where they won't even consider spending 2 minutes to locate an address (see post from James on 19/02/07) is doomed to fail. Interesting how James' post assumes 2.5 hours lost if he spends 2 minutes trying to deliver each of his 150 parcels. That assumes a 50% failed delivery rate, not the 99% the company claim. I suspect 50% is closer to the truth. I'm quite sure the 99% includes fictitious refused and carded deliveries.

Anyway, I've wasted quite enough of my life writing about this complete sham that purports to be a company putting customers first. saynoto0870 (dot) c om is useful for finding depot phone numbers (not that they are very helpful when you get through to them...)
12/05/07 @ 06:06
Comment from Kim
Not quite sure if I'm more unhappy with Topshop or HDNL. I ordered something from Topshop on 06.04.07 by 08.04.07 it was showing as parcel data received on HDNL's tracking service. Nothing happened, I contacted Topshop by email and received a generic reply. I used names and emails I found on this site to bombard HDNL, Julie Briggs phoned to say she had managed to contact Topshop's elusive customer services, they were looking into it. I was told HDNL did not have a parcel to deliver just notification of one. I have now received a bill for the item which has not arrived. I am now sending daily emails to Topshop, I have given up being an important caller on their premium rate phone line. Maybe they are just too busy with Kate Moss! Topshop and HDNL a marriage made in heaven...NOT. Any ideas on how to get through to Topshop?
12/05/07 @ 18:38
Comment from another home delivery network driver
What’s so hard to find? Have you never heard of yell dot com, or the yellow pages?

Business express, reality, reality white arrow are all the same company now called HDNL, the vans are being changed and signed as the old ones reach the end of their lives so your driver could be driving anyone of these.

We deliver for a lot different companies; many of them are on the internet as you know, what you don’t know is that we end up with the contracts because no other company will take them,
Companies such as zoom, the one that deals with Dorothy Perkins and other high street stores insist on making their parcels POD (proof of delivery), they have to be signed for when they could quite easily be posted.
Some companies insist that their parcels can only be signed for by the person named on the parcel.
The BT parcels we have just started delivering, many of which were ordered over 3 months ago have only just started to be delivered to us, they send them out next day delivery POD but don’t bother to tell their customers that they are coming.
I personally haven’t had any problems on my round with Amazon or dabs, but then again most of my customers actually make the effort to be in or at least have the decency to let me know where to leave stuff.

There will always be mistakes, we are only human after all, and lets face it its just a job to many drivers, sometimes just a stop gap between jobs or temp for xmas etc.

Get to know your driver, all he wants to do is deliver his parcels, help him to help you because most of the problems I have read about on here are nothing to do with him, they happen long before he even loads your parcel in the morning.

The numbers for specific depots are listed below; I don’t know if it’s a full list

Delivery & Collection Services


Home Delivery Network
Spilsby Road, Harold Hill, Romford, Essex RM3 8SD
Tel: 01708 376155
Delivery & Collection Services


Home Delivery Network
Union Rd, Roway Lane, Oldbury, West Midlands B69 3EX
Tel: 0121 552 5541
Distribution Services


Home Delivery Network Ltd
Unit 10, Dafen Industrial Park, Dafen, Llanelli, Dyfed SA14 8LX
Tel: 01554 777877
Delivery & Collection Services


Home Delivery Network
Riley Close, Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11 8LL
Tel: 01327 703821
Distribution Services


Home Delivery Network
Howard Rd, Eaton Socon, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire PE19 8ET
Tel: 01480 472537
Delivery & Collection Services


Home Delivery Network
Chemical Lane, Longport, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire ST6 4PB
Tel: 01782 836071
Distribution Services


Home Delivery Network
Kent Park Industrial Estate, Ruby St, London, SE15 1LR
Tel: 020 7639 9979
Delivery & Collection Services


Home Delivery Network
Carrwood Rd, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S41 9QA
Tel: 01246 260142
Delivery & Collection Services


Home Delivery Network
White Arrow Depot, 12, Stroud Rd, Kelvin Industrial Estate, East Kilbride, Glasgow, Lanarkshire G75 0YA
Tel: 01355 233085
Distribution Services


Home Delivery Network
Walton Summit Centre, 147, Brierley Rd, Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire PR5 8AH
Tel: 01772 338479
Delivery & Collection Services


Home Delivery Network Ltd
Howley Park Rd, Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS27 0BN
Tel: 0113 253 8226
Distribution Services


Home Delivery Network Ltd
Honywood Rd, Crane Industrial Estate, Basildon, Essex SS14 3DS
Tel: 01268 286666
Home Delivery Network Ltd
Palace of Industry, Olympic Way, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 0XJ
Tel: 020 8903 2772
Distribution Services


Home Delivery Network Ltd
Lorne St, Farnworth, Bolton, Lancashire BL4 7LF
Tel: 01204 793112
Home Shopping


Home Delivery Network
Baird Close, Hadleigh Rd Industrial Estate, Ipswich, Suffolk IP2 0UF
Tel: 01473 217581
Delivery & Collection Services


Home Delivery Network
Unit F, Gildersome Spur, Gildersome, Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS27 7JZ
Tel: 0113 238 0180
Delivery & Collection Services


Heathcote Industrial Estate, Heathcote Lane, Warwick, Warwickshire CV34 6QP
Tel: 01926 311430
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Gordon Banks Drive, Trentham Lakes North, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 4TJ
Tel: 01782 599889
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Eldonwall Trading Estate, Commercial Rd, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 5XG
Tel: 01536 268416
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Vulcan Rd South, Norwich, Norfolk NR6 6AG
Tel: 01603 408222
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Bury Mead Rd, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 1RT
Tel: 01462 421336
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Unit 16, Park Erissey Industrial Estate, Redruth, Cornwall TR16 4HW
Tel: 01626 832545
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express Ltd
39-43, College Green, Bristol, Avon BS1 5SH
Tel: 0117 933 8655
Newspapers & Magazines


Business Express
Unit 15, Block D Larkfield Trading Estate, New Hythe Lane, Aylesford, Kent ME20 6SW
Tel: 01622 710084
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Royle Pennine Trading Estate, Royle Rd, Rochdale, Lancashire OL11 3ET
Tel: 01706 352537
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Unit 9, Deacon Way, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire RG30 6AZ
Tel: 0118 945 1184
Delivery & Collection Services


5, Atkinsons Way, Foxhills Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe, South Humberside DN15 8QJ
Tel: 01724 280897
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Vulcan Rd South, Norwich, Norfolk NR6 6AG
Tel: 01603 486101
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Unit 17, Arkwright Way, North Newmoor Industial Estate, Irvine, Ayrshire KA11 4JU
Tel: 01294 213458
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Hoo Farm Industrial Estate, Worcester Rd, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY11 7RA
Tel: 01562 60200
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
24-27, Rufford Court, Hardwick Grange, Woolston, Warrington, Cheshire WA1 4RP
Tel: 01925 816640
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Site 24, Brunthill Rd, Kingstown Industrial Estate, Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 0EH
Tel: 01228 514412
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Wavarley Rd, Yate, Bristol, Avon BS37 5QZ
Tel: 01454 316101
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
County Oak Industrial Telephone, County Oak Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH11 7ST
Tel: 01293 516620
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Commercial Rd, Hendon, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear SR2 8QS
Tel: 0191 5640924
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Units 9 & 10, Faraday Rd, Southfields Industrail Estate, Glenrothes, Fife KY6 2RU
Tel: 01592 771950
Delivery & Collection Services

White Arrow Express
Unit G, Oak Lane, Treliske Industrial Estate, Trliske, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3LP
Tel: 01872 241904
Distribution Services


White Arrow Express
Ratling Rd, Aylesham, Canterbury, Kent CT3 3BD
Tel: 01304 841138
Distribution Services


White Arrow Express
Beach Close,Beach Rd Ind Est, Newhaven, East Sussex BN9 0BY
Tel: 01273 516181
Distribution Services


Reality White Arrow
Macklin Avenue, Cowpen Lane Ind Est, Billingham, Cleveland TS23 4BY
Tel: 01642 563043
Distribution Services


Reality White Arrow
Ellis Rd, Willow Lane Industrial Estate, Mitcham, Surrey CR4 4HX
Tel: 020 8685 1032
Distribution Services


Reality White Arrow
Unit 8a, Newbridge Industrial Estate, Newbridge, Midlothian EH28 8LD
Tel: 0131 333 3651
Distribution Services


Reality White Arrow
Carsegate Ind Est, Carsegate Rd North, Inverness, Inverness-Shire IV3 8DU
Tel: 01463 712325
Distribution Services


Reality White Arrow Express
Greenbank Place, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire AB12 3BT
Tel: 01224 249299
Delivery & Collection Services


Reality White Arrow Express
80, Great Northern Terrace, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN5 8HJ
Tel: 01522 513753
Delivery & Collection Services


Reality White Arrow Express
Fairfax Rd, Heathfield, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6UD
Tel: 01626 834070
Distribution Services


Possible matches located in United Kingdom
Reality White Arrow Express
3, Barnes Wallis Rd, Segensworth Ind Est East, Locks Heath, Fareham, Hampshire PO15 5ST
Tel: 01489 581544
Distribution Services


Reality White Arrow Express
Park House Lane, Tinsley, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S9 1XA
Tel: 0114 244 4661
Distribution Services


Reality White Arrow Express
Lamby Industrial Park, Wentlogg Avenue, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF3 2EX
Tel: 029 2077 9779
Distribution Services
13/05/07 @ 18:14
Comment from Stephan
Get to know your drivers" you say. Ha Ha Ha, many people on this site have told how they have never seen a driver, despite being in all day - Tim at the university is a good example - yet they have supposedly been "carded" or a delivery has otherwise been attempted. Supposedly,that is.
I too, "had the decency to be in" and another time have a parcel left in a secure location.
Well, the idiot driver didn't turn up even though I was supposedly "carded" on the first occasion, and on the second occasion, the parcel was left in a "secure location" - the trouble was it was not MY secure location, and the parcel never turned up. Amazon suggested I go around the neighborhood knocking on doors to see if anyone had received my parcel. That's when Amazon and I parted company, and hopefully I will never have to deal with these sorry, moronic, cretins ever again!!!
13/05/07 @ 19:24
Comment from another home delivery network driver
Jesus, try and help someone and this is the thanks you get.
You sir are an ar***ole of the highest order, and if you were on my round I would go out of my way to piss you off if that’s your attitude

Why don’t you look up the list of phone numbers I posted and find your nearest depot, that’s if you can manage it and have a rant at them? You may get some answers then.

What a tw*t
13/05/07 @ 21:06
Comment from driver
Brilliant!

One less k**b head we have to deal with on the doorstep
13/05/07 @ 21:21
Comment from Steph
If you could find the doorstep that is!!!!!!!!!!

That really explains HDNLs "customer services" and their attitude to the general public.

So, there you are folks, absolute proof that you're dealing with a complete bunch of losers!!!!!!!

Wake up Amazon and the rest. These people will bring you down.



13/05/07 @ 23:04
Comment from Simon
Having read the above comments I fear that my £300 order from Dabs has also gone missing. This is the first time I have used HDN, and so far its not good.

I phoned HDN and they stated the parcel hasn't even entered their system. I guess I will have to wait and see....

Not happy :(
14/05/07 @ 11:06
Comment from Simon
Having read the above comments I fear that my £300 order from Dabs has also gone missing. This is the first time I have used HDN, and so far its not good.

I phoned HDN and they stated the parcel hasn't even entered their system. I guess I will have to wait and see....

Not happy :(
14/05/07 @ 11:09
Comment from Comment to Steph
I wish Amazon would choose someone else; the thing is no one else will deliver their stuff for the price they want to pay.
We don’t have a choice either,
14/05/07 @ 23:33
Comment from Comment to Steph
hdnl-blog dot co dot uk forward slash forum

Please note, due to comment spam, URLs are not allowed.

before you all start calling me thick
14/05/07 @ 23:35
Comment from Comment to Steph
or google acts hdnl

and have a propper gripe at the people who work at hdnl direcly.

if nothing else you might learn a thing or two.
14/05/07 @ 23:59
Comment from George
HDN is a complete joke!

Marks and Spencer said my item would be delivered in a 2 week window any time from 07:30 to 18:00. Do they really expect me to be in for all that time? I got a card through my door this morning with no knock at the door, saying that it had been left IN MY HEDGE! Hardly a safe place, particularly as wikipedia lists Chestnut Avenue in Leeds as the "most burgled street in Britain" and I live right next to it on Victoria Road.

The card was left at 10:15, I noticed it at 10:30 and went to check but saw nothing there.

Behind a car is not a safe place, neither is in a hedge (especially as my hedges are only 1 metre long, not very healthy and I live on a very busy road)

I'm sure there must be some legal definition of where they are allowed to leave it. This is very annoying as I was actually in. If the delivery guy had actually bothered to knock I would have opened the door and got my parcel.

Now I have sent complaints to M&S and HDN but don't really expect either of them to assume responsibility or redispatch my pretty expensive items. If I cant get any sense out of anyone I will try their hidden phone number, I doubt that will help so if it doesn't I will take it to someone like the OFFICE OF FAIR TRADING and/or take HDN ltd to small claims court.
15/05/07 @ 13:39
Comment from Andy
Was reading these comments and got very worried about my delivery, as it was friday i ordered my goods and it is now tuesday and they hadn't turned up. Strangely enough, while reading through these comments, who should knock on the door but their delivery guy with my items! No bad service, no problems with my goods, nothing broken, no fuss. Don't know what the problem is, but don't worry about the above comments. Not everyone gets it right 100% of the time, i didn't have a bad experience at all.
15/05/07 @ 13:55
Comment from Reg
Amazon tracking shows HDN Ltd delivered my seventy quid bread-maker six days ago... but I never saw it! I called the Amazon service 0800 2796620 (option 8) and they immediately re-ordered the same item for me with free first-class delivery. I haven't bothered trying to contact the couriers. First class will bypass them completely!
15/05/07 @ 17:01
Comment from Owen
I was expecting a delivery from Home Delivery Network today. It's now showing as an attempt to deliver and says I've been carded.

This is simply not true. This is an office and people are always here between 8:30 and 5:30. I myself have been here since 8:45 this morning. There has been no delivery attempt and no card, despite what the web site says.

This is a package from Amazon containing birthday presents for my wife. I am not impressed.

If there's some reason they couldn't deliver they could at least list it so I'd know what was up, instead of simply lying about it.
15/05/07 @ 17:06
Comment from Reg
By the way, I worked at another Newhaven courier firm (not HDNL as far as I know) for one day (temp driver) a couple of years back, and was most entertained to see that the only guy doing any work was sorting parcels into cages for the whole depot by checking their destination then THROWING them across the warehouse (onto concrete floors) regardless of their contents. Employers can make you behave like that. I was then left alone to load a whole van with stuff unaided and unsupervised. I could have nicked anything I wanted! Hopeless. Loads of people were employed to sit in the office drinking coffee and ignoring us.
15/05/07 @ 17:06
Comment from CL
Utterly, uttery useless.

Ordered many things from Amazon, delivered to my work address, came from various Couriers ranging from parcel force/royal mail and others. No issues.

HDN... well firstly, they can't even find the industrial estate apparently as all the buildings are derelict? (according to the message they sent to Amazon). However, I can assure them the buildings are not derelect (most quite modern).

After the 3rd attempt they apparently left it at a company "somewhere on the estate", and I was informed it was now my job to find out what building.

I called the nextdoor companies, no avail. However I did manage to speak with a rather nice and helpful guy... from Amazon. They sent me the same items again luckily, and fortunatly with Parcel Force. These turned up the very next day, no issue. Apparently then, the estate was refurbished overnight?

I am posting here becuase I have just ordered some computer components from Dabs. They normally use Parcel force and teh likes, so I trusted the items to arrive safely and timely. However, I have been thouroughly deflated by the fact I got a delivery email last night stating HDN ar emy couriers... I feel like crying. They have given me a tracking number, but low and behold, "the number is invalid".

I will be happy to eat my words if they arrive (timely and in one piece), will post back on results - and their 2nd chance.

God knows why Dabs/Amazon and such choose these cowboys!!! (well actually I guess money makes the decision, and you get what you pay for - cheapness).
15/05/07 @ 19:44
Comment from LARRY WARD
home delivery network reading a comment from one of there drivers about people wanting delivery next day and not being in . they should try delivering to correct delivery address. my daughter ordered broadband from bt .they were give my address to deliver to because she would be at work and have failed 2 days running .delivering to her home address instead .ringing their 087 number there is 22 minuite wait . have they that many problems looks like it
17/05/07 @ 18:44
Comment from Mary
Another BT Broadband customer here. Got an email from BT saying I could expect my package by 7.00pm Wednesday 16 May. Stayed in all day - no bb package. According to HDN, 'the driver ran out of time' at 4.00pm. It would DEFINITELY be here today, Thursday 17 May. Guess what? Stayed in all day again - The driver ran out of time again! What a bunch of cowboys.
17/05/07 @ 19:32
Comment from Andy Cripps
Reading all the comments you won't be surprised at mine. An attempt was made at delivering my parcel during the day (what a surprise I was out!). I had no experience of them and didn't know Dabs were using their appauling service. Thought i'd phone them save them trying to deliver again while I was out and maybe pick up my package myself. After holding on the nat rate number I was told they couldn't track it until I got the parcel number on the card the next day (pathetic) so I asked where the nearest depot was and told it was Gatwick 18 miles away. The next day I got the card with the item number phoned again (silly me) and spoke to an agent and I had to ask him to repeat everything he said as I couldn't understand him. I asked for the telephone number of the depot to check the package was there and get the address to collect it from. On the second attempt he managed to tell me I couldn't have that and I had to wait for them to contact me. Needless to say I won't hold my breath. My advice make sure you avoid them at all costs. I have never encountered such a shoddy service from a company that is quoted as putting the customer 1st. I certainly intend to let Dabs know.
18/05/07 @ 11:49
Comment from kev
Will I ever see my golf clubs or is a driver trying them out this weekend? According to their ace tracking system my parcel sat in Hitchen for a week until it finally made its way to the Sort Centre. All the page space has been used up so where it is now is anyone's guess. Absolute pile of pants!!
18/05/07 @ 17:39
Comment from Comment to LARRY WARD
THE PARCEL WAS DELIVERED TO YOUR DAUGHTERS BECAUSE IT WAS HER ADDRESS BT PUT ON THE LABEL!!!

GO AND HAVE A MOAN AT THEM YOU UNGRATEFUL CRETIN
18/05/07 @ 21:33
Comment from Comment to Mary
Drivers do run out of time, there is a law that we cannot CLOCK more than 11 hours per day, we are contracted to take at least 10 hours work out. As we don’t have set break times like most normal jobs do, most drivers don’t stop all day and get back to the depot a little earlier. It makes no difference either way we don’t get paid for them

As we clock on at 5am, and depending how far away from the depot your address/ round is it is quite feasible for the driver to run out of time.
18/05/07 @ 21:45
Comment from Andy Cripps, george, kev, cl, owen
look up the page and you will find all the depot numbers listed

george mate, i realy think you are lying. but if you are telling the truth
just find your nearest depot from the list furthr up this page and ring them to complain.
all complaints direct to the depot ARE actioned. depot managers loose money over this kind of thing so they are very keen to get it sorted

KEV

you wouldnt have wanted those golf clubs mate they were crap, far too heavy and oddly balanced i lost 8 shots per round this week with them.

CL

as of 2 weeks ago all the rounds were restructured and all drivers had new and unfarmilliar areas to deliver to, ever thought the driver didnt know the area? and yes you do get what you pay for.

REG

you sound like an agency worker,
its a hard life eh.

OWEN

if you loved your wife that much you would go to a shop instead of penny pinching on amazon, or had you forgot it was her birthday?

losers get a life the lot of you
18/05/07 @ 22:07
Comment from Stephan
I would like to suggest that all of us "Lying, Ungrateful, pennypinching,k**b head,tw*t,ar***ole, cheeky, bleating cretins" who misguidedly ordered from various companies in the misaprehension that their "Home delivery" service meant exactly that, whether or not we stayed in the house 24 hours six days a week just in case our property turned up, and who have suffered from HDNL and it's nauseating employees, get together to write a letter of complaint to those said companies. Its quite obvious what contempt these people hold us in, and their managers are obviously not bothered at all about the disgusting service.
19/05/07 @ 12:38
Comment from will i get my parcel
Oh dear, just ordered an item from dabs online. I live in a village in the middle of the countryside, my closest neighbour is almost a mile away. I don’t have a house nameplate up on my house and I leave for work at 6am and get home around 7pm 6 days a week. I live alone and have no family in this country. What do you think the chances that I will get my parcel?

At least there is a website like this I can blame everyone except myself for non delivery
20/05/07 @ 10:27
Comment from john
I too have just ordered a parcel from said website for HOME delivery and have no intention to be at home to receive my delivery.

I also have just been to b&q and bought a hanging basket and hung it on my front wall totally obscuring my house name plate, (I checked from the road and it definitely can’t be read from any angle)

I will also make sure that the garage and gate are locked so the driver cannot possibly hide the parcel when he tries to deliver it. And another thing I do not have anything to do with my neighbours.

I have tried my very best to make it as hard as possible for the driver to deliver my parcel on time.

I can’t wait to come back on here and have a good old moan about non delivery, after all the customer is king and is always right.
20/05/07 @ 10:36
Comment from Stephan
Pathetic is the only word that comes to mind. I only hope your driving is superior to your intellects and mental age.
20/05/07 @ 10:47
Comment from Tim
"Don't just blame the drivers"

With reference to the recent posts from 'will I get my parcel' and 'john':

I think the point that most people are trying to make is that other courier / delivery companies *do* manage to deliver on-time to the same addresses that HDNL seem incapable of finding. See post from CL on 15/05/07 @ 19:44 as one of many examples.

The number of people who have had a supposed 'failed delivery' who were actually in at the time the driver supposedly left a card is also interesting. In many cases customers have had no cards put through the door even though the driver has logged the fact that they were out and a card was left.

My personal experience on several occasions is with 'refused' deliveries to a building with a reception desk that is open from 8am until 5pm (see my post on 12/05/07 @ 06:06). CCTV confirms no delivery vans / couriers anywhere near the building at the times the delivery was 'refused'.

However, I do have to say that the derisory service provided by HDNL should not be blamed entirely on the drivers. They are clearly under far too much pressure (150 - 200 deliveries per day per driver has been mentioned) to offer a quality service. I would hazard a guess that a number of deliveries are logged as 'carded' or 'failed' even though the driver has not been anywhere near the property in question because they simply don't have the time and live in fear of loosing their job if they don't meet their daily targets.

Companies such as amazon and dabs use HDNL because they are cheap. You get what you pay for. However, it is the poor consumers that suffer. I personally would be happy to pay a few pounds more per order for a professional delivery service. Many companies don't offer this option, however.

I think collective complaints directed towards the HDNL management and the boycotting companies that use HDNL would be the most effective action.

Drivers are an easy target, but I personally think that the problems with this company run much deeper. I'm quite sure that if the same drivers were given a realistic number of deliveries per day and were treated with respect by their employees then the service offered would be somewhere close that that of their rivals.
20/05/07 @ 11:45
Comment from Malcolm Bennington
I ordered a Freecom hard disc from Amazon on May 18th @ 12.00hrs and it arrived today May 21st @12.00hrs via HDLN,excellent service from Amazon & HDLN .How about that then considering the W/end was in between .So you would be moaners I have nothing but praise for HDLN.
Malcolm Bennington
Newhaven. East Sussex
21/05/07 @ 13:47
Comment from Martin
Just thought I'd leave a comment on my experiences with HDN. Had 2 deliveries with them from Amazon, and both have been delivered correctly within the time window on the first attempt. My only complaint would be with the awful online tracking system which seems to have a delay of about 3 hours before it's updated.

However my wife has recently ordered something from M&S which has been currently been loaded onto the van for delivery 3 times and subsequently returned to depot and may well have been loaded up today for all I know. Delivery to the same address (a work address on an industrial estate with a deliveries entrance that is manned from 8-6). The only difference is that my wife used the default address given to her by the M&S website on typing in the postcode and selecting the business name, which while being technically correct, isn't the one that I would normally give. Result - the driver can't find the address.

Now we have phoned up the depot (Swindon) and gave them a more accurate address the first time it was returned to the depot, but the parcel is yet to find me. Whose fault that is I don't know - perhaps the new information didn't make it as far as the driver, but as some of the drivers here have said - make absolutely sure that your address is as helpful as you can make it when you place your order, as it will probably make for an easier job all round.
22/05/07 @ 09:28
Comment from Draven Cage
I work for BT, and the amount of complaints we are recieving about HDN is off-the-charts. People being in all day, yet HDN's website say they tried three times to deliver. I'm just off the phone with a customer who had her parcel left at a different address (3 doors down from her own), without a signature or anyone physically accepting it. They then told her that they can't do anything about it, but they have arranged with BT for another router to be sent out.

They cannot arrange for another one to be sent, so this customer waited for another week before calling us.

There is a list of complaints being made at our CCC, and this will be forwarded on a monthly basis to highlight the incompetence of this company.

I even called them myself once to help out a customer, hoping to deal with it on a three-way call (in the hope of seeing how HDN deal with it on their side, which in turn would help the customer, as I would know whether I need to transfer or not), but the advisor refused to speak to me beyond the customer's details, and then wouldn't deal with the customer while I stayed on the line. What was he afraid off?

I used to work in deliveries, so I know the pressure the drivers are under. But I also know that some drivers are simply b*stards.

I cannot recommend this company to anyone. The fact they have NO contact information whatsoever on their website tells you all you need to know.
22/05/07 @ 17:13
Comment from Kelly
I have placed 4 orders with littlewoods since 7//5/07. And after 5 phone calls i still haven't managed to find out why HDN have refused to deliver and just returned items to littlewoods. If there was a problem with delivering to my address then they should inform me. This company is a load of crap!! Never had this problem with anyone else. But the most annoying thing is not being able to find out what the hell is going on!!
22/05/07 @ 22:49
Comment from Chris Hallett
I've been waiting for my BT hub and phone for 5 days now after they apparently tried to deliver it. I was at home ALL day and did not have anyone ring the bell. My house is on a main road so there can be no excuses! After threatening to leave BT and emailing the directors as suggested on this site I had a phone call to say my package would be delivered within the next two hours.

Why it takes this extreme action just to get a package delivered is beyond me!
23/05/07 @ 10:47
Comment from The Frazman
I placed an order with amazon last Tuesday using Super Saver Delivery and HDNL. After reading the comments on this page I was worried that the parcel would not arrive on time, or even be delivered at all.

The parcel dispatched from Amazon late on Friday night and early Saturday HDNL's tracker showed that Amazon had informed them to pick up the parcel. This status did not change until 3:00PM Monday, where it informed me that it had been sorted through one sorting office and was being sent to the local depot.

Yesterday (Tuesday) morning I checked the status again and it said that it had been loaded onto a van. The parcel was then with me at 4:00.

I thought i'd post my experience with them to show that the company is not completely useless, they do deliver when they say they will, and the driver was very friendly towards me when i answered the door.

I probably won't be using Super Saver again because of the long waiting time (mainly on Amazon's part, not HDNLs) but I can assure anyone worrying about their parcels that they are capable of delivering when they say they will.
23/05/07 @ 11:24
Comment from Frazman
I placed an order with amazon last Tuesday using Super Saver Delivery and HDNL. After reading the comments on this page I was worried that the parcel would not arrive on time, or even be delivered at all.

The parcel dispatched from Amazon late on Friday night and early Saturday HDNL's tracker showed that Amazon had informed them to pick up the parcel. This status did not change until 3:00PM Monday, where it informed me that it had been sorted through one sorting office and was being sent to the local depot.

Yesterday (Tuesday) morning I checked the status again and it said that it had been loaded onto a van. The parcel was then with me at 4:00.

I thought i'd post my experience with them to show that the company is not completely useless, they do deliver when they say they will, and the driver was very friendly towards me when i answered the door.

I probably won't be using Super Saver again because of the long waiting time (mainly on Amazon's part, not HDNLs) but I can assure anyone worrying about their parcels that they are capable of delivering when they say they will.
23/05/07 @ 11:28
Comment from Stephan
They got a couple of deliveries right then! Wow, Lets nominate them for the Queens Award to British Industry.
23/05/07 @ 13:01
Comment from Comment to Draven Cage
Oh deary me, Draven Cage you work for BT do you?
Here’s one for you then, whilst loading my van today 5 out of the 9 BT parcels I had for delivery today were coded wrong.
The postcodes were correct for the area that I deliver in but the actual addresses were for an area covered by a different delivery depot and it would not have been possible to take them ourselves, so they didn’t go out for delivery today, even though you promised the customer that they would get them.

**Personal abuse removed**

So onto the trunker tonight to go to the sort depot, onto another trunker which will be going to the correct delivery depot tomorrow delivered to customer Friday who understandably will not be in.

Now we get the blame for your f**k ups too.

Another of the parcels I had on today was from Amazon, I didn’t spot the problem with the address when I was loading it, all that was on the address label was the persons name and the village name, so that parcel didn’t get delivered either.

**Rest of comment removed**
24/05/07 @ 00:06
Comment from Stuart
**** IMPORTANT ****

Comments, good or bad, are welcome, but personal abuse is not. I will be removing any further comments that contain abusive language directed at individuals.

*******************
24/05/07 @ 00:14
Comment from Paula
Just had a much anticipated order returned to the supplier. No card left. I have never had a delivery issue before by any other delivery firm. HDN gave me differing reasons as why it was returned - eg 1) supplier requesting it back 2) driver was told that I was no longer at this address and 3) delivery had been "refused" whatever this should mean. Useless.... I wouldnt have been able to find this out if it wasnt for the telephone numbers being left on here.
24/05/07 @ 13:20
Comment from Jay
I agree that these have to be one of the most incompentent bunch of people I have ever had the misfortune to deal with.
They rang me teeling me that they wanted to deliever on a certain date - say May 1st. I told them I couldn't do May 1st and to give me another date. They said they would ring me back the next day with another date.

The next day they rang back to confirm my order on May 1st. I told them AGAIN that I could not do May 1st so they agreed to do May 7th.

On May 1st the delivery arrived to my house and only by some stroke of luck there was somebody in to receive the delivery. About 4 hours after that I got a cheery call from them to follow up on how happy I'd been with their delivery service. I told them off explaining how I had told them twice that I didn't want delivery on May 1st. They hung up.
24/05/07 @ 14:54
Comment from very disapointed hdnl employee
This must have been a different company, or it was a two man lift parcel.
HDNL never ring the customer to arrange deliveries.
We deliver millions of parcels per year, if for one minute you think there are armies of telephone operators ringing customer’s day in day out then you are very sadly mistaken.

Plus the call centre is in India, they can’t get anything right. This enables the owners to make even more money.

Whatever you read on here my friend the workers on the shop floor, the drivers and to a certain extent the managers do try their very hardest to provide a good service but most of the time we are fighting a loosing battle.

Some information you might like to take on board, a couple of months ago the company and union finally agreed on last years pay deal. We managed to get the company to pay 2.5%. check out how much inflation is at the moment. The offer was so low because the company was pleading poverty, as soon as the ballot was conducted and agreed by both parties the company announce compulsory redundancies.

The parcel volumes and depot intakes have not dropped, ie we still have the same amount of work to do but taking my depot as an example we have 10 less drivers to deliver the same amount of parcels. On an average round intake of 160 parcels per day it’s not hard to work out how much work isn’t getting done.

The company chiefs have since in a not so round about way have kind of admitted that they have made a mistake. Not only have they spent almost £8m on redundancies but they also have thousands of parcels sitting in depots because they simply do not have the workforce to cope anymore, thousands of parcels means thousands of unhappy customers. Believe it or not unhappy customers means an unhappy shop floor, both managers and drivers have been working flat out since the redundancies but we are fighting a loosing battle as more parcels are there to greet us the next day, plus what was left in or brought back the day before.

I truly believe the drivers that have posted on here in the past are only venting their anger at the company (not that it helps you and your failed delivery) our dept manager has tried to persuade his bosses that we desperately need to put more rounds in but has been flatly refused.

The job has become unbearable, and why? So the Barclay brothers can sit in their castle off shore and count their money.

For further information and the hdnl staff forum Google acts hdnl.
Go that page and on the upper right there is a button for the forum
24/05/07 @ 21:12
Comment from P. Woodward
HOW ARE THESE PEOPLE STILL IN BUSINESS!!!!
We had the usual story of fake deliveries,ie;2nd delivery card posted when we knew for certain,the fake 1st delivery attempt did NOT HAPPEN,and they had not tried the previous day or posted a card.The call centre were helpful though,and said van driver would leave parcel next door. We stayed in specially.The next stage was the van driver appearing on our drive without parcel. He had for some inexplicable reason,left it 500 yds down the rd at a house which we can only assume he,d picked at random. We were in. Our next door neighbour was in.So why then come up the rd to inform us he,d thought we might be out and our parcel was 500yds down the rd.WEIRD!
I hope all those with similar experiences take the trouble to inform the client sender,not to use this shoddy outfit again.
25/05/07 @ 12:58
Comment from Adrian
Wow! My first experience with HDN this week now that BT are using them for delivery of their products. 24/5/07 They tried to deliver but no one at home, so they left a card with a tick saying they will deliver the next working day - No Parcel Number on the card but I did try to call to say that no one would be home using their expensive 0870 number but after 14 minutes without a human reply I gave up in hope that maybe the delivery would occur after she comes home 14.30. Unlucky me, I return home to find a card again without a parcel number requesting that this was the second delivery and that I will need to call 0870... to arrange delivery. 6 Minutes waith and hen speak with some one who informs me they will deliver Tuesday 29/5/07 07.00 to 19.00 but could not give an AM or PM, I said we work 08.00 to 17.00 but could arrange for some one to be in for a PM delivery - Cannot arrange PM delivery was the reply, I asked how they could help me, the options were repeated with no difference, I said that does not help me, could they deliver Saturday - No was the reply. I was told to contact BT if I was not happy. Little success there I am afraid.
So I tried this website link and following comments have traced the nearest depot 30 miles away in Yeovil did a web search for their contact details called the telephone number and the most helpful lady has said they will deliver the parcel to my address tomorrow Saturday 26/5/07. We will be in and hope that we will receive the parcel, however I will keep you POSTED
25/05/07 @ 17:44
Comment from Phil Kent
I am waiting for HDNL to delviery some books from Amazon.

According to Track and trace, they tried to deliver on the 23rd May, no-one home. Then they tried to deliver on the 24th, address does not exist. Then they tried to deliver on the 25th, no-one at home again!

Was my house demolished on the evening of the 23rd and rebuilt overnight on the 24th? NO.

I have read comments on here from HDNL employees that they always leave a card if they cannot deliver. I can assure you they have not in this case. I didn't ask for next day delivery or anything special, I just paid for an item and expect it to be delivered, not too much to ask.

In this day and age I do not know why a company that is in the business of delivering packages cannot find an address. All they need is a Sat Nav and an up to date database of addresses.

Now I have to contact the New Cross depot to arrange to collect the item, but have no way of contacting them. That is good business sense isn't it!!!!

It will make me think again before I order something from Amazon in the future!!!
26/05/07 @ 08:28
Comment from news flash to all customers
SAT NAV don’t make me laugh!
They don’t even help with the cost of maps

They do not provide us with a phone or help with the cost of calls on our own phones, that’s why nobody uses them.

Track and trace, the depot can only tell you that a parcel has been loaded to a van if the driver is still out delivering; the status of the parcel is only updated when the driver returns to the depot and the scanner is downloaded.

There isn’t a driver in the land who works until 7pm at night; most drivers have finished delivering around 3pm

We only have to put the parcel number on the card at the second attempt, if this is not done then the driver is in trouble, look up this list and you will find your nearest depot phone number.

NEW RULES STARTING NEXT MONTH, FIRST DELIVERY ATTEMPT LEAVE CARD IF CUSTOMER OUT. SECOND DELIVERY ATTEMPT LEAVE CARD WITH PARCEL NUMBER ON IF CUSTOMER OUT.
THIRD AND ANY FURTHER DELIVERY ATTEMPTS THE CUSTOMER WILL BE CHARGED £5 PER ATTEMPT
NO FURTHER DELIVERY ATTEMPTS WILL BE MADE UNTIL PAYMENT HAS BEEN RECEIVED

This goes live 1st of June. And is mandatory across the network for all companies we deliver for.

Home shopping such as kays, Gus, littlewoods etc the delivery charge will be added to the bill you will already receive. So the third and consequent deliveries will be made without your permission and will carry on until the customer is at home to receive the parcel.

If payment is not received within two days of the second attempt we will hold the parcel for a further 5 days after which the parcel will be returned to the company it was ordered from. The delivery charge will not be refunded and the customer will have to re order and pay for the item and delivery once again.

What hdnl is hoping to gain from this is that customers will order products for delivery ONLY when they are going to be home to receive them.

I am afraid gone are the days of ordering things when you know you are not going to be home and then complaining are long gone
26/05/07 @ 10:39
Comment from Stephan
Regarding payment for third and subsequent "delivery attempts", I cannot see people putting up with this. It will work out as very expensive home shopping. I can see that for HDNL, the end is in sight. Companies will come to their senses and begin using credible delivery agents again.

Stephan
26/05/07 @ 13:46
Comment from John Watson
***DELETED***
28/05/07 @ 00:05
Comment from john Watson(ops manager newhaven)
***DELETED***
28/05/07 @ 00:11
Comment from Phil
A further claim at delivery happened on Sat Morning.

According to the track and trace 'The customer refused the parcel"!!! What a joke, there was no-one at home, I was in work and my wife was at the Hospital with my heavily pregnant daughter.

This company is a joke, the sooner they stop trading the better!!!
29/05/07 @ 02:11
Comment from Maureen Munro
I ordered a couple of dresses for a wedding last Saturday. The goods should ahve been delivered on Monday or Tuesday. Having tried to get an answer all week, it would appear that my parcel was left with "a neighbour" at a completely different address and post code over 8 miles away. I was told that if I wanted the goods then I should go and track them down myself. Having gone to the 2 "possible" I was still unable to find the parcels. Why are companies still using such an unreliable service. Are home delivery network undercutting other people to get the business and then pissing people off big style with their service.
29/05/07 @ 14:55
Comment from Tom
Having ordered some items from amazon, I came home to find one of these cards on my doormat. I figured "ok, I'll get it redirected to my work address", contacted amazon, and amazon duly made the changes.

Since this date, no further attempts have been made to deliver. I've called HDNL, only to be told that they can't find the parcel on their system, despite the fact I can track it online. I have had this trouble twice (out of two attempts) with HDNL, yet DHL and Parceline have managed to deliver parcels to me with minimum hassle.

I have now given up hope of this parcel arriving, and I am in the process of cancelling my order with amazon.
30/05/07 @ 12:55
Comment from Rick
Thank you all the people who left ways of contacting HDN. Their tracking website showed my parcel was in Newhaven.I tried saynoto0870 but the freephone number for all their depots is the same - you get the Bolton one! They gave me an 0208 number for the Edmonton depot which I won't give here because it didn't work. 192 got me the number for the Newhaven depot which is 01273 516181. They told me that despite the fact that their tracking website showed that they had received the parcel 6 days ago they hadn't physically seen it and I needed to get in touch with Amazon! I phoned Amazon on 08002796620 and they checked and said that the order seemed normal. I told them what the Newhaven depot had said and they said they would look into it. In the meantime they will send a replacement 1st class postage so a result! Thank you also to the employees of HDN who have tried to help by posting on this site. I appreciate that it is sometimes difficult to deliver and I agree that people should not go out of their way to make life difficult for them. BUT there is clearly something wrong with the management of this company to make their employees so dissatisfied! Other delivery firms must face the same problems but Parcel Force, City Link, DHCL etc ALWAYS leave cards if they can't deliver and I have often been to the depot to pick stuff up. In the end HDN customers buy things and expect to get them delivered. If you can't do that then I for one will stop using suppliers who use HDN are you listening Amazon and DABS? To the management at HDN get it sorted while you still have a company left, you might be the cheapest but if it doesn't work you suddenly become the most expensive both to the buyer and the supplier. You could start by treating your staff with respect and making sure that they treat their customers the same way.
30/05/07 @ 14:16
Comment from LIZ
Thank you for this information. I got through to home delivery straight away on the number listed. The amazon number was engaged, but if you want a list of direct amazon contacts go to: corporatecontact dot info backward slash
It lists all amazon and other hard to find contacts. Your website is great. Thank u very much.
31/05/07 @ 15:47
Comment from jason
rick

newhaven number is 01273 516197, ive had to deal with these cowboys before.

jason
31/05/07 @ 20:38
Comment from Paul
Does anyone have Home Delivery's Newcastle-upon-Tyne depot phone number & address? If so, I'd be grateful if the details could be posted.

Thanks!
01/06/07 @ 08:37
Comment from fed up like you
I currently work at the HDNL call centre, which by the way is not based in india like the news flash post suggests otherwise i would have a bitch of a commute! I sit here sometimes and i read the comments from customers and staff alike. There are two sides to every story and i would just like to offer mine. In reference to Draven Cage's comments you really should know better! Do you think for one minute that BT is the only one compiling lists of complaints since we took on this contract, NO we are doing the same about you following orders from above collating information which to all intents and purposes is useless. Why is it useless?? well because no-one reads it thats why. I have sat in the call centre and listened to people slating BT and all i really think is the staff at BT are victims as much as we are at HDNL of some corporate big bosses shaking hands on some golf course somewhere! neither ourselves or BT were prepared for this new contract we could not handle the volume of calls and BT had no idea what the procedures were for our deliveries. I will not slate any BT workers as i know myself the types of complaints you have been on the recieving end of having had them myself and HDNL. As for failing deliveries and tracking stating we left cards when we didn't i aggree this is shoddy. Drivers are supposed to follow rules and regulations in this job like anyone else in any other job no-one is perfect and i bet not one of you can say hand on heart you don't cut corners when under pressure to hit targets. We can only go off what the tracking says if it says carded how are we to know you weren't. We try our best to arrange deliveries for customers and this is not only made difficult by the constraints of customers never being in but also difficult by the constraints of the companies service offered. As for all the other delivery companies do you think for one minute that they don't have the same complaints we do? well they do no company is one hundred percent perfect and for all of you that love DHL there are many who don't! All in all what i'm generally saying is that next time you fly off the handle remember people make mistakes things go wrong and us at the bottom of the pile answering phones day in and day out are trying to help as best as we are 'allowed' to do and we are pretty fed up too :-(
01/06/07 @ 15:25
Comment from Neil W
Amazon & DABS used to be great shopping options. When delivery was by Royal mail and 'no one at home' it was easy to get to the local sorting office. Two experiences with HDN have been extremely bad. 1- web site said 'no one at home- carded' - I *was* at home, and there was no card. Other time said product left - not: presume missing/stolen. Amazon were useless - did nothing to put it right, no reply to me, just shipped dupe goods.
Now I'm worried about the order I placed today. I paid extra to get it delivered Saturday, not knowing HDL would do this. Dabs gave a consignment number. the HDN site says its invalid. I phoned HDN, they have no delivery for my address.
Mail order used to be great for busy people. Sometimes you'd be in, if not easy to collect. I will not use Amazon or Dabs again until they offer proper delivery service / options, like there were until a few years ago.
01/06/07 @ 23:53
Comment from Neil W
Amazon & DABS used to be great shopping options. When delivery was by Royal mail and 'no one at home' it was easy to get to the local sorting office. Two experiences with HDN have been extremely bad. 1- web site said 'no one at home- carded' - I *was* at home, and there was no card. Other time said product left - not: presume missing/stolen. Amazon were useless - did nothing to put it right, no reply to me, just shipped dupe goods.
Now I'm worried about the order I placed today. I paid extra to get it delivered Saturday, not knowing HDL would do this. Dabs gave a consignment number. the HDN site says its invalid. I phoned HDN, they have no delivery for my address.
Mail order used to be great for busy people. Sometimes you'd be in, if not easy to collect. I will not use Amazon or Dabs again until they offer proper delivery service / options, like there were until a few years ago.
01/06/07 @ 23:56
Comment from Neil W
Update: the UPI came into view this morning 7am saying sorted at Driotwich Spa at 21:22. At 10am there was an update to say "Maidstone Depot Unable to Deliver Prime Sort error".
What kind of system and service sends a parcel for Surrey to Worcester!! The Saturday delivery service will now be Mon or Tuesday. The tel rep agreed to send a meessage to Mitcham to return it to Dabs. I am happy to colect from Mitcham but he "does not know the tel no. for the Mitcham depot".
02/06/07 @ 10:25
Comment from James_smith
HI there all HDN Number can be found on Saynoto0870 Typing in hdn in the search box comes up a treat.any depot you like.


I too work at the call centre for Hdn were based in Bolton

Any Questions you have please feel free to ask :)

James
02/06/07 @ 11:30
Comment from martin
I've just had my first experience with HDN, It's still on-going and i am distinctly underwhelmed so far.

I received a card, with no reference number telling me they had tried to deliver. I had no idea who they were so waited for the second card as instructed. This came , I tried to call them about 10 times, always the same message, with waiting times anything from 5 to 14 minutes, which made me think it was some sort of scam involving high rate telephone lines. The second note did not have a order number on, or even my name.

I checked with Amazon and then realised they had sent me a package via HDL.

A few comments, I use Amazon because it was convenient, if I wasn't in, the postman would take it to the sorting office 5 minutes walk away, for me to collect. Calling HDL at least 10 times to hear the recorded message advising me of numerous minutes of hanging on, is not my idea of convenience. Looks like the parcel has now gone back to Amazon because i couldn't get through to HDL. To my knowledge it's the first time Amazon have used HDL for my deliveries, and I use Amazon pretty much every month, they haven't covered themselves in glory over this either...
02/06/07 @ 20:19
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
I am more annoyed with Amazon than HDNL. Amazon knows about the problems but still chooses to use this problem company. They obviously do not have any respect for their customers.
02/06/07 @ 22:53
Comment from jason coldwell
typical address on a parcel from bt

Mr roper
unit 1
london
uk

enough said. every parcel is more less like that, no wonder there is delays
03/06/07 @ 15:30
Comment from unit 1
bt parcel today
mr ********
unit 1
(name of industrial estate)


now this indunstrial estate has about 30 different sets of units.
each set has 10 units
each set of 10 units has a number 1

where do i start.

any advise from a smart arsed customer would be appreciated
04/06/07 @ 18:15
Comment from Lee
I have to say that i ordered computer components from dabs with their £6.00 1-3 day postal service which uses this company.

The online tracking worked fine,

The parcel arrived the next day in Newcastle.

I used the telephone number posted up here to contact the Newcastle depot, asked about an arrival time and was informed by a pleasant lady (after she phoned the drivers mobile) that my parcel would be delivered at roughly around 2pm.

It arrived at 2:25pm

So i effectively got next day delivery service for the price of 1-3 days and excellent communication.

I have no quibble at all and given my experience would highly recommend.

I feel in every company you do get the odd bad apple so-to-speak. I feel that in life if you have problems with a company like the ones listed here, you have to see yourselves as a minority. I mean these people must deal with millions of parcels.

My advice would be: Take it on the chin, we all go through things that go wrong occasionally.

Lee.


05/06/07 @ 16:49
Comment from grace o'hara
I have been waiting on a parcel which was shown to be despatched on the 29th of may
. I have been at home constantly and it has never arrived ...am starting to worry now as I cannot seem to contact them...I will try the number for my nearset depot tomorrow am... fingers crossed
07/06/07 @ 18:32
Comment from Neil W
Surprise surprise.
The order I placed last Friday made it to my local depot Mitcham yesterday and was loaded onto a lorry for delivery to me. I had a workman in all day, and a daughter. HDNL website says they were unable to deliver and say they carded. This blatant lie seems standard practive on first delivery.
Tried phoning HDNL 0870. 16 mins wait est. Tried saynoto0870 for Mucham depot: got an answer in ONE MINUTE: the person picked the phone and put it down immediately. Used a freephone number waited 22 minutes, was told they only cover Bolton.
Dabs customer reply to me email gave wrong information: they said the package was on its way to the depot when it had already got there and been sent out.
There is only one solution to this. NEVER DO THIS AGAIN!
07/06/07 @ 22:49
Comment from Joe Russell
I am also somehwat exasperated by the service (or lack of). I took a day off work for a package being delivered. The driver it seems came to my door but didn't ring the bell, and just put card through the letterbox. It had no parcel number on to refer to when calling the call centre number. The first person I spoke to said he woule get the local depot manager to call me to make further arrangements. Two hours later I called again for an update. Spoke to a different person who said 'No the local manager won't call you!!' So I offer to pick up from the depot if somebdoy calls me to confirm package is avalable to be collected. So far - no call.
Their customer care service is non-existant.
08/06/07 @ 09:56
Comment from Aimee Brame
without doubt the most incompetent company I have ever had the gross misfortun eto deal with. Their delivery staff lie, their depot staff are sullen and unhelpful, I will not be ordering from anyone who uses them anymore.
08/06/07 @ 11:34
Comment from Martin Ingram
Shame on Amazon!!!!!!!!!!!!1
The first time I have ever had an item delivered by HDN, and the last. They make CITYLINK look good!!!!!!!!!!!
Shoddy amateurish and incompetent. Still don't have my order. Don't leave cards or use any common sense!!!!!
08/06/07 @ 17:16
Comment from Richard
Well, I'm dumbfounded by their latest exploits.

I asked for the kit sent by BT to be delivered to my workplace, as I knew the chances of being in at the same time as the delivery was "attempted" were minimal.

According to the tracking info, it was delivered just after 10am this morning.

It's not here.
Our warehouse guys and receptionist haven't had the parcel, so there's just two possibilities:

1) The tracking info is wrong.
2) The HDN driver delivered the parcel to the wrong address.

To be fair, the name of the company and the unit number is only written in 3-foot high letters, so it's easy to miss.
08/06/07 @ 23:46
Comment from unit 1
I am particularly upset with Amazon and hdnl
I ordered a £2.5 million diamond necklace for my wife.

To my disgust when the driver eventually arrived at 2pm today (I had been promised an AM delivery) his hair was untidy and he smelled of garlic.
Also the parcel was in a brown box when I had specifically asked for a white box.

This will be the last time I use this shoddy service to buy my expensive items online.

How this delivery companies owners can live in that castle surrounded by their billions and sleep at night is beyond me.
09/06/07 @ 00:32
Comment from dave
They are advertising for drivers on the Jobcentreplus website. Corby area. Might give it a go as I wouldn`t mind making 40K a year.
11/06/07 @ 00:50
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
*** Deleted ***
11/06/07 @ 19:03
Comment from adam
This company is a joke, and as the person responding on their behalf seems to be illiterate, I’m not surprised. I’ve not encountered such appalling grammar, spelling, diction, poor vocabulary and countless other things that make me believe that if this is their corporate communications manager, they are in real trouble. Come on boys, sort it out. It’s not that hard to pick a parcel up, and deliver it. You’re making life worse for yourselves as well by employing monkeys in your call center who simply don’t care, and therefore will hang up on a customer asking difficult questions.
13/06/07 @ 11:07
Comment from A Driver
HDNL are certainly not perfect, however most of the drivers will attempt to do a good job. Unfortunately there are several points during the delivery of parcels where things can go wrong.

Customers: Need to be made aware this is a "low cost" service. With drivers delivering an average of around 140 parcels per day, it isn't possible to guarantee even AM or PM delivery. Any client who is promising that to their customers is making a promise HDNL cannot keep. Customers also need to ensure their address (including post code) is correct and obvious, you'd be amazed how many people continue to use their old post codes when they move addresses, even when its to another town! If you want your parcel left in your porch, greenhouse, garage, shed etc., make sure the driver has access to that area, and preferably leave a padlock they can secure the area with when they leave. When you do leave instructions for your driver, make sure those instructions make sense, and if you want parcels left with a specific neighbour, its best to check the neighbour in question is likely to be home. If your delivery is incomplete and the driver has checked his van, there is no point in keeping him hanging around while you phone the supplier, if he doesn't have your parcel he cannot deliver it! If your house has a name rather than a number, MAKE SURE THE NAME IS VISIBLE, and if it's a long road give some indication as to whereabouts along the road you are. If you get a card through the letterbox, read it, there's no point following the driver 50miles as he drives back to the depot, if you parcel is with your next door neighbour.

Clients (sending parcels): Need to be aware of the boundaries of the service. Unfortunately too many companies make promises HDNL cannot meet. Put simply HDNL will attempt to deliver your parcel, in general we do not take old items away for recycling, we won't set up your TV or Video (or feed your cat - that's something I personally had a note asking me to do).

HDNL Customer services/management: Again there is a tendency to tell customers what they want to hear rather than the truth. The fact that the automated returns service is left on, even when the company is aware it is malfunctioning is unbelievable. Customer services need to be aware that customers and drivers are people, surly/accusatory tone in emails/notes that put customers and drivers backs-up seems to the the norm! Finally there is a great degree of opportunity to improve parcel management/customer systems (the way we do things not computers) pro-actively, however due to the low calibre of management this is usually totally overlooked in favour of telling drivers how to suck eggs.

Drivers: The majority (that's in excess of 50%) try to do a good job, however again due to bad/incompetent management the bad apples don't seem to be taken to task.

If that all seems weighted against the customer, it's not. HDNL must have masses of information on customers we have had problems delivering to. What we ought to be doing is talking to those customers to see if we can find common-sense ways to get more delivered, with less fuss.
13/06/07 @ 23:34
Comment from gemma
home delivery network are the worst delivery system ever!! i have been waiting 5 days now 4 a parcel to be delivered, and this was supposed 2 be a normal 24 hour delivery. the first time i was out, which i give them due credit for as they did try, however, the second time i was in the house and they didnt even knock-just posted the card through the door!! so i rang them and arranged for the parcel to be delivered the next day and no 1 turned up!!! so when i rang them a second time they said sorry and that my parcel would be delivered the next day and if no 1 was in they would leave it with a nneighbour but afterwiating all day fro teh parcel, again no1 turned up!! after ringing them a third time i was informed that no 1 had arranged for the redelivery and that the earliest they could redeliver was the next day!! in this time my mam ordered a new phone and has already had this delevered by royal mail!! i have had enough. if it wasnt for the fact that i needed this parcel i would tell them where to shove it!! customer service advisors are on the front line of it all and its generally not their fact, so please dont give them all the hassle!! they do try their best to help you! number for hdnl is 08701545400
14/06/07 @ 09:41
Comment from Julie
Fantastic.My parents live in the back of beyond.No mobile phone signal, difficult to find, other delivery companies have had to phone them for directions. I was emailed on monday to say goods dispatched, delivery was the next day. I just suppose its the luck of the draw with who's delivering.
14/06/07 @ 14:18
Comment from zoom customer
I have had mixed experiences with HDN. I've had several instances of being carded according to the order tracker (but not actually receiving a card), but after the second carding I stayed at home and the delivery came successfully (and the driver was really nice - which ameliorates some of the obnoxious comments from drivers on this site). In common with a previous comment last year I also tried to have parcels delivered to work (in a large university... it has its own postcode!) and each time was told that the address couldn't be found. So it would seem trying to help the drivers by using a work address where you know people will be available may not be the way to go.
14/06/07 @ 17:30
Comment from Ade
That's why its called HOME Delivery Network
15/06/07 @ 11:58
Comment from Rob
I have to agree with nearly all comments on this page, stating that home delivery network are the most useless company I have ever had to deal with. There slogan is an absolute joke 'putting customers first' I mean come on.

So my first story begins like this - I ordered some books from amazon (sound familiar), I recieved a delivery card from HDN saying that they tried to deliver the item and failed, as always might I add. I phoned them to ask when the second attempted delivery might take place, to which they said they have already returned it to amazon and there was no way that I could arrange a second delivery at a suitable time. I telephoned amazon and asked if they could help I spent an hour on the phone giving them an alternative address and by the end of the conversation they said that HDN would not deliver it to an alternative address. My options are to re-purchase the order and when the return came in they would refund me my first payment or wait for the re-fund and use it to purchase the items again. I said to refund my money and I would buy them somewhere else. Through my many dealing with amazon it appears that they are the only company superceeded by HDN in the most inept bussiness stakes.

I spoke to amazon and complained about HDN, and they said they were unaware that they were so poor and that this appears to be an isolated incident. So I suggest that anybody posting on this site about HDN should phone amazon and put in a complaint. Maybe if they get a barrage of calls relating to this in a short space of time maybe they will either re-consider their courier options or pass the grief onto HDN.

So after the fiasco surrounding Amazon and HDN, I found out that BT also use HDN. How did this come to my attention, by a HDN failed to deliver note being put through my door. Since the company deliver during working hours Monday to Friday and I work Monday to Friday, every parcel that they try to deliver will fail.

In the beggining After every note I recieved I tried to get it forwarded to my work address, they refused, I would then call which ever company they were failing to deliver for, arrange the dispatch of a second item, then I would phone HDN and bounce back the original parcel. Now I recieve the note, phone the company ask if they can use anyone except HDN for which I will pay the extra, and if they refuse I close my account with them and find a company selling the same goods who don't use HDN and buy from them instead. I would like to say at this point I have other HDN stories but I will not go into them now. I am not one to complain, I am the suffer in silence type of person. However, HDN have ruined my day on so many occassions that I feel I must say something. Please don't think I am like this all of the time.

Now to reply to all of you who work for HDN. I do not know that the company I have placed an order with are using HDN, until the note is delivered. If I ask for next day delivery, I assume that if I am not in they will leave it with a neighbour (HDN never do), or leave me a note in which case I will go to the depot to collect my order that night.

The HDN call centre is a joke; I believe that in your interview to work for company you must have a role play section where; 1) you must be as obstructive as possible to helping the customer, 2) be as disinterested as is humanly possible whilst remaining conscious, 3)Become rude, obtuse and defensive over simple and inoxuous questions, 4)never ever reach a solution that is beneficial to your client and finally 5) Frustrate your client so much that will eventually hang up and do all of the phoning around and make all of the arrangements for the item to actually get them so you don't have to actually do any work yourself. If you can fulfill all of the criteria you can finally become a member of the team.

I urge everybody to please, please, please call all the companies using HDN and complain. If you are thinking of using them DO NOT.

One last thing tomorrow I will post the customer complaints address for HDN on this site.
15/06/07 @ 16:15
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
I agree entirely Rob H. Amazon are Liars! They are very aware of the problems with HDNL, although they won't admit so publicly. I hope they go down the drain together with HDNL. With people who make comments like Ade, that day can't be too far off. A complete shower of idiots, they don't deserve to be in business.
15/06/07 @ 18:07
Comment from Ade
In response to the ex amazon customer with no name, I do not work for HDN, although I have done so in the past, I have more years than I care to mention in parcel distribution both as a driver and as a manager, some distribution companys focus on B to B, thats Business to Business for you know it all's, HDN focus on Home Delivery and will deliver to the address on the parcel, not where you at a later date decide might be convienient. So all of those of you that are going to come back at me with what difference does it make, understand the BUSINESS before you pass comment, what ever your Business is I would not dream as to be so arrogant as to pass judgement.

As many have said before if you order something to your home address make provisons to receive the delivery, not just come out with I'm not at home between what ever and what ever, and these poor drivers that some of you obviously hold in contempt purely because they are drivers should realise they also have homes just like you.
15/06/07 @ 21:22
Comment from john watson
why would a driver leave a card when you are in? and take the parcel away? think about it. He gets paid per parcel so he would leave it if he could, leaving a card gives him another job the next day which he doesnt want

maybe your dell boor doesnt work, maybe you have the tv on and cant hear.
15/06/07 @ 22:03
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
Well Ade, unfortunately, we customers often do not have advance knowledge of which company is going to ship our goods. We pay for goods and services and do not expect to have a service thrust upon us that is not appropriate for the delivery of those goods. We have to trust the trader we are dealing with to provide us with the correct service. When we can make an informed choice, then we can avoid such inappropriate service providers. Perhaps all of the companies using HDNL should make it clear that they are expected to stay at HOME sitting by the front door every day of the week just in case the goods they have paid for arrive. Merchants ask for an address to which a parcel should be delivered. As long as an address is correctly given, including the correct postcode, why make any distinction?
As for understanding your business, that is totally irrelevant. What I understand is that I have paid for some goods and for a delivery service to the address stated. The company supplying the goods has entered a contract to deliver them. They can send them by HDNL, by the Royal Mail or by carrier pigeon as far as I am concerned, just as long as they get to me in good time and in a sensible manner. I do not expect to have to get into deep discussions with stroppy "delivery experts" who seem to know nothing about conducting good business practice and delivering "customer care". You people are full of excuses because you are incapable of delivering an adequate service, let alone goods! All you do is make patronising comments and blame everyone else for your shortcomings. If you were as good at doing your job as you are about bleating on how everyone else is at fault, there would be no need for this forum.
17/06/07 @ 11:41
Comment from St eve
Had a Home Deilvery Network Delivery from Amazon - no problems, driver was curtious and helpful (this was an owner driver rather than van delivery).
Many of the moans in this posting can be aimed at City Link, Amtrak, even UPS.
17/06/07 @ 12:08
Comment from don't tell them your name pike
Parcel from zoom last week for number 9 whatever street,

Tuesday first attempt 9 not in, tried 8 & 10 both out left a card
Weds second attempt, 9 not in tried 8 & 10 both out left a card

Got back to depot weds message waiting for me, please deliver thurs, if out try numbers, 7,8,10,11,12

Thursday third attempt, 9 not in tried 7,8,10, got to 11 and they were in only to be told to f- off no one on this street will take parcels in for that bi*ch. Apparently there is a problem with parking on that street in the evening and the customer in question has managed to fall out with the whole street. Cars have been damaged and police have been involved but she expects her neighbours to take her parcels in.

I’m not suggesting for one minute that this situation occurs every day but it is just one example of what we deal with.

Same estate, tescos return, 2 wardrobes to go back, the customer expected me to return the wardrobes still built up, not only that but she wanted me to wait while she emptied them of the clothes still hanging in them.

I agree with some people on here that things could be better, Amazon and the like use us because we are the second largest delivery company next to royal mail and we are the cheapest, you shop on line with Amazon mostly because they are the cheapest.
What you and the company directors have to start and understand is you cant have everything, you either want quality or quantity but you cant have both.

Give me 200 parcels to deliver and I have to run around like an idiot all day cutting corners wherever I can to get the job done, poor quality.

Pay me the same and give me 100 parcels to deliver (which is still more than the other delivery firms expect from their drivers) and I can take more time at each delivery and provide a good service.

There’s only so many hours in the day, and I can only clock 11 of them by law, which includes loading, travelling to the round, breaks, travelling back to the depot, filling the van with fuel, debriefing and of course delivering. If any customer is out then that delivery takes me longer to do which knocks on to the next and the next etc. Congestion and weight of traffic, accidents out on the road etc all of which I have no control over also add to the days problems.
On my round there have been in the past year or so some major development work and a number of new housing estates have been built, none of which have been timed into my working day. Because none of these estates are on any sort of map yet then the management consider them not there.

All these have an effect on the time I have to spend actually delivering to the customer.

I for one would love our company to loose the contract for amazon, dabs and bt, they make up around 20 parcels per day out of my 200 parcel load but they are the only ones I ever have a problem with, these are the only ones I have to card, the only ones that are almost never at home, the only ones that expect me to go chasing around for them. I’ve done my bit when I get to your door, why can’t you do your bit and be in.
What is so hard about that? Why can’t you put your house name up so it can be read from the road? Why do you have to stick a hanging basket right in front of the plaque or number? Why do you say leave in the shed but leave the gate locked? Why don’t you check with your neighbour’s before arranging for them to take your parcel in?

We deliver millions of parcels a year over the whole country 99% of problems are with the above mentioned companies, I wonder why that is?

As for drivers sneaking up you path and quietly and gently placing a card through your letter box without knocking, I cant say I have ever done that because whatever I take back carded I have to try again the next day on top of the next days work. Why the hell would I make work for myself if I didn’t have to? Believe me if I think you are in you WILL know I’m at your door, I don’t care how loud your telly is or if you are on nights and still in bed. If I have to sit in the van giving it some horn you are going to hear me.

But hey, at the end of the day it’s just a job and I get shite loads of money so feel free to piss me about as much as you like because I get paid if you are in or not.

It would be interesting to find out what the customers do for a job, maybe we could have a discussion on how good or bad their service is.
17/06/07 @ 22:43
Comment from another driver
Ade, you were right, another know it all ex amazon customer with no name, and as Pike says what do these know it all's do for a living.
18/06/07 @ 09:54
Comment from julian
Just ordered from Amazon (who I think are great) but just got the sipatch note from these HDN jokers. Nightmare! My girfriend ordered a printer a few months back. Delivery guy hid it in wheely bin at front of house. On bin day! Two hours later, while we are both out at work, bin men take new printer to landfill. I'm praying they don't stuff up again!
18/06/07 @ 15:23
Comment from Frankie

For anyone looking for HDN's phone numbers go to the saynoto0870 website. I can't post the link as it isn't allowed but type that in google and the site will come up. When you search for HDN on there a whole list of numbers will come up for local numbers of depots in different areas and their freephone numbers too! Not sure if it works as I haven't tried it yet. I've been ok so far with them but hope I won't have to chase up my latest order via amazon!
18/06/07 @ 15:34
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
I think you drivers need to start looking for another job, or perhaps retire. Its quite plain you can't cope with a few simple problems. Instead of being pro-active and having a positive outlook, and not to mention using your heads, its quite plain that all you want to do is complain about your lot and do nothing to improve it. You would not last ten seconds. And as for "another driver" I know enough to recognize a prat when I see one.
18/06/07 @ 17:54
Comment from another driver
Now now ex amazon customer there's no need to resort to names and abuse, it must be all those books you read.
18/06/07 @ 19:19
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
What do you mean Pike's sidekick? Names? Abuse? We long suffering customers of Amazon and co are the ones who have received all the name calling and abuse from various drivers, call centre staff and supervisors of HDNL. Most of the drivers on this site have shown their absolute contempt for us, especially it seems, customers of Amazon, who it seems do not have any rights because we buy "cheap" goods. What a company philosophy!!!!
18/06/07 @ 20:29
Comment from don't tell them your name pike
Ex amazon,

Can you do your job to the highest quality you would like to in the time that your boss allows?
If you can truthfully say yes, then that’s what it was like to do my job just over 2 years ago.
I now have almost double the workload I had back then but I have the same amount of time to do it in.
And still they want more from me.

You say you are a long suffering amazon customer, am I right in thinking you get a bad service once, but then go back for some more?
I’m sorry mate but someone messes me about once then they don’t get my custom ever again.

I am sorry to say my friend the abuse directed at you from us all is of your own making follow these simple steps and you will be happy.

1. order item
2. stay at home and wait for item to be delivered
3. accept item when it is attempted first time
4. everyone is happy.

I know I will be out at work all week, so I never order things to be delivered to MY home.
Home delivery/ no one at home, doesn’t work does it. Why don’t you see it that way too or is it just simple me.

The pike thing is called irony or are you American

julian;

A driver at my depot did this last week, the customer rang and played up hell about it. The next day the driver was delivering next door and noticed the packaging of the item he had delivered in the bin the day before still with the address label on. He took a photo of it on his phone to show the depot manager, so hide the box mate if I were you. Or have you complained because you know amazon has a policy that they will replace anything without question.


Frankie;

Don’t go through all that crap, every depot phone number is listed further up the page if you can be arsed to look

Remember

You have ordered the item to be delivered not me, if you aren’t at home how is that my fault

AND FOR GOD SAKE DON’T TELL THEM YOUR NAME PIKE!!!

WORLD WIDE WEB.HDNL-BLOG .CO.UK / FORUMS

Have a look here, register and slag off the management, you obviously will have to retype the address but that’s the jist of it
18/06/07 @ 23:06
Comment from julian
I'm sure there are bad drivers and good drivers. Bad customers and good customers. I am a good customer. My parcel was left in the bin on bin day by a bad driver. That's my only experience of HDN, perhaps the item showing as loaded onto their van this morning will be delivered properly. I will let you know...
19/06/07 @ 16:39
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
So are you a thief and a liar Julian, as the driver above asserts? Is everyone who has complained here a thief or a liar, or perhaps both?? Is everyone taking advantage of Amazon's free replacement policy to fraudulently obtain goods??? Should anyone who cannot be at home all day everyday be prohibited from using online purchasing???? Should the greatest shopping revolution in the history of the planet be curtailed because some over-inflated delivery person decides that "Home delivery" means you MUST be home to accept it, and no other concessions will be given????? What the hell is wrong with having the option to pick up a package if you're out at the time of delivery? Is that too complicated??????
You guys are just incredible.
When are you going to get real???????

19/06/07 @ 20:27
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
By the way. Congratulations Pike & co! Just read that Amazon have dropped the Royal Mail for ALL their 2nd class deliveries now, so looks like you'll be even busier.

So glad I don't use them anymore.

Its a Mad Mad World!
19/06/07 @ 20:32
Comment from don't tell them your name pike
2nd class eh, so you did have an option after all?
2nd class a Bit too pikey for you is it?


And as you have just said home delivery is exactly that,
19/06/07 @ 23:05
Comment from don\'t tell them your name pike
ex amazon

Should anyone who cannot be at home all day everyday be prohibited from using online purchasing????
YES

delivery person decides that "Home delivery" means you MUST be home to accept it,????????

YES

What the hell is wrong with having the option to pick up a package if you're out at the time of delivery? Is that too complicated??????

YES

You guys are just incredible.

YES

IN ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTIONS, THE ANSWER IS

YES, YES AND YES.

now go and pester ROYAL MAIL FOR DELIVERING YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL OR SOMETHING


20/06/07 @ 00:05
Comment from julian
I have to say that my parcel arrived just fine yesterday and they left it with a neighbour. So no complaints.

Regarding the comment above about people who cannot be at home during the day shouldn't be allowed to buy online. That would put most delivery companies out of business so probably not the brightest comment of the day.

If my neighbour hadn't been in then my only option would have been to drive a 60 mile round trip to collect the parcel. Had Amazon used Royal Mail then it would have been a 5 mile round trip. Thankfully I got a good driver this time.
20/06/07 @ 09:32
Comment from don\'t tell them your name pike
Don’t think so matey,

“Regarding the comment above about people who cannot be at home during the day shouldn't be allowed to buy online. That would put most delivery companies out of business so probably not the brightest comment of the day.”

145 parcels on today, 5 of were amazon, 3 of were bt, delivered all the amazon and only one of the bt (have to be signed for)
Every other delivery the customer was in, cracking day, just how it should be. 5 less parcels would not have made any difference to my round today as they were overtime anyway

So my friend your argument is flawed
I see your driver still had to mess about delivering to your neighbor even though you knew it was coming today as you stated in your earlier post.
What would your argument have been then?

It’s the same old story ME ME ME
20/06/07 @ 22:31
Comment from don\'t tell them your name pike
Don’t think so matey,

THE COMMENT ABOVE ABOUT PEOPLE WHO CANNOT BE AT HOME DURING THE DAY SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO BUY ONLINE. THAT WOULD PUT MOST DELIVERY COMPANIES OUT OF BUSINESS SO PROBABLY NOT THE BRIGHTEST COMMENT.

145 parcels on today, 5 of were amazon, 3 of were bt, delivered all the amazon and only one of the bt (have to be signed for)
Every other delivery the customer was in, cracking day, just how it should be. 5 less parcels would not have made any difference to my round today as they were overtime anyway

So my friend your argument is flawed
I see your driver still had to mess about delivering to your neighbor even though you knew it was coming today as you stated in your earlier post.
What would your argument have been then?

It’s the same old story ME ME ME
20/06/07 @ 22:34
Comment from steve francis
just so that you all know, the reception telephone number for the HDNL call centre is 01204 529301.

Happy Hunting!
21/06/07 @ 10:16
Comment from Stephan
Why do you drivers talk so much nonesense?
21/06/07 @ 12:29
Comment from julian
So on average 95% of your deliveries the people are at home? If that's true then my argument is indeed flawed and I take it back. But I am guessing it is usually not that good.

If there had been an option for "deliver to my local postal sorting office for me to collect" I'd have ticked that box. Not surprisingly, there was no such option.

If I am paying a delivery charge I am paying for a service. Of course delivery drivers should "go the extra mile" and knock on my neighbour's door. Apart from good service to me, it's also economically sensible for the delivery company so they don't have to come back again another day, it's also environmentally friendly.



21/06/07 @ 14:44
Comment from don\'t tell them your name pike
Yes mate, only took 3 back today, all bt parcels. One of the bt was from yesterday, I put on the card I would be calling back today but cust still not in.
The post office thing is a cracking idea, only thing is that would mean extra work for the people that actually run the company negotiating some sort of payment for the post office. The post office aren’t going to help us or you for free, and why should they. I think it would work very well but try convincing the directors etc.

I suppose it does make economic sense to not have to keep going back to your house every day just on the off chance you might be in, but I get paid every time I do regardless of weather I find you in or not.

And the 95% bit are catalogue parcels, gus kays littlewoods etc that’s the bulk of our work as you would expect being owned by littlewoods, gus kays etc

As a whole our depot is pretty good, I would say there were around 50-60 parcels brought back carded today, not bad to say around 8,000 were delivered to us last night and everything went out this morning.
21/06/07 @ 22:07
Comment from Waiting for a delivery
I'm waiting for a delivery from Amazon. Unfortunately this time they are using HDNL -oh dear.

The last few times, Amazon used a different delivery company - everything went smoothly. I was able to clearly track the parcel, and know it was on it's way. And it arrived on the day it was supposed to.

Unfortunately when HDNL was used on previous occasions, the tracking information was a complete joke. The tracker showed that the parcel was out for delivery. I waited in and no delivery happened. I checked that night to find out that they claimned to have left a card. Needless to say no card was left. This happened not once, not twice, but on 3 different occasions. I really dislike being lied to. According to Amazon, HDNL had a "problem" with their tracking system (the phrase "Garbage in, garbage out" comes to mind). It appears to be a recurrent problem.

So I don't have high hopes anytime Amazon used HDNL - they are just not reliable, and according to their tracking system they repeatedly are economical with the information entered!

Once I tried contacting their service centre. Not recommended. They would give out zero information and the "customer service" representative was quite rude. Maybe "customer service" is treated in the same way as "reliable and accurate tracking information"?

I'm still waiting for my delivery that might happen today or maybe it might not. I guess I should look upon it as a surprise. :-0
22/06/07 @ 12:17
Comment from Avi
What a ridiculous service. I cant believe that HDNL driver didn't even bother to write the parcel number on the note. The customer service is rude and completely unhelpful. No delivery or collection on week ends. The nearest depot is 20 miles away.

All the best to ppl who are planning to use HDNL.

Cheers,
Avinash
22/06/07 @ 18:39
Comment from Sue
Why do customers order parcels when they know they won't be home?
Why do they think it's the couriers responsibility to get the parcel to them?
Why not use your work address?
Why not give the addresses of mummies, grannies or friends?
When ordering an item you are entering into an agreement, you should be at home or make other arrangements.
Couriers aren't paid a large amount of money, no allowances for phone calls etc, 1-3 attempts.
Customers be aware if you order the courier expects you to be home!
24/06/07 @ 01:04
Comment from Sue
Why do customers order parcels when they know they won't be home?
Why do they think it's the couriers responsibility to get the parcel to them?
Why not use your work address?
Why not give the addresses of mummies, grannies or friends?
When ordering an item you are entering into an agreement, you
should be at home or make other arrangements.
Couriers aren't paid a large amount of money, no allowances for phone calls etc, 1-3 attempts, same payment.
Customers be aware if you order the courier expects you to be home!
We're all busy and we all work!
Parcelnet Courier

24/06/07 @ 01:30
Comment from Sue
3rd Attempt!
Why do customers order parcels when they know they won't be home?
Why do they think it's the couriers responsibility to get the parcel to them?
Why not use your work address?
Why not give the addresses of mummies, grannies or friends?
When ordering an item you are entering into an agreement, you should be at home or make other arrangements.
Couriers aren't paid a large amount of money, no allowances for phone calls etc, 1-3 attempts.
Customers be aware if you order the courier expects you to be home!
24/06/07 @ 01:50
Comment from don\\\'t tell them your name pike
i give up, there is no reasoning with these people.

like i said before


ME ME ME ME ME
24/06/07 @ 12:11
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
Why don't you tell this to the people you contract to do the work for?
I'm sure that all these merchants would be interested in your interpretations of your contract.
Or maybe you want to hold onto your jobs?
24/06/07 @ 17:36
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
"Use your work address"? According to HDNL employees Sue, you can only use your HOME address. ie. The place you live in. The place where you reside.
"That's what HOME DELIVERY MEANS"

And when I order an Item on-line or by phone etc, I enter an agreement to pay for that item and have it delivered to the address I have stated. I don't enter ANY KIND OF AGREEMENT about staying at home.
If you have any doubt about this, ask the people you work for. So please do get your facts right.
24/06/07 @ 17:48
Comment from don\\\\\\\'t tell them your name pike
we dont need amazon, i could easily do without the extra 5 parcels per day, i allready do 60-70 over my 10 hour target every day anyway.

(thats about 6 hours overtime to the amazon thicko's)

losing amazon would have no impact what so ever on my job.

in anycase, the catalogues start on saturday for the next month so i will be earning in excess of £1000 per week for the next 4 weeks so amazon customers can go and (use your imagination)

i go to work for one thing and one thing only, to earn as much as i possibly can, if one of you mess me about by not being in then back in the van it goes and i'm on to the next one. its as simple as that.

you lot dont care what i have to deal with every day, why should i care if you are not at home.
24/06/07 @ 22:09
Comment from Sue
Hi (don\\\'t tell them your name pike)
It's not about Me Me Me!
If you order you should be at home or make alternative arrangements.
How do you expect to receive your parcel otherwise.
To no 1 ex Amazon customer.
Our employers and merchants realise how hard our jobs are and know how hard we work so there isn't a problem about hanging on to our jobs.
To No 2 ex Amazon customer.
I work for Parcelnet and deliver many parcels to worplaces, I can't believe HDNL can't deliver to your workplace.
Interesting comment by ex Amazon customer no 2-
"And when I order an Item on-line or by phone etc, I enter an agreement to pay for that item and have it delivered to the address I have stated. I don't enter ANY KIND OF AGREEMENT about staying at home."
I hope Santa is delivering to you in that case!
24/06/07 @ 22:10
Comment from don\\\\\\\'t tell them your name pike
we can deliver to workplaces, i do every day, in fact i would rather do that.
no waiting at someones door while the piss about looking for the keys
no come round the back bolloc**s
no rabid dog jumping out at you

straight in, reception, sign print, cheers and im away to the next one.
i dont piss about with goods in they are sometimes worse than the idiots we get on the doorstep.
if reception wont sign for it it goes straight back in the van as refused and back to where whoever bought it. i dont stand arguing the toss, if they wont sign then its refused, simple as that. no wait here and i will ring round and try to find them. no its on the second floor 5th door on the right bull. put quite simply i have too many to deliver to stand around waiting. take it or leave it.

how many parcels per day do the complainers on here think we have to do per day?

i have a target of 17 per hour, that gives a10 hour target of 170. thats all fine and dandy but where is the driving time in all that? my next drop could be a mile or 5 miles away from the last drop.

you lot on here dont know the half of it.

but what do you care, you dont thats the point,

just seen the vote poll thing for amazon dont use hdnl and i couldnt agree more.

24/06/07 @ 22:51
Comment from Sue
I'm sure the vote poll isn't just about HDNL. I've seen the comments about ever delivery company including mine Parcelnet.
Common factor, customers who order who won't be home and don't arrange an alternative address, it appears they don't feel they should.
I wonder were good manners have gone.
Santas going to be very busy!
24/06/07 @ 23:05
Comment from Sue
If anyone would like to look at our points of view as couriers.
Please google Skytowers doorstep delivery forum
Sue
24/06/07 @ 23:19
Comment from Deb
A parcel from Argos was delivered to my home last week by HDN and was damaged. I phoned Argos who agreed to send out a replacement. Replacement didn't arrive. Phoned Argos to be told that HDN didn't have the full address and so could deliver (this is despite delivering on Friday and making two other deliveries last week). When i asked Argos what part of the address was missing it was only half of the house name, everything else including the postcode there. According to Argos they have been told that HND drivers don't carry mobile phones and so cann't phone back to the depot for help with directions. On the same day i was expecting a parcel from ELC, also to be delivered by HDN, and it too didn't arrive. ELC told me that HDN had been unable to locate the address because it was incomplete (it wasn't). Is this their standard excuse? This isn't the first time i've had problems with an Argos delivery from HDN - once they lost part of the order between the depot and my house. They are really incompetent. Both ELC and Argos have been very helpful, but this poor service from HDN reflects badly on them
25/06/07 @ 20:06
Comment from don\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t tell them your name pike
do you use your own mobile phone for your job?

the company do not provide us with mobile phones or pay anything towards the bill if we use our own.

they do not provide us with maps or pay anything towards new maps if needed.

i think you will find that an agency driver took your parcel out and couldnt find it.

the company last month made a significant number of drivers redundant even though the volume of work hasnt dropped, in fact it has increased due to new contracts etc. hence the agency drivers.

they do not work for hdnl and have no loyalty to us, they are paid on the clock not by how many parcels they deliver so have no incentive to deliver the ones that they are sent out with.

none of this is your regular round drivers fault.

oh, hang on, news flash, it is your regular round drivers fault after all. he makes all the decisions in the company especially higher management ones. he designed and paid for the sub standard computer system, he hires and fires all the agency staff, he also makes the rounds that chuffing big that they are un managable.
the pillock also finds us new contracts like poncy amazon or dont bother to be in bt.
i thank god every day that he got rid of qvc, now that was propper pikey gear.

i am waiting for all the parcel not delivered because of a bit of rain complaints that are sure to come flooing in soon.

jesus h, you people really do say the most gormless things.

maybe if you werent so bloody lazy you would go to argos yourself and put the dam thing in the back of the car or something if you were that bloody desparate for your poncy new kettle or whatever dross you couldnt live without this week.

i personally love argos as most deliveries for them are multidrops, which make me even more lovely money so keep ordering on my round, i love you all. order order order but remember to be in. on the other hand dont bother to be in, its much quicker to throw your parcel over the gate.

25/06/07 @ 23:29
Comment from don\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'t tell them your name pike
strike that, bid up is the king of pikey gear
25/06/07 @ 23:31
Comment from Natalie.
I have nothing but praise for Home Delivery. The tracking was accurate, & my parcel arrived promptly by a very friendly driver.
26/06/07 @ 09:52
Comment from Carrie
I order through the internet a lot so have a lot of experience of courier companies. Yes, I can arrange to be at home - IF I KNOW WHEN THE COURIERS ARE GOING TO DELIVER. I can't order something and just sit indoors for 5 days in the hopes my package will turn up. I have a life.

Therefore, to offer a decent service, the companies who send the parcels must send by a traceable service and let the customer know a tracking number. Then HDL must ensure that their online tracking is correct and up to date. If I see the words "out for delivery" on the tracker, I stay in and wait. I don't mind doing that. I don't even mind not knowing the time HDL are going to arrive. But I do need to know the day. That's not unreasonable is it?

None of this is rocket science, it just requires a bit of planning, that's all.
26/06/07 @ 10:04
Comment from Sylvia
HDN left a card in my letterbox this morning. They tried to deliver but did not ring the bell (I was in all morning). They also ignored the typed, laminated note on the door which asked them to leave the delivery with the shop nearby (who were expecting to take the delivery for me). I was so angy because I have to work all day tomorrow. Found this website and would like to say thank you to Shane for the tip on searching the website saynoto0870 I did just that and found the phone number of my local depot. Just rang them and they said they would phone me when the parcel arrives back at the depot for me to collect.
26/06/07 @ 11:10
Comment from Dave Siddall
Hi, I am a business waiting for my Broadband modem, that BT left with the care of HDN, (how wrong of them), BT sent me an email on june 15th saying that should get this the next day and gave me my tracking number. well I still have not got this. I looked at the tracking details to find that they tried to deliver it 5 times, 2 times they say they left a card and the other 3 times they could not locate the address. I found their number which is 0870 154 5400, I checked the address and it is spot on, it very hard ti miss us as we have in BIG letter out name side of the building. yesterday, I gave them my number to give to the driver to cotnact me if he could not find the site, well it says it left this morning before 9am, and I still have not heard anything. BT for gods shake change them, I am still w
26/06/07 @ 17:58
Comment from mr manering
why did you go to the trouble of not just typing a note but laminating it and sticking it to your door if you were in?

the tracking system is old and pretty much useless at hdnl. in fact all they use it for is to check up on our signature rate.

starting from next month a new nationwide multi million pound system will be going on line in certain areas, the whole country should be covered by the end of september.

no need to search the net for phone numbers, just use yellcom like i just did

Home Delivery Network
Spilsby Road, Harold Hill, Romford, Essex RM3 8SD
Tel: 01708 376155
Delivery & Collection Services


Home Delivery Network
Union Rd, Roway Lane, Oldbury, West Midlands B69 3EX
Tel: 0121 552 5541
Distribution Services


Home Delivery Network Ltd
Unit 10, Dafen Industrial Park, Dafen, Llanelli, Dyfed SA14 8LX
Tel: 01554 777877
Delivery & Collection Services


Home Delivery Network
Riley Close, Daventry, Northamptonshire NN11 8LL
Tel: 01327 703821
Distribution Services


Home Delivery Network
Howard Rd, Eaton Socon, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire PE19 8ET
Tel: 01480 472537
Delivery & Collection Services


Home Delivery Network
Chemical Lane, Longport, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire ST6 4PB
Tel: 01782 836071
Distribution Services


Home Delivery Network
Kent Park Industrial Estate, Ruby St, London, SE15 1LR
Tel: 020 7639 9979
Delivery & Collection Services


Home Delivery Network
Carrwood Rd, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S41 9QA
Tel: 01246 260142
Delivery & Collection Services


Home Delivery Network
White Arrow Depot, 12, Stroud Rd, Kelvin Industrial Estate, East Kilbride, Glasgow, Lanarkshire G75 0YA
Tel: 01355 233085
Distribution Services


Home Delivery Network
Walton Summit Centre, 147, Brierley Rd, Bamber Bridge, Preston, Lancashire PR5 8AH
Tel: 01772 338479
Delivery & Collection Services


Home Delivery Network Ltd
Howley Park Rd, Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS27 0BN
Tel: 0113 253 8226
Distribution Services


Home Delivery Network Ltd
Honywood Rd, Crane Industrial Estate, Basildon, Essex SS14 3DS
Tel: 01268 286666
Home Delivery Network Ltd
Palace of Industry, Olympic Way, Wembley, Middlesex HA9 0XJ
Tel: 020 8903 2772
Distribution Services


Home Delivery Network Ltd
Lorne St, Farnworth, Bolton, Lancashire BL4 7LF
Tel: 01204 793112
Home Shopping


Home Delivery Network
Baird Close, Hadleigh Rd Industrial Estate, Ipswich, Suffolk IP2 0UF
Tel: 01473 217581
Delivery & Collection Services


Home Delivery Network
Unit F, Gildersome Spur, Gildersome, Morley, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS27 7JZ
Tel: 0113 238 0180
Delivery & Collection Services


Heathcote Industrial Estate, Heathcote Lane, Warwick, Warwickshire CV34 6QP
Tel: 01926 311430
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Gordon Banks Drive, Trentham Lakes North, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 4TJ
Tel: 01782 599889
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Eldonwall Trading Estate, Commercial Rd, Corby, Northamptonshire NN17 5XG
Tel: 01536 268416
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Vulcan Rd South, Norwich, Norfolk NR6 6AG
Tel: 01603 408222
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Bury Mead Rd, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG5 1RT
Tel: 01462 421336
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Unit 16, Park Erissey Industrial Estate, Redruth, Cornwall TR16 4HW
Tel: 01626 832545
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express Ltd
39-43, College Green, Bristol, Avon BS1 5SH
Tel: 0117 933 8655
Newspapers & Magazines


Business Express
Unit 15, Block D Larkfield Trading Estate, New Hythe Lane, Aylesford, Kent ME20 6SW
Tel: 01622 710084
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Royle Pennine Trading Estate, Royle Rd, Rochdale, Lancashire OL11 3ET
Tel: 01706 352537
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Unit 9, Deacon Way, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire RG30 6AZ
Tel: 0118 945 1184
Delivery & Collection Services


5, Atkinsons Way, Foxhills Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe, South Humberside DN15 8QJ
Tel: 01724 280897
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Vulcan Rd South, Norwich, Norfolk NR6 6AG
Tel: 01603 486101
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Unit 17, Arkwright Way, North Newmoor Industial Estate, Irvine, Ayrshire KA11 4JU
Tel: 01294 213458
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Hoo Farm Industrial Estate, Worcester Rd, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY11 7RA
Tel: 01562 60200
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
24-27, Rufford Court, Hardwick Grange, Woolston, Warrington, Cheshire WA1 4RP
Tel: 01925 816640
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Site 24, Brunthill Rd, Kingstown Industrial Estate, Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 0EH
Tel: 01228 514412
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Wavarley Rd, Yate, Bristol, Avon BS37 5QZ
Tel: 01454 316101
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
County Oak Industrial Telephone, County Oak Way, Crawley, West Sussex RH11 7ST
Tel: 01293 516620
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Commercial Rd, Hendon, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear SR2 8QS
Tel: 0191 5640924
Delivery & Collection Services


Business Express
Units 9 & 10, Faraday Rd, Southfields Industrail Estate, Glenrothes, Fife KY6 2RU
Tel: 01592 771950
Delivery & Collection Services

White Arrow Express
Unit G, Oak Lane, Treliske Industrial Estate, Trliske, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3LP
Tel: 01872 241904
Distribution Services


White Arrow Express
Ratling Rd, Aylesham, Canterbury, Kent CT3 3BD
Tel: 01304 841138
Distribution Services


White Arrow Express
Beach Close,Beach Rd Ind Est, Newhaven, East Sussex BN9 0BY
Tel: 01273 516181
Distribution Services


Reality White Arrow
Macklin Avenue, Cowpen Lane Ind Est, Billingham, Cleveland TS23 4BY
Tel: 01642 563043
Distribution Services


Reality White Arrow
Ellis Rd, Willow Lane Industrial Estate, Mitcham, Surrey CR4 4HX
Tel: 020 8685 1032
Distribution Services


Reality White Arrow
Unit 8a, Newbridge Industrial Estate, Newbridge, Midlothian EH28 8LD
Tel: 0131 333 3651
Distribution Services


Reality White Arrow
Carsegate Ind Est, Carsegate Rd North, Inverness, Inverness-Shire IV3 8DU
Tel: 01463 712325
Distribution Services


Reality White Arrow Express
Greenbank Place, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire AB12 3BT
Tel: 01224 249299
Delivery & Collection Services


Reality White Arrow Express
80, Great Northern Terrace, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN5 8HJ
Tel: 01522 513753
Delivery & Collection Services


Reality White Arrow Express
Fairfax Rd, Heathfield, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6UD
Tel: 01626 834070
Distribution Services


Possible matches located in United Kingdom
Reality White Arrow Express
3, Barnes Wallis Rd, Segensworth Ind Est East, Locks Heath, Fareham, Hampshire PO15 5ST
Tel: 01489 581544
Distribution Services


Reality White Arrow Express
Park House Lane, Tinsley, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S9 1XA
Tel: 0114 244 4661
Distribution Services


Reality White Arrow Express
Lamby Industrial Park, Wentlogg Avenue, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF3 2EX
Tel: 029 2077 9779
Distribution Services

thats twice these numbers have been posted
26/06/07 @ 19:53
Comment from why should i stay in?
do you think by any chance you might not have heard the doorbell, or does it even work.

i have been to thousands of doorsteps and had to almost knock the door down to make myself hear over a hoover. not that i'm calling people who hoover up, just saying its easy to not hear the bell sometimes if you are busy doing something.

we are not all bad delivery drivers.

i even delivered all mine yesterday despit the rain and floods, i could have quite easily gone home at 2pm instead i battled on and delivered everything and didnt get home until 10.30 pm because of closed roads etc. i started at 6am. and i got a bollocking for over clocking my hours but the customers on my round are all happy,

i'm not after a medal or anything just saying some of us do work hard and provide the best service we possibly can, despite the rest of the company letting us down.

something else about the tracking system, when a driver gets back to the depot if the depot opperative cant be bothered to keep changing the scanner all the parcels get scanned the same, eg, carded, unable to locate etc etc and that also goes onto the tracking and can give false info.

yesterday water got into my scanner and totaly screwed itup, i only had 15 left to deliver so had to write them on paper for signatures, all the info about the deliveries for the rest of the day before this was lost and will not show up on trace either.
thats 150 parcels worth of delivery details gone

theres loads of things that can screw the system up, its not allways the drivers fault.

but blame who you want to blame at the end of the day we are all wasting our precious time and energy on this pretty much worthless exercise.
26/06/07 @ 20:20
Comment from Sue
Just thought I'd share my delivery experience as a Parcelnet courier.
I attempted to deliver a Next delivery B4 1pm no one home left a card with contact details advising I'll call tomorrow(as we must unless customer makes contact with alternative redelivery date), called yesterday 2nd attempt left calling card with note stating 3rd and final attempt will be made on 3rd attempted delivery day. No online tracking for parcelnet, just wear our shoes out trying to catch the customer in.
Well "how dare I"
The torrent of abuse by text I may add, (not sure the lady?)would have got that far if she'd phoned.
She said she is the customer and I am only the courier how dare I state when I can call back. I must call back tomorrow B4 11.45am or she will not accept delivery and will make a formal complaint.
Well it's always a shame to lose a good customer but Miss Jones goodbye.
If your a Miss Jones don't order give your courier a break!
Sue
27/06/07 @ 01:13
Comment from kate
A HDN driver called today with my amazon parcel, but I was not home. The parcel tracking on amazon states that my delivery had been "Left at doorstep". Living in a flat, I don't have a doorstep. But I do have an 8 foot wall at the outdoor entrance of the building. When I came home I was horrified to discover my heavy package of expensive books had been thrown over the 8 ft wall and was lying there on the ground with the box broken and the contents spilling out. I consider myself lucky. Had I been 15 minutes later the books would have been heavily rained on as well. As it is they have only been badly scratched, scuffed and damaged, and I'll have to go through the hassle of getting a couple of them replaced. I only hope when the replacements are sent that I don't get the same driver who thinks the laws of gravity don't apply when heavy items drop 8 feet to the ground.
27/06/07 @ 18:54
Comment from delman
Seems the HDN drivers here are a pretty chippy lot. To say 'don't order if you're not going to be in' is fine if HDN could give an approximate time of delivery in return. My purchase from price-drop.tv could only state delivery within 7 days, so I am supposed to stay in for 7 days so as not to upset the delivery driver when he turns up? I ordered a computer console from price-drop.tv and was sent an email to say my item had been dispatched. Six days later it hadn't arrived so I checked with price-drop.tv and they found the item had been marked bu HDN 'couldn't locate address'(as I know I am not hard to find, I will presume the driver just run out of time or gave up when he didn't spot my building first time) it appears unless I'm very lucky my item will be sent back to price-drop.tv and I will be refunded rather than have it redelivered. Which is hardly why I went to the trouble of buying it. Seems to me customer services of both price-drop.tv and HDN need a wake up call. It certainly seems that 'dont tell them your name pike'is only interested in his earning power. It would seem having self employed owner drivers picking up a quid a package going out with up to 200 packages a day is asking for trouble. Who could possibly do that calmly and safely and keep an eye on customer satisfaction.
28/06/07 @ 17:25
Comment from delman
Seems the HDN drivers here are a pretty chippy lot. To say 'don't order if you're not going to be in' is fine if HDN could give an approximate time of delivery in return. My purchase from price-drop.tv could only state delivery within 7 days, so I am supposed to stay in for 7 days so as not to upset the delivery driver when he turns up? I ordered a computer console from price-drop.tv and was sent an email to say my item had been dispatched. Six days later it hadn't arrived so I checked with price-drop.tv and they found the item had been marked bu HDN 'couldn't locate address'(as I know I am not hard to find, I will presume the driver just run out of time or gave up when he didn't spot my building first time) it appears unless I'm very lucky my item will be sent back to price-drop.tv and I will be refunded rather than have it redelivered. Which is hardly why I went to the trouble of buying it. Seems to me customer services of both price-drop.tv and HDN need a wake up call. It certainly seems that 'dont tell them your name pike'is only interested in his earning power. It would seem having self employed owner drivers picking up a quid a package going out with up to 200 packages a day is asking for trouble. Who could possibly do that calmly and safely and keep an eye on customer satisfaction.
28/06/07 @ 17:51
Comment from Alex
Amazon at its best. sent the item a week ago, emailed the trk no. yes, with HDNL. same story here, went to the website, no contact information no stuff, had to search the internet for contact numbers. nughtmare. why on earth should anyone suffer from the darn courier hiding their numbers and not being able to deliver the item for a WEEK already??!!! stupid people complicating the things. idiots. will never use warehouse_deals_uk again. will pay £2 more, but will get next day from a local supplier. prats. period.
29/06/07 @ 11:02
Comment from mr manering
HDNL are not self employed.

You wont upset me if you are not in, i simply take it back to the depot and try again tomorow,
I dont mind getting paid twice at all, maybe thats why the postage charge for price-drop is so high
01/07/07 @ 18:53
Comment from sanj
HDN....what a joke...

Ordered some trainers from littlewoods, got a delivery slip -- 0870 number...great...then I'm told to wait upto 22 mins for an operator. Using saynoto0870 I found the local depot...they said they can't check the item til they receive a call from the call centre....What a scam for money making...I am not able to collect the item and the tracking doesn't work either....Complete disgrace.

SM

PS I think the MD needs to see this page! :-)
02/07/07 @ 18:38
Comment from mr manering
** Edited **

Walter Blackwood - Managing Director

Chris Bowden - Commercial Director

Frank Henderson - Operations Director (Support Services)

Keith Milum - Specialist Distribution Hubs Director

if you can find how to contact this lot i will give you the money myself.


02/07/07 @ 22:37
Comment from Jay
Same story here. HDNL's tracking states that i) there was an attempt to deliver - no doorbell heard (it's a pretty loud one), and i was not hoovering ii) a card was left - nothing found in letterbox unless it's invisible. Called up the number above, but customer service said that they will 'attempt' the delivery again, or I can travel 10 miles out of town to collect it.

I am cancelling the order if no package (undamaged) is received in the next 48 hours.
03/07/07 @ 11:36
Comment from mr manering
good for you!
in fact do us all a favour and dont order anything else.
03/07/07 @ 20:42
Comment from Karl
I've just checked the tracking on an order from Amazon. Apparently HDN have tried to deliver twice. This is untrue since there is always someone in the house. No card as been left by the driver ( I dont believe any one has been to the house ) After reading the comments on here I expect I will have a lot of e-mails and phone calls to Amazon and HDN over the next few days. I will no longer deal with Amazon if this delivery is not made by the date specified
03/07/07 @ 21:11
Comment from Maria
Ordered from amazon delivery estimate 4/7/07 according to tracking service HDN tryed to deliver on the 3/7/07 I was in at timed they stated, they apprantly tryed agaiin today not only was I in at the time stated I had been looking out the window for the past two hours ( more fool me) I again checked the tracking it said I had to contact them ? how the hell am I supposed to do that if they don't leave a calling card?

Thanks to this site I now have the number I'll be calling in the morning I'll let you know what happens wish me luck.
04/07/07 @ 21:42
Comment from James
Just so you know, TESCO Direct have started using HDNL for some products.

3 days late already, Miss pick listed as failed delivery for the first, no information for either of the others.

Tesco have refunded me the £4.85 for next day delivery.

Tomorrow is the last chance or I will have to cancel the order as I cannot afford to have any more time off work - would have been cheaper to have bought the item and have it sameday courired from the moon I think
04/07/07 @ 22:31
Comment from Craig
The guys HDLN use to deliver are flat out liars. Someone has been in ALL day today, yet we've had two 'failed' deliveries, and apparently been carded. What a terrible terrible service.
04/07/07 @ 23:04
Comment from Lynne B.
First off, thank you to all the people who have posted contact info for DHN. I have never dealt with any other delivery company which seemed to go to such lengths to make contact info difficult to find.

I ordered from Amazon, and actually set the delivery address as my office, as there is always someone here to take deliveries. Heck, we're on the ground floor of an office building, and there are two receptions, both of which are fully staffed during business hours and one of which is staffed 7am-7pm. The doors are always open between 7am-7pm. The address on the label has my name, the name of the office, the name of the building, the street address, city and post code. I use this same address for a variety of deliveries. They get here on a regular basis.

So you all know where this story is going, don't you. Yesterday, according to the online tracking, a driver attempted delivery at 10.37am, "Delivery attempted - recipient not home".

Eh, what?

When I called the depot this morning, they told me that the driver had tried to deliver to a block of flats (what? where?) and had left a card (not with us, he didn't). However, the helpful and friendly person who actually existed at the local depot told me that the package was out with a better driver today. No kidding: this time the package actually showed up at my building.

To all you drivers who get snotty and defensive about how customers have unrealistic expectations -- my expectations are that a package I order turns up at the address supplied. I don't particularly think that this is unreasonable.

When a driver claims that he showed up, "no-one was home" (in an office that is open 12 hours a day) and that he left a card which is patently not here, then either he went somewhere else, which is just incompetence, or he is lying and can't be bothered to come up with a plausible lie. Kudos and thanks to the much better driver today who managed to do the job.

Seriously. Defending dishonesty and/or incompetence, no matter how hard your lives are, hardly wins you any loving kindness in the hearts of your fellow man. It certainly doesn't win you any of mine. I'm sure you ARE overworked and underpaid and unappreciated; but on my end of the deal, I can get books from Amazon that I can't get anywhere else, I buy them because I need them, and _all_ I expect is that they be delivered to the address supplied -- and being lied to about them kind of ticks me off.
05/07/07 @ 11:11
Comment from Sarah
I too use Amazon quite a bit and have always found them extremely good. Until now!!! and again it is down to their deliviery company HDNL. I had been waiting for a parcel to be delivered and three days later i was still waiting. I checked on their tracking and it said it had been delivered 2 days ago and left with a neighbour. This would be fine except they left No card!!! After a few minutes of searching I found this site and was glad to find their telephone number - thankfully the girl i spoke to was quite helpful and said it had been left at the end of the road! GREAT I DO NOT KNOW THEM I HAVE ONLY EVER STATED TO LEAVE WITH IMMEDIATE NEIGHBOUR!!! and now too top things off I have just found out that Kays & Littlewoods use the same delivery team - I am very dissapointed at the service provided by HDNL and if the drivers are under pressure they should hire more employees - we certainly pay enough!!!
05/07/07 @ 14:44
Comment from Sarah
I found out the address to write to when you complain whether it will do any good? There is always BBC Watchdog who would be delighted to help show exactly waht service you get or rather don't get when you use HDNL.

DIRECTOR MR WALTER BLACKWOOD
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE DIRECTOR
HOME DELIVERY NETWORK LTD
FALLOWS WAY
WHISTON
L35 5DY

I am going to write my complaint to him, who will probably ignore it- but when enough companies realise they are losing customers because of their delivery people they will stop using them and HDNL will eventually dissolve leaving the director with a bad taste in his mouth HE WHO LAUGHS LAST etc. So I am not going to let this get me stressed out I have 2 kids to do that! But I wont order from any companies that use HDNL
05/07/07 @ 14:58
Comment from maria
I called my local HNDL depot this morning and was given another number to call (0870) which I tryed but got no answer so I tryed again no answewr, I called the depot a second time someone else answered said they'ed have a wored with the driver and that they would'nt be able to deliver my package until friday around the same time ( today is thursday) I checked the tracking system Yes you gussed it they apparently tryed to deliver it this morning like hell they did I was in till tweleve nothing not even a card, these drivers are nothing but lasy ass liers and this service is a joke I emailed amazone yesterday too their reply give it another 48 hours then call our customer services what use` is that to me i've already waste 3 days this week. AMAZON WAKE UP YOUR LOSING CUSTOMERS
05/07/07 @ 19:13
Comment from ecky thump
we would love to employ more people, but as the company from on high has just made a few hundred drivers redundant, i cant see that happening.


too many chiefs me thinks
05/07/07 @ 23:12
Comment from Kerry
Reading all of this I almost lost the will to exist but I thought I would share my pain.

I have been waiting since time began for my "Sony KDL32S2530 Widescreen Bravia 32'' HD ready LCD TV with Freeview - black" fom Amazon, yesterday the tracking stated "Left on doorstep" it only cost me £543.99, I just checked and there is nothing on my doorstep.

Today the tracking has been removed back to the 26th June?

I will not use any company that entrusts HDNL with my goods ever again, period.
06/07/07 @ 06:30
Comment from Mr Angry
Well I just got back from a 3 hour round trip to the HDNL depot to pick up my parcel (rush hour traffic), which is an order from Dabs, so dabs customers it sounds like place an order at your own risk after reading these other HDNL experiences! So after my trip do I have my parcel.... No of cause I don’t!

I was only told to bring some ID with me so I took along my photographic driving licence (it has my parents address on it not the delivery address!) and the little urchin at the depot wouldn't accept it despite it being my name on the parcel. I am a student living away from home which is why I don’t have any proof of address so what am I supposed to do! They only deliver Mon – Fri and don’t work Saturdays, whereas I also work Mon – Fri, now I have read a few comments saying why make an order if you aren’t going to be in to collect it (that’s what collecting from the depot is for! Although it would help if they opened the depot for a couple of hours on Saturday)

I wish royal mail had delivered it they only need a bank card to pick up a parcel from the depot and are 200yards from where I live whereas it’s a 1.5 hr drive in rush hour traffic to HDNL!

I’m not mentioning the depot as my parcel is still there and I don’t want any accidents to happen!

Also it’s a good job I was on the ball when given the depot postcode by the call centre (Glasgow) yeah that makes sense its 500miles from where they left the card….idiots!

It seems I will probably never to get my order, one thing is certain though I’m not using dabs if they continue to use HDNL!!
06/07/07 @ 20:21
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
Playdotcom are getting even more competetive and better value for money than Amazon. Their range of goods is as good as or better than Amazon's and their prices are often equal or in many cases CHEAPER than Amazon, plus they deliver second class Royal Mail for FREE. Why bother with Amazon/HDNL? Recommend them to all your friends and show Amazon/HDNL what they can do with their businesses! They do not deserve good customers.
06/07/07 @ 20:52
Comment from David B
I am a music professor in Ohio, USA. On 5 February 2007 I mailed a package "surface mail" via U.S. Postal Service to an address (a P.O. box) in London, England.

On July 3, 2007 (five full months later) I received the unpleasant surprise of getting this package back, with the notation that the address was found to be "unknown" by "Home Delivery Network/TPGPOST." The package had been routed (on May 16, 2007) to "RETURNS NL" in Amsterdam (?!), then sent back to me in the U.S.

I re-checked the address as I had written it on the package (and which was reprinted on the sticker the TPG Post Home Delivery Network) and found that it was completely correct.

Thus, I have lost US$24.25 due to some inexplicable error on the part of the individuals in charge of seeing to it that this package was properly delivered to the addressee. The return bill contained an additional charge for US$6.06 (marked as "taxe de renvoi"). Needless to say, I am most unhappy with this situation. I have previously sent dozens of packages to the same address without once having a package "returned to sender."

The two tracking numbers printed on the package don't work on the Home Delivery Network's tracking page, and on the Home Delivery Network's "Contact" page, there is no email address to be found -- yet the company claims it "puts customers first."

This apparently inept and unaccountable business practice makes this company one to never use.
07/07/07 @ 02:22
Comment from lastmanstanding
*** Deleted ***
07/07/07 @ 23:41
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
*** Deleted ***
08/07/07 @ 20:33
Comment from jane
HDN delivered a parcel addressed to me to a house in the next town with the same street name but DIFFERENT POSTCODE!!!!!
a driver for HDN then came to my house to collect the parcel for redelivery to my house!!!!
when i told him the parcel was in the next town he told me they didn't make mistakes like that so it couldn't be. How do you argue with that.
Anyway I'm off for a nice drive to the next town to pick up my parcel from the very understanding lady who lives there.
Use HDN if you ever order something that you don't really want delivered otherwise you might as well strap it to a pigeon with a nice little label because by the law of averages it probably has more chance of getting there
09/07/07 @ 17:59
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
They're a very bright bunch at HDNL as you have found Jane. Such a reliable lot. Charmers too.
09/07/07 @ 20:18
Comment from Vanessa
Twice now I've been caught out by Amazon sending me stuff via HDN. Never again. Their "Glasgow" depot is 15 miles away!
09/07/07 @ 22:27
Comment from anne-marie
What a shower, they have had three orders through Amazon to deliver and failed each time, amazingly I found the yeovil depot Telephone number!! on google (01935 4329240. So I phoned them and was very polite but the woman on the other end was very rude as if i had no right to be asking her where my goods were! Amazon will be losing out in the long run, I wont be ordering from them again.
10/07/07 @ 13:03
Comment from anne-marie
Have just found all their depot numbers, hope this will help if you are not getting anywhere,

Or better still, this simple search using Thomweb gave
Home Delivery Network Ltd , Heathfield Industrial Estate , DEVON , TQ12 6TN , 01626 832545
Home Delivery Network The , Hitchin , HERTFORDSHIRE , SG5 1RT , 01462 421336
Home Delivery Network , Eastleigh , HAMPSHIRE , SO50 4NG , 023 8061 9866
Home Deliver Network Ltd , Lynx Trading Estate , SOMERSET , BA20 2NZ , 01935 432924
Home Delivery Network , Sunderland , TYNE AND WEAR , SR2 8QS , 0191-564 0924
Home Delivery Network , Dafen , DYFED , SA14 8QW , 01554 777877
Home Delivery Network , Warwick , WARWICKSHIRE , CV34 6QP , 01926 311404
Home Delivery Network , Rochdale , LANCASHIRE , OL11 3JR , 01706 352537
Home Delivery Network , Eastleigh , HAMPSHIRE , SO50 4NT , 023 8061 8398
Home Delivery Network , Yate , AVON , BS37 5QZ , 01454 316101
Home Delivery Network , Glenrothes , FIFE , KY6 2RU , 01592 773297
Home Delivery Network , Stoke On Trent , STAFFORDSHIRE , ST6 4PB , 01782 836071
Home Delivery Network , Park Royal , LONDON , NW10 7UA , 020 8961 8774
Home Delivery Network , Bolton , LANCASHIRE , BL3 6AX , 0870-154 5414
Home Delivery Network , Fareham , HAMPSHIRE , PO15 5ST , 01489 581544
Home Delivery Network , Lenton Lane Industrial Estate , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE , NG7 2TG , 0115-986 0431
Home Delivery Network , Gateshead , TYNE AND WEAR , NE10 0ES , 0191-495 2211
Home Delivery Network , Oldbury , WEST MIDLANDS , B69 3EX , 0121-552 5541
Home Delivery Network , East Kilbride , LANARKSHIRE , G75 0YA , 01355 233085
Home Delivery Network Ltd , Newbridge , MIDLOTHIAN , EH28 8LD , 0131-333 3651
Home Delivery Network Ltd , Morley , WEST YORKSHIRE , LS27 0BN , 0113-253 8226
Home Delivery Network Ltd , Basildon , ESSEX , SS14 3DT , 01268 286666
Home Delivery Network Ltd , Mitcham , SURREY , CR4 4HX , 020 8685 1032

10/07/07 @ 13:10
Comment from Mr Angry
I have my parcel!!!!

And how did I manage to get it?? I faked a bank statement with my delivery address on it! What sort of company won't accept a driving licence for ID but will accept any old piece of paper with an address on it!

I for one will not use any company that uses Home Delivery Network and does not give me a choice in couriers!
10/07/07 @ 15:01
Comment from ecky thump to anne-marie
*** Deleted ***

A reminder - if you use abusive language your comment will be deleted.
10/07/07 @ 22:22
Comment from Diane Tottle
Having read all the above comments I am keeping everything crossed for the delivery of the item I have ordered. As I am in France and have ordered from the UK I await developments with interest especially as the tracking number is only 10 digits long and the HDNL website asks for a tracking number of between 13 to 16 digits.
Diane
11/07/07 @ 17:24
Comment from ecky thump-Diane Tottle
just as well we dont deliver to france then isnt it,

christ on a bike, its like pulling teeth
13/07/07 @ 23:16
Comment from splash
first things first we deliver to masses amount of people everyday and have no problems. i suggest you start treating your delivery drivers with the same respect i'm sure they treat you with. i'm sure that if you have a problem your driver will deal with it the best they can or give you details to contact depots, companies etc. we aim to please and it is your constructive feedback that will help us to carry on to make us a better business as the customer always comes first.





14/07/07 @ 17:29
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
I see. The abysmal,abusive, atrocious,hopeless,useless,idiotic,moronic, disgusting,lacklustre,uncaring, rude,10th rate,unprofessional, pathetic "service" from HDNL is all our(The customers)fault! Why didn't I think of that before, splash?

The French are quite fortunate then ecky thump. I doubt HDNL would be able to find it anyway.
14/07/07 @ 20:31
Comment from ecky thump
like it says on the van, customer first.

pity it doesnt say drivers last on it too as we seem to bear the brunt of everyones complaint no matter who's fault the problem started with
15/07/07 @ 18:41
Comment from ecky thump
evert hought you might need therapy?

blame us all you like but i went home with 980 quid in me sky rocket this week so forgive me if i dont give a sh** what your problem is

everyone on my round got their parcels last week, in fact i dont think i have had a single complaint against me or on my round in the last 12 months.

anwser that one!!!


15/07/07 @ 18:46
Comment from fed up admin staff
Hernan Rodriquez
As someone who works in HDNL’s admin department, I get to see all three sides of the issues. On the one hand I have customers complaining to me about our lousy service; on the other I see what actually comes through to our depot and the level of help we get from our clients, such as Amazon; and I also get reports back from our drivers. Now, whilst I’m not going to try and make any claims that the company I work for is faultless or without blame, I am going to say that we are not entirely responsible for the all-too-frequently mediocre (and in some cases “f***ing dreadful”) service that the customers receive. Roll the excuses…

Amazon are, quite frankly, utterly rubbish when it comes to helping us out. They have major issues with their systems losing parts of addresses – whether they have recently changed their system since the contract with us started or whether their system is just not fully compatible with ours I do not know – regardless, we often get parcels through that are either missing the house number/name, have the wrong postcode, or a completely different address.

When we try and contact them to resolve this, they generally take upwards of 3 days to respond and give answers that tend to be almost useless. One example that sticks in my mind was a query we had for a parcel addressed to a “Mrs Smith, Hertford” (I kid you not); after waiting for two days we finally got the response “Address is correct, proceed with delivery”. It was several more attempts and further delay before they actually told us the full address and that was not before they had first moaned at us for not delivering the parcel in time.

Furthermore, they seem to be unaware of our delivery policy – If a delivery fails then it will be attempted the next working day; if it fails again then the parcel is held at the depot for 5 working days whilst we await for further instructions or a re-delivery request.

This is the same policy that we have in place across the network, for every single client (we have literally hundreds) yet Amazon do not seem to feel this applies to them and they frequently make promises to customers that we are unable to honour. We do not offer a timed-delivery service as most of our drivers will have upwards of 150 parcels to deliver on a normal day.

However, it is not exactly uncommon for Amazon to promise a customer a delivery before a certain time, without first contacting us to find out if we can do this. As a result, the customer is let down and we end up with the complaint aimed at us. We (generally) only attempt Saturday deliveries on parcels that have been paid for as such but Amazon are constantly telling their customers that their parcel will be sent out again on Saturday, again without speaking to us. We can offer Saturday service but it’s not a guaranteed delivery day as we don’t get the parcel volume to justify having all 50+ drivers in to cover every single route.

I’m aware that, over Christmas, there were a horrendous number of parcels that did not get to customers in time. This is, again, largely down to Amazon (and a couple of other major clients that I won’t name) – they badly fouled up their volume estimates and were utterly unprepared for the vast quantity of orders they got in the run-up to Christmas; I believe there was even a documentary show on terrestrial TV about the problems they were having. As we can only rely on our clients for volume estimates, we were similarly unprepared.

The depot I work at was expecting around 9,000 parcels a day and received 11,000 on average. At ~150-200 parcels per driver, that meant we were short by around a dozen drivers. Whilst we did our best to get new drivers in to cover, it takes anywhere between one and three months to train a driver up to a standard where they can clear their route every day.
15/07/07 @ 18:57
Comment from chichi
I cant believe this utter rubbish service, like everyone still waiting for my parcel. will never order anything from amazon again! since they use this rubbish delivery service HDNL...
15/07/07 @ 23:03
Comment from Budgiebob
Ordered an item from Amazon that was collected by these jokers a week ago, following the tracking my delivery has so far been to Oldham to Stockton back to Oldham on to Wembley and is currently back on its way to Oldham. I have a sneaky that they dont know where Hertfordshire is, maybe they should either a. post it and let somebody else have a go or b. buy a map
18/07/07 @ 16:17
Comment from Duncan
I was told by the 0870 number helpdesk 3 times that the depot would call me to arrange delivery but no one did.
They would not give me a phone number. They did give me an address but said I would be turned away :)
I followed Shane's advice near the top of this complaint list to obtain the local depot number and the guy couldn't be more helpful in arranging collection. Now why couldn't they give me the number in the first place....?!
18/07/07 @ 16:33
Comment from Duncan
I was told by the 0870 number helpdesk 3 times that the depot would call me to arrange delivery but no one did.
They would not give me a phone number. They did give me an address but said I would be turned away :)
I followed Shane's advice near the top of this complaint list to obtain the local depot number and the guy couldn't be more helpful in arranging collection. Now why couldn't they give me the number in the first place....?!
18/07/07 @ 16:35
Comment from Neil Warner
Some intersting comments here. As a director of a mail order business one thing comes to the fore in many of these comments and infusriates couriers and companies alike. We all work, most of us 9-5. If you as a customer order something why do you ask for it to be sent somewhere where no one will be available to collect it? Couriers should not leave it on your doorstep as if it is stolen a whole world of hate is opened up. I realise some companies don't allow deliveries to work and discourage personal calls but ringing home answer phones to discuss orders lengthens the process. We have rethought using HDN after your comments though.
19/07/07 @ 11:21
Comment from Neil Warner
Some interesting comments here. As a director of a mail order business one thing comes to the fore in many of these comments and infusriates couriers and companies alike. We all work, most of us 9 to 5. If you as a customer order something why do you ask for it to be sent somewhere where no one will be available to collect it? Couriers should not leave it on your doorstep as if it is stolen a whole world of hate is opened up. I realise some companies don't allow deliveries to work and discourage personal calls but ringing home answer phones to discuss orders lengthens the process. We have rethought using HDN after your comments though.
19/07/07 @ 11:24
Comment from Stephan
Mr Warner, why do such companies as yours not make it clear on their websites that their goods, by virtue of the delivery service they use, are not suitable for people who's homes are not occupied 24/7?

I am astonished in the this day and age, that delivery companies have not gor their act together. Its a multi-billion pound and growing market, especially since the advent of the internet.

The Royal Mail and Parcel Force for all of their faults have always had a simple system of arranging for collection if no one is at home. It has worked for years. What is complicated about running such a system.

I cannot believe that all these online companies expect their clients to be able to be at home. If they do, then what the hell happened to the entreprenuerial spirit?

Is it just me, or what?
19/07/07 @ 13:08
Comment from Budgiebob
Ok 1 week on my parcel has made it to Droitwich so thats err Olldham to Stockton friday to monday back to Oldham on tuesday off to wembley on wednesday and now off to droitwich on thursday does it get airmiles?
19/07/07 @ 15:25
Comment from Budgiebob
Just to prove
Date Depot Action Reason
12/07/2007 00:00:00 Customer Parcel Data Received
13/07/2007 14:32:04 Sort Centre - Shaw, Oldham Sorted
16/07/2007 03:06:44 Stockton Depot Received
16/07/2007 05:27:44 Stockton Depot Unable to Deliver Prime Sort error
16/07/2007 12:47:32 Stockton Depot Despatched from
17/07/2007 13:29:23 Sort Centre - Shaw, Oldham Sorted
18/07/2007 02:19:08 Wembley Depot Received
18/07/2007 02:24:54 Wembley Depot Received
18/07/2007 04:14:31 Wembley Depot Despatched from
18/07/2007 04:14:32 Wembley Depot Unable to Deliver Prime Sort error
19/07/2007 13:18:00 Sort Centre - Droitwich Spa Sorted
19/07/07 @ 15:30
Comment from hdnl manager
its not the drivers fault, or the managers fault or the company you order from fault.

the directors and higher powers that be within the company saw fit 4 months ago to make a few hundred redundancies. the work load hasnt dropped off and the staff that are left cannot cope with the volume of work.
they will not employ any more staff. so for now we all just have to lump it i'm afraid. .

for instance our depot lost 9 experienced and very good concientious drivers to redundancy. think about your workplace could you cope with the work load you have now but with 9 less people to do it.

just to give you some idea of the numbers those 9 people would have easily delivered 1,800 parcels per day
19/07/07 @ 22:17
Comment from tony_s
I've just been HDNL'd. I thought Parcelforce and CityLink were bad until I came across this lot. Allegedly "carded" twice - nothing left. Doubt the driver even bothered visiting the area! Can't believe that John Lewis Direct can use such a bunch of cowboys. Much as I dislike Tesco, their delivery system is second to none. You can book time slots or pick up in store. When other online retailers catch up, the likes of HDNL will end up where they belong - out of business.
20/07/07 @ 08:47
Comment from ALEX HARDIE
GUESS WHO DELIVERS YOUR PARCELS TO TESCOS SO YOU CAN PICK THEM UP ON TIME THATS RIGHT HDNL
21/07/07 @ 15:26
Comment from Sceptic
Guess which company wouldn't dare treat Tesco with the same comtempt it does with a lot of it's private individual customers.

I have no power to do anything when you fail to deliver my parcel. If you gave Tesco the same service they'd kick you to the kerb quicker than you can say "invisible failed delivery note"!
23/07/07 @ 13:26
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
Well said, Sceptic!
23/07/07 @ 15:01
Comment from Dave
I amazed that the company is still in business if they don't even know where their own depot is. I have an undelivered card, I called them, looked on their website and I still don't know where they are located. No match for parcelforce or DHL. I hope I never have the misfortune of dealing with them again.
23/07/07 @ 17:42
Comment from Dave
I amazed that the company is still in business if they don't even know where their own depot is. I have an undelivered card, I called them, looked on their website and I still don't know where they are located. No match for parcelforce or DHL. I hope I never have the misfortune of dealing with them again.
23/07/07 @ 17:48
Comment from Rev Napalm
HDN are the worst delivery company i have dealt with. I had to take a half day leave to go to Wembley to get two parcels to find they had try to deliver one, forged a signature at my house and left it outside the house in full vire. Luckily, nothing was taken. However, both parcels i have had to collect have been opened! I assume nothing decent to nick! Hope amazon are saving a lot of money as amazaon are going to lose a lot of custom.
23/07/07 @ 20:29
Comment from Josh
Having had a failed delivery, I just found the local depot no. via 192, spoke to an incredibly helpful woman who contacted their driver for me in his van whilst i waited, to advise how to get to my address (we are realy hard to find even with SatNav). I have never had this level of service from any other delivery company! gues i must be incredibly lucky....but let's see if the parcel turns up.
24/07/07 @ 12:53
Comment from Zibbo
I ordered several large books from Amazon last week, and noticed that the ship carrier was HDNL. Having never heard of them, I Googled around and found this website.. and then became rather anxious about whether my parcel would ever arrive.

However, it arrived today, safe and sound, several days inside of Amazon's delivery estimate. So, a smooth and hassle-free transaction.

Just thought I'd even out the debate a little.. HDNL are capable, at least in principle, of doing their job properly.
24/07/07 @ 18:59
Comment from Zibbo
I ordered several large books from Amazon last week, and noticed that the ship carrier was HDNL. Having never heard of them, I Googled around and found this website.. and then became rather anxious about whether my parcel would ever arrive.

However, it arrived today, safe and sound, several days inside of Amazon's delivery estimate. So, a smooth and hassle-free transaction.

Just thought I'd even out the debate a little.. HDNL are capable, at least in principle, of doing their job properly.
24/07/07 @ 19:01
Comment from Zibbo
.. and apologies for the double-post.
24/07/07 @ 19:05
Comment from Caroline
Oh what s site! I'm expecting delivery from BOTH Amazon AND Argos over the next couple of days. Having used Amazon in the past for small items delivered by Royal Mail with no problems, I am expecting delivery of a larger item which was and I quote from HDNL Tracking system "Despatched from Sunderland Depot at 25/07/2007 04:52:35" so hopefully my son will get his new pushchair before the weekend. I do have to say that I have never had any problems with Home Delivery Network for Argos and I am delighted that considering where I live can be confusing for most ordinary folk, HDN seem to know where I am. I am very much hoping that after reading comments (rather nasty ones too especially from what appears to be a 'driver' which I think is very unprofessional), that I do receive my goods. Will update if necessary.
25/07/07 @ 09:25
Comment from jan
I can only say that my dealings with HDN have been positive. I ordered a carpet cleaner from Amazon on Sunday July 22nd. Amazon e mailed me to say they had dispatched it on Monday, 23rd. I phoned my local HDN depot on Tuesday and a very polite lady told me that it hadn't reached the depot as yet. I tracked the parcel this morning, tracking info said it had reached my local depot and was loaded on a delivery van at 6:50 this morning. A phone call to the depot verified this. My parcel was delivered at 11:20 this morning. So all i can say if you phone your local depot they are very helpful.
25/07/07 @ 12:01
Comment from Caroline
Well, my Argos order arrived today(couldn't track this) but still waiting on Amazon. I have a feeling that it will turn up tomorrow as it doesn't appear to have reached my local depot - wherever that is. Any idea where the nearest depot is to SP4 in Wiltshire? As long as my Amazon order arrives before the weekend all will be ok with the world.
25/07/07 @ 14:45
Comment from Georgie
Looks like I'm another unfortunate HDNL customer.

I ordered a few books and a dvd boxset from good old Amazon. It had to be despatched in 2 orders. The first lot came by royal mail, fit through my letter box and was delivered quickly with no problems.

Second batch unfortunately needed to be sent by HDN! My package was sent on 23.07.07. I today checked my status on Amazon and was suprised to find this:

Jul 25, 2007 01:55:17 PM CUSTOMER UK Left at doorstep
Jul 25, 2007 07:15:13 AM READING VAN UK Out for delivery
Jul 25, 2007 02:41:25 AM READING DEPOT UK Arrival Scan
Jul 24, 2007 09:56:22 AM PRIME SORT UK Arrival Scan
Jul 23, 2007 12:00:00 AM WEB CUSTOMER UK Carrier notified to pick up package

No such package was left on my doorstep, or any other area surrounding my house. I'm actually close to tears as I'm worried my items (totalling approx £50) have now been stolen.

So I have sent an email to Amazon, and will hopefully get a response tomorrow.

I just cant believe it! How is leaving an item on the doorstep a safe place? My nxt door neighbours are nearly always in as they are elderly. They have taken parcels for us from Royal Mail no problems. But HDN seem to think leaving an item in plain view is just fine and dandy!


Am also having problems with Amtrak who refuse to answer their phones, but thats a whole other story!

I hope this Amazon/HDN situation is rectified. I either want my items resent, or a full refund. Do you think Amazon have ever been sued?! Hmmm...

Anyways, just wanted to vent, feels good =]
25/07/07 @ 18:39
Comment from Debbie
I have found HDN to be absolutely appaling. I ordered with Robinsons Country Leisure over 2 weeks ago for a 2-4 day delivery. They failed the 2 first deliveries and left me cards with no parcel numbers on which meant I couldn't track it and got a rude reception on their customer service line (which is awful). I arranged delivery for yesterday and stayed at home, nothing arrived. I rang customer services again who told me the parcel had been put in the van but delivery had not been attempted! I cannot take another day off work knowing that the parcel may not even arrive! I asked them whether I could give them an alternative address, but apparently they don't do redirecting so I need to speak to the supplier. The supplier has just told me I have to take up redirection with HDN. Absolutely disgusting customer service.
26/07/07 @ 10:35
Comment from tony_s
It's pleasing to see that there are some positive comments about HDN. The problem, though, seems to be that their delivery success rate is not good! I spoke to John Lewis Customer Service at about 8 the other morning and the CS rep admitted that I was not the first person that day to phone in complaining about HDN! He also admitted that they have trouble contacting HDN. Seems John Lewis may be "considering" HDN's position. How long before Amazon follow suit?
27/07/07 @ 11:25
Comment from Adam Gaenby
Anyone needing the Stockton-on-Tees depot here is the number.

01642 566246
27/07/07 @ 15:32
Comment from Pete
Well have waited in for 2 days now for my parcel to come from BT via HDN. After being told by an advisor on the first day that I was "Carded" although I was in the house and, by the way no card, he went on to say that delivery would be the next working day. Stayed in another day and guess what. Don't need to say anymore. I have just checked the tracking on this order and it seems to be sat on a van for 2 days enjoying the views of Kent. Guys I run my own business, If I ran it like you do yours, I would not have any customers, can you explain how you keep yours. It is not customer service, It is not reliability, but it is something. Your website is also very unfriendly. there does not seem to be a comments page, maybe you don't want to hear what people think about your company or more to the point dont care.
28/07/07 @ 07:13
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
No doubt someone from HDNL will say to you Pete:

a) You weren't in when they called (ie you're a liar).
b) You don't deserve to get the delivery anyway because you're a BT customer.
c) Your address label says something like "Peter Smith, Kent, UK"
d) You actually received the parcel, but being dishonest (and a liar) you've decided you want a refund and keep the product.
e)Who gives a monkey's anyway.

Or maybe they'll come up with something novel this time - but I doubt it will be an apology!
28/07/07 @ 17:59
Comment from elaine simpson
Very interesting reading all the above. If you contact home delivery Network they will not give out depot telephone numbers but i have since found out aberdeen depot is actually white arrow 01224 249299. What a boost finally got straight through to the depot instead of all this faffing about with Call Centres/ Hooray!!!!!!
30/07/07 @ 19:11
Comment from Valerie Rothlisberger-Jones
If anyone needs the phone number for the head office of Home Delivery Network, it is
0151 290 8500
I was told parcel was on the van to be delivered Monday. I saw the van come, pop a card into the mail box then drive away. I was in the garden, called, too late alas!! Was told parcel in van on Tuesday. No van. No parcel. I rang in the evening to be told driver had left a card (he hadn't) and the depot manager would ring me first thing Wednesday morning (today).
I had to ring Home Delivery Network on the number on the card. They said (again!) it was on the van and would be delivered today (they'd been telling me this since Monday) online tracking told me it had been held at the depot.
I rang enquiries for the number of their head office (because surprise, surprise, the 0870 number you ring donesn't know it and don't even have a number for their depot!!!!! I asked directory enquiries for their number but they are not in the book as Home Service Network, they are under a different name (why?????)
I finally got the number, asked for someone in charge and ranted. She took my number and said she would ring me back straight away, which she did and told me they would deliver within 20 minutes. Which they finally did.
Does one really have to do so much detective work to get a phone number of a head office to get something done with Home Network Service?????
It is a company I would never recommend and would strongly discourage friends and businesses to use.
01/08/07 @ 10:42
Comment from Georgie
An update of my situation. (see 25.07.07 @ 18.39)

The lovely people @ Amazon have resent my items, and thankfully it was with Royal Mail. It arrived safely yesterday morning.

God knows where my other items went... Probably been sold on *rolls eyes*

Hopefully wont have troubles with HDN again!!

Peace

x
01/08/07 @ 20:32
Comment from Marie
Can someone please help me. I need the number for their sort center in Droitwich Spa.

My parcel has been sitting in this sort center since 23/07!
03/08/07 @ 09:10
Comment from Kate
Thank you to the people who have supplied telephone numbers for the depots.
I wasn't in when HDL tried to deliver the first time. If they had put the parcel number on the first card then I would have phoned them and asked for them not to bother the next day as I wasn't going to be in.
They tried again the second day and this time left a parcel number.
I phoned the 0870 number and was told that they would send it to the depot and the depot would call me when it got there and tell me where the depot was. I was amazed that the woman at the 0870 number couldn't tell me where the depot was.

Thanks to this site I have found the number for my local depot and have called them. I can collect my parcel on Saturday! They will call me to confirm that the parcel is back in the depot.

Why couldn't they have done this in the first place?
Yes I ordered something to be delivered to an address where I knew I wasn't going to be in. But I am leaving my job soon and didn't want it to be delivered to my work in case it came after I left.
Also I thought this would be delivered by Royal Mail, collecting from them is easy as the depot is only 5 minutes from my house.

I don't think the drivers are to blame but the way the company is run. All it would take would be for there to be phone numbers of local depots on the cards and I think we would all be happy. That way we could have the parcels delivered at a time to suit us.

Saying that given the illiteracy of the earlier poster who claims to be a manager for HDN it's no wonder they are annoying so many people.
03/08/07 @ 16:03
Comment from james smith
Hi thereI am an ex employee of hdnl,I work at the call centre in bolton.We have no powers at all unable to contact the local depot or the driver,All they can do id email the the local and hope for a reply to the customer.

The depots are so overworked they dont normally have the to answer any question or complaints that are sent over.


When u ask the depot for a telephone number they arent able to give it to you,or the full address ,Unless you make yourself such a pain or just lie why u may need the information.


If we break company policy or try and help the cust in anyway we would be put down on markes.Some calls are listern into and marked depending whats happened.


The company has let so many staff go in the depots around the country to save money,even though the parcel they are getting are more and more each day,

They would send a driver with about 150 parcel's a day and the driver cant do that many,Most just lie on the scanner and say carded even though they havnt been to the propery because there under so much presure.


When u call the call centre they have no ldea whats going on really just use the same info the you can get from the website.We have to tell customers that parcel's were out for deliver even thought we had no ldea if they would be delivered or not.

The scanner doenst always update until the driver returns the depot,Or within or certain range of the depot.

So its quite easy to wait in for 12 hours and be told driver maybe on they way.and they wont turn up.

most managers couldnt careless and are busy doing staff sales orders or just chatting,Even if you asked one to take the call you couldnt solve,it would be very hard to get them to talk to the customer.


anyway any questions you have ask me and l will help all l can
04/08/07 @ 00:15
Comment from james
I forget to say all the calls l had about driver leaving parcels just about anywhere.inside bins on doorsteps or dropped over the wall and broken.
04/08/07 @ 00:21
Comment from John Combes
I have had a number of items recently delivered by hdl and have had no problems whatsoever, even though our house is hard to find
06/08/07 @ 08:28
Comment from Jimmy McLean
Guys, I'm saying pretty much what has been said before. They tried to deliver a parcel to my home address but unfortunately I was at work. Was assured that I would receive a call from the depot to go and collect it. However the depot was meant to keep it for 5 working days. I eventually found the depot number only to be told that they sent it back the first day! I now am £100 out of pocket as the sender will not refund me until they have it back - yep, could take 28 days. Pathetic!
07/08/07 @ 12:04
Comment from PJ
As most people here, I have had the same problem, I tracked the parcel using HDNL's website. Today (07 Aug) it said: 6:50am ON DELIVERY VAN (Daventry Depot). Then at 1:52pm UNABLE TO DELIVER (carded) except I have been hanging around my front door for hours waiting. but then later on at 5:00pm another UNABLE TO DELIVER (but I was still around my front door waiting) so I phoned Daventry Depot, and the woman said it had failed to deliver with a card posted and wouldn't explain why I hadn't received such Card. She said it will be sent tomorrow morning (or will it) fingers crossed.
07/08/07 @ 19:45
Comment from Point me to Play (dot) com!
Okay, think about it:

(i) The drivers say they have lots of parcels to deliver;
(ii) The drivers say they have very little time to deliver in;
(iii) A lot of customers don't appear to receive that elusive 'delivery card', and
(iv) The drivers say that they get paid for the trip, whether or not the parcel is delivered.

To me, it looks as though some drivers - knowing they'll get paid for two visits if they have to make two visits - don't even bother with that first visit (hence the lack of delivery card), waiting instead for the second or third delivery before they leave the parcel. They just sign off the deliveries as 'not in'/'not received'/'lives in a flat'/etc. etc. and reap the rewards.
Lovely stuff - two/three lots of payment for one delivery. Where do I sign up?! ;D
07/08/07 @ 19:46
Comment from y
THANK YOU ALL for the precious information written in here. As well, i just had a nightmarish episode with my amazon order delivered by this joke of a company called HDN...not gonna write the whole story but basically if it was not with LOADS of emails to the entire directors and marketing (plus a couple of phone calls to the depot and 10 calls to the call center) i wouldn t have managed to get my parcel after 2 weeks of madness. So thanks again to everyone that shared their info and all the emails. that was my first and last order at amazon. and to Home delivery Network; i d say: you are the biggest joke ever!!

y.
09/08/07 @ 21:46
Comment from Tushar
i had the same problems as mentioned earlier .
0870 guys were elusive, refused to give me address of stockton-on-tees depot. fortunately someone posted their number.
I called 01642566246 and spoke to a lady Silvia. she was very helpful , she gave me the address and called me back in 5 min to tell me that my parcel was ready for collection.
I will leave in an hour to get my parcel.

The stockton-on-tees depot address is given below.

Home Delivery Network
Macklin Avenue
Cowpen Lane Industrial Estate
Billingham
TS23 4BY
10/08/07 @ 11:22
Comment from Ahmad Zol
Utter Rubbish!!

09/08/2007 18:48:59 New Cross Depot Unable to Deliver Carded
09/08/2007 18:48:59 New Cross Depot Unable to Deliver Carded.
Delivery to my office, but they only came in at 6.48pm. Who in their right minds would work that late?

10/08/2007 10:30:33 New Cross Depot Unable to Deliver Carded
Pah!! I was in the office all the time.

No cards received. I had to go to all departments to check 3-4 times for this, but nobody saw anyone coming from Home Delivery Network...

Avoid at all costs....
10/08/07 @ 23:26
Comment from Lisa Morgan
I am having the same issue

here is what i wrote to the today

"I am absolutely discussed with your service.

I order a product from BT and was told it would be delivered on Monday 13th August before 6pm and required a signature.

I arranged for my partner to take the day off work (therefore losing earnings), we were told we would be telephoned 2 hours prior to delivery. After no phone call and no delivery we made various calls to your company. We were assured that the parcel was on it's was and would be there before 7pm (an hour after the delivery slot we were told).

At 7.30-7.45pm we had still received nothing. I called your company to complain and asked them not to try and redeliver but to keep and the depot and I would collect myself.

Today I rang your company again to ensure the parcel was left at the depot so I could arrange collections. THE PARCEL HAD BEEN SENT OUT! I was also told that my parcel was not even loaded on the van! That was unacceptable my partner had lost a days earnings (for nothing) I had spent all afternoon on the phone and been lied to by your colleagues.

I then asked for your Romford depots phone number so I could ask then to contact the driver and give me an estimated delivery time so I could arrange for my partner to take time off work (and lose earnings) again. I was told they couldn’t give me the number, I then asked to speak to management, I was told I could not speak with them also.

I managed to find the Romford depots phone number anyway and called them.

They told me that in fact the delivery had gone out yesterday (so one of your colleagues are lying) and that they tried to deliver (also a lie as my partner was there all day) and a calling card was left (no card was left). I have asked them to contact the driver so I can find out what time he is expecting to come and arrange for someone to be there but apparently they can not (very unlikely as I'm sure he has a mobile phone or pager).

This is totally unacceptable service and I want something done about this NOW!!"

Lets see what happens...
14/08/07 @ 14:08
Comment from Tom
I won't bore you with the details of my HDN nightmare, but thought this might be amusing to share. Part of my tracking reads as follows;

Aug 13, 2007 04:36:48 PM EASTLEIGH DEPOT UK Arrival Scan
Aug 13, 2007 04:22:44 PM EASTLEIGH VAN UK Delivery attempted - recipient not home

Therefore, HDN attempted a delivery at 4.22pm, then the package was scanned back in at the depot 14 minutes later.

I am in Bournemouth, the depot is 40 miles away in Eastleigh. 40 miles in 14 minutes. That means either the driver is fiddling his results, or he managed to drive back to the depot at an average speed of 160mph.

Now that's efficiency!
15/08/07 @ 12:47
Comment from Ali Critchlow
I too have recently suffered at the hands of Home Delivery Network Ltd.

Without wishing to bore you all with the precise details of my experience with them, I will simply say this:

Their service is utterly appalling! Their staff (I dealt with at least 4 different people) are utterly incompetent and the company as whole makes a mockery of the phrase "home delivery".

I was lied to, misled and had my time and more importantly, my money wasted by this deplorable firm.

I urge Amazon to relinquish all their ties with this firm as they are clearly dragging their name through the mud.

Something should be done about this company - they should not be allowed to operate in the way that they do. Does anybody know of some kind of regulatory body for delivery firms? I really think this company should be publicly and officially "named and shamed" for the way in which they treat their customers.

15/08/07 @ 13:14
Comment from Duncan Ross
It really is amazing. I have just spent 15 minutes talking to someone at their call centre (who was very pleasant). But all they can do is come back during the day (when I am not in) to try to deliver something I didn't order. They don't do weekends or evenings, it seems. I asked to speak to a manager or supervisor, but apparently they don't have any. So now I have asked for my parcel to be returned to sender, in the hope that BT will never use them again and will send stuff through the post like they should.
15/08/07 @ 14:44
Comment from Sarah
After I read over a hundred of these comments, I finally realised that nobody actually pin-pointed the major problem of HDNL. As a recent HDNL victim, I personally think the company has many disconnections between call centres and depots and then the depots and drivers. Obviously the structure of the company is hugely problematic, with nobody bothering to review it. If, as HDNL employees and managers say, they have been working hard and trying hard to do their job probably, how can they ignore so many (hundreds, maybe thousands) complaints? It seems to me that there is no one in the company who is trying to find out where the miscommunication lies and alter and monitor it accordingly. An incorrect company structure will lead to misunderstandings between company and customers, departments and departments, employees and employees. Moreover, one further thing that I feel it is necessary to mention is that whoever manages HDNL personnel has at least done a good job on staff moral. I have to give the thumbs up for the courage of those people who work for HDNL in standing up for their company, regardless of its myriad shortcomings. To the manager of HDNL: you have got the right people, now you need the right management.
15/08/07 @ 22:09
Comment from Jim
I must comment on the service I have just received from HDNL. having read the comments I thought I would find myself in the same predicament, but quite the opposite. I checked the tracking on line as follows.
14/08/2007 00:00:00 Customer Parcel Data Received
15/08/2007 23:57:33 Glasgow Depot Received
16/08/2007 07:32:17 Glasgow Depot Loaded onto vehicle

Received package 16/08 at 16:03.
For me at least a very good service.
16/08/07 @ 16:16
Comment from Nocturnal Lacky
I work for HDNL, I have also received all of my orders (because I'm at home waiting for them!) on time and sometimes earlier than expected.
The comments from Sarah above are very much to the point, it would seem some areas of the business are badly managed.
HDNL is not new to the delivery business it's an amalgamation of 2 very old delivery businesses.
It's not HDNL that takes the wrong name address or more often than not the wrong postcode.
Other couriers may deliver nearly every parcel without damage but they're not delivering millions of parcels a week and so the ratio that each damages is probably the same. We do everthing we can get your parcel to you quickly and sometimes things are damaged the Rule of thumb is "Would I pay for it in that condition?" and if the answer is no it's reordered and returned.
Amazon and Dabs give you a tracking number for your parcel and a link to the HDNL site, use it, those companys that don't give you any info by email (BT for instance) Ring them and ask for the tracking number, they do know it i had to do it myself.

16/08/07 @ 20:47
Comment from james
its simple people ,do what i do , when your not working go to a shop and buy the item you desire , it aint rocket science , get a life
16/08/07 @ 22:31
Comment from james
comment from tom regarding tracking ,i have done this before , what happens is sometimes parcels get mislaid on the van , hard to imagine you assume , but when your van is packed front to back and nearly to the roof , sometimes parcels will wander ,ie into the space you have reserved for return parcels , undelivered etc on getting back to the depot you then find this parcel , which needs to be scanned as all do , but thats a rare occurence unless the driver is unfamiliar with the delivery area
16/08/07 @ 22:44
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
Why do you constantly harp on a about people "getting a life" James. Have you not heard that internet shopping is the biggest commercial growth sector?
Perhaps you ought to drag yourself into the 21st Century and get a life yourself.

If I pay for a product and service, I expect to get them, otherwise I complain. What's wrong with that eh? Or is your life full of pathetic excuses?
17/08/07 @ 09:42
Comment from Nocturnal Lacky
UPDATE :
These are my recent delivery details for Amazon, Dabs and BT (I have had to alter a few numbers so i cant be traced :p)

Tracking information for parcel number 8AMF017*****A002.
Date Depot Action Reason
02/08/2007 00:00:00 Customer Parcel Data Received
02/08/2007 19:47:02 Sort Centre - Droitwich Spa Sorted
03/08/2007 01:58:30 Morley Depot Received
03/08/2007 04:04:15 Rochdale Depot Received
03/08/2007 07:12:28 Rochdale Depot Loaded onto vehicle
03/08/2007 12:40:47 Rochdale Depot Delivered


Tracking information for parcel number 8199102*****A002.
Date Depot Action Reason
02/08/2007 00:00:00 Customer Parcel Data Received
02/08/2007 14:33:18 Sort Centre - Shaw, Oldham Sorted
02/08/2007 22:13:21 Morley Depot Received
03/08/2007 04:53:09 Rochdale Depot Received
03/08/2007 07:08:42 Rochdale Depot Loaded onto vehicle
03/08/2007 12:40:52 Rochdale Depot Delivered


Tracking information for parcel number 8BT2108*****a002
Date Depot Action Reason
10/08/2007 00:00:00 Customer Parcel Data Received
10/08/2007 14:51:22 Sort Centre - Shaw, Oldham Sorted
12/08/2007 13:48:48 Morley Depot Received
13/08/2007 00:15:08 Rochdale Depot Received
13/08/2007 07:28:21 Rochdale Depot Loaded onto vehicle
13/08/2007 12:23:06 Rochdale Depot Delivered

As you can see no problems!
17/08/07 @ 10:40
Comment from james
reply to ex amazon customer ,maybe your getting me mixed up with another james , that was my first post , anyhow in life we must accept that there will be problems , with deliveries , your internet , your mobile phone , your car please accept the fact that life is not always a breeze and stop moaning lol :) be happy
17/08/07 @ 10:57
Comment from Lyndon Davies
I found this site while actually looking for a number for Home Delivery. (0800 015 1509) I returned home to find a card saying they had been unable to contact me by telephone to advise a date (no-one had called, I was at home all week and when not in, the ansaphone was on).
When I rang them they tell me the item has been delivered (given it's a elliptical cross trainer it's not hiding anywhere in my driveway and they couldn't have posted it) - when I queried it they said the driver's marked it as completed so someone must have signed for it - I should try my neighbours! There was nothing written on the card to indicate that though....What a way to run a company....
17/08/07 @ 15:40
Comment from Lyndon Davies
I found this site while actually looking for a number for Home Delivery. (0800 015 1509) I returned home to find a card saying they had been unable to contact me by telephone to advise a date (no-one had called, I was at home all week and when not in, the ansaphone was on).
When I rang them they tell me the item has been delivered (given it's a elliptical cross trainer it's not hiding anywhere in my driveway and they couldn't have posted it) - when I queried it they said the driver's marked it as completed so someone must have signed for it - I should try my neighbours! There was nothing written on the card to indicate that though....What a way to run a company....
17/08/07 @ 15:50
Comment from james
i worked for this company for 27 years as a driver , for my sins , most drivers are good ,they will go out of their way to deliver the goods to the customer , but i agree the system is a shambles and needs a good sort out , preferebly some good management who know how to run a delivery business
17/08/07 @ 16:31
Comment from Lance Vandersyde
HDN called on 8th August with my package while I was out. Fortunately I returned within a few minutes. They left a card saying package was left "In Blue Rec Bin by front door". This was a wheely bin that had been put out because garbage collection was that day. How stupid can you get? Makes me wonder if the drivers are hitting back against the negative press. I felt like this was really "sticking it up me".
18/08/07 @ 11:17
Comment from Another Ex - Amazon customer
"maybe your getting me mixed up with another james"

My apologies James!



18/08/07 @ 11:38
Comment from Nocturnal Lacky
Lance Vandersyde

It's good to hear you received it on time :)
18/08/07 @ 12:55
Comment from Pradip Patel
no wonder Amazon can't make a profit if they use these bunch of cowboys. My wife was expecting a delivery today and arranged for it to be delivered to the shopping centre she works at. The online tracking says they were unable to deliver so they carded. unbelievable, maybe they pushed the doors instead of pulled them and assuned the shopping centre was closed.

This company is a disgrace.


Pradip
20/08/07 @ 15:41
Comment from Bobby Knutshurt
I have just read what the employees of this so called courier company have written and quite frankly they should be sacked on the spot.

No wonder the company is going to lose the Amazon contract and these so called HDNL employees will be made redundant.

All I can say is TOUGH.

Maybe if you did some work for your wage this wouldn't have happened.

You have yourselves to blame.
20/08/07 @ 18:17
Comment from Nocturnal Lacky
Bobby Knutshurt

"No wonder the company is going to lose the Amazon contract and these so called HDNL employees will be made redundant."

Don't make me laff!

we've been waiting for redundancy for years :o

*Waves* Goodbye Amazon!... who's next?
20/08/07 @ 18:47
Comment from Delbert D.Rivers
I work for HDNL.In addition to NOT being psychic/clairvoyant(I don't always know what's in the box which YOU'VE ordered!),I'm not a phone installation expert NOR a flat-pack(Made For Idiots) furniture assembler.It's called SELF-ASSEMBLY for a reason!So don't keep bloody asking/expecting me to install your poxy phones/broadband hubs OR put together your crappy little bedside cabinets.We're Delivery Drivers ie. we DRIVE around and DELIVER things.(well,that's when we can be bothered to go to your often inaccesible,out of the way places!).I'm sure that when some of you ungrateful customers order your goods,you imagine us drivers to drive around in Reliant Robins with just YOUR parcel on.NEWSFLASH-We don't!Unfortunately Ford Transit vans can't always fit through your tiny,narrow gateways-not even when,in your infinite wisdom,you decide to DECREASE the space between the posts!!!!!!!
And yes-those large,cumbersome parcels which we're trying to deliver to you ARE heavy and,if you can just tear yourself away from watching Jeremy Kyle for a second,we would appreciate some assistance.Maybe open a gate or door perhaps?Better still,lock your dogs away instead of picking them up whilst trying to sign for your goods.Strangely enough we don't always see the funny side of having our ankles and fingers bitten by cuddly,wuddly little doggies.As i told one snotty,rude customer the other day-if her dog bites me I'll have it put down!
One last point(for now).If you would like your parcels left in your shed/garage/greenhouse/swimming pool/summerhouse/stable or other extravagant building that you've wasted your HARD EARNED money on,then leave the bloody things open.Not rocket science is it?We're not allowed to kick your doors in or smash your windows.Yes,its a shame.
COMPRENDE????????
21/08/07 @ 06:42
Comment from Delbert D.Rivers
I work for HDNL.In addition to NOT being psychic/clairvoyant(I don't always know what's in the box which YOU'VE ordered!),I'm not a phone installation expert NOR a flat-pack(Made For Idiots) furniture assembler.It's called SELF-ASSEMBLY for a reason!So don't keep bloody asking/expecting me to install your poxy phones/broadband hubs OR put together your crappy little bedside cabinets.We're Delivery Drivers ie. we DRIVE around and DELIVER things.(well,that's when we can be bothered to go to your often inaccesible,out of the way places!).I'm sure that when some of you ungrateful customers order your goods,you imagine us drivers to drive around in Reliant Robins with just YOUR parcel on.NEWSFLASH-We don't!Unfortunately Ford Transit vans can't always fit through your tiny,narrow gateways-not even when,in your infinite wisdom,you decide to DECREASE the space between the posts!!!!!!!
And yes-those large,cumbersome parcels which we're trying to deliver to you ARE heavy and,if you can just tear yourself away from watching Jeremy Kyle for a second,we would appreciate some assistance.Maybe open a gate or door perhaps?Better still,lock your dogs away instead of picking them up whilst trying to sign for your goods.Strangely enough we don't always see the funny side of having our ankles and fingers bitten by cuddly,wuddly little doggies.As i told one snotty,rude customer the other day-if her dog bites me I'll have it put down!
One last point(for now).If you would like your parcels left in your shed/garage/greenhouse/swimming pool/summerhouse/stable or other extravagant building that you've wasted your HARD EARNED money on,then leave the bloody things open.Not rocket science is it?We're not allowed to kick your doors in or smash your windows.Yes,its a shame.
21/08/07 @ 06:44
Comment from Delbert D.Rivers
I work for HDNL.In addition to NOT being psychic,clairvoyant(I don't always know what's in the box which YOU'VE ordered!),I'm not a phone installation expert NOR a flat-pack(Made For Idiots) furniture assembler.It's called SELF-ASSEMBLY for a reason!So don't keep bloody asking,expecting me to install your poxy phones,broadband hubs OR put together your crappy little bedside cabinets.We're Delivery Drivers ie. we DRIVE around and DELIVER things.(well,that's when we can be bothered to go to your often inaccesible,out of the way places!).I'm sure that when some of you ungrateful customers order your goods,you imagine us drivers to drive around in Reliant Robins with just YOUR parcel on.NEWSFLASH-We don't!Unfortunately Ford Transit vans can't always fit through your tiny,narrow gateways-not even when,in your infinite wisdom,you decide to DECREASE the space between the posts!!!!!!!
And yes-those large,cumbersome parcels which we're trying to deliver to you ARE heavy and,if you can just tear yourself away from watching Jeremy Kyle for a second,we would appreciate some assistance.Maybe open a gate or door perhaps?Better still,lock your dogs away instead of picking them up whilst trying to sign for your goods.Strangely enough we don't always see the funny side of having our ankles and fingers bitten by cuddly,wuddly little doggies.As i told one snotty,rude customer the other day-if her dog bites me I'll have it put down!
One last point(for now).If you would like your parcels left in your shed,garage,greenhouse,swimming pool,summerhouse,stable or other extravagant building that you've wasted your HARD EARNED money on,then leave the bloody things open.Not rocket science is it?We're not allowed to kick your doors in or smash your windows.Yes,its a shame.
21/08/07 @ 06:48
Comment from Delbert D.Rivers
I work for HDNL.In addition to NOT being psychic,clairvoyant(I don't always know what's in the box which YOU'VE ordered!),I'm not a phone installation expert NOR a flat-pack(Made For Idiots) furniture assembler.It's called SELF-ASSEMBLY for a reason!So don't keep bloody asking,expecting me to install your poxy phones,broadband hubs OR put together your crappy little bedside cabinets.

We're Delivery Drivers ie. we DRIVE around and DELIVER things.(well,that's when we can be bothered to go to your often inaccesible,out of the way places!).I'm sure that when some of you ungrateful customers order your goods,you imagine us drivers to drive around in Reliant Robins with just YOUR parcel on.NEWSFLASH-We don't!Unfortunately Ford Transit vans can't always fit through your tiny,narrow gateways-not even when,in your infinite wisdom,you decide to DECREASE the space between the posts!!!!!!!

And yes-those large,cumbersome parcels which we're trying to deliver to you ARE heavy and,if you can just tear yourself away from watching Jeremy Kyle for a second,we would appreciate some assistance.Maybe open a gate or door perhaps?

Better still,lock your dogs away instead of picking them up whilst trying to sign for your goods.Strangely enough we don't always see the funny side of having our ankles and fingers bitten by cuddly,wuddly little doggies.As i told one snotty,rude customer the other day-if her dog bites me I'll have it put down!

One last point(for now).If you would like your parcels left in your,shed,garage,greenhouse,swimming pool,summerhouse,stable or other extravagant building that you've wasted your HARD EARNED money on,then leave the bloody things open.Not rocket science is it?We're not allowed to kick your doors in or smash your windows.

Yes,its a shame.
21/08/07 @ 06:52
Comment from James
For all those people sitting in there warm , cosy offices and homes , typing complaints to amazon , just remember the drivers deliver in all weathers , even inclement ie ; torrential rain , snow 6 ft thick , does it stop us trying to deliver ? NO , POLICE WARNING ONLY VENTURE OUT IN EMERGENCIES , yeah you getting your Jim reeves cd is an emergency , and yes we do choose this profession , ive been soaked through from 9am till 5pm ,would you ????
21/08/07 @ 09:12
Comment from Happy Customer
Having read this page with some trepidation, foolishly being in work and not waiting at home for my delivery, I went home at lunchtime to find a card saying my parcel was left at a neighbour's - and so it was. Not the first neighbour's house though so the delivery guy must have tried a couple and spent a few minutes doing so.

Clearly there *are* HDNL drivers who do a decent job.
21/08/07 @ 12:53
Comment from Fred
I am an ex employee of HDNL and the reason for leaving was I was just getting too pi**ed of with the hassle I was getting from everyone just trying to do a job. All drivers are under pressure from this company with the main reason that round drivers are way overworked and overloaded. I did not take out the 150 - 200 parcels a day like some drivers. My target was 146 mainly because my round consisted of 75% tennement flats and the rest houses, and most parcels were top flat deliveries.
Standing at tennement doors pushing buzzers to get in and asking neighbours to take their parcel and getting slated with abuse as to why I was buzzing their flat when the parcel was not for them really got my goat up. One guy threatened me with a 12 inch blade when I knocked his door to take a parcel for his nieghbour who stayed just 3 feet away from him in one tennement. That guy was lucky for I spent 12 years in the marine corp and am a black 2nd dan. If it wasn't for the fact that I had a case of wine in hand that blade would have been sticking out of his ass. And the guy who started shouting abuse to me (in front of his wife and half the street) because I was late in delivering M&S flowers to him for his wifes anniverary. Sure it was 6.30 pm and he was miffed but my van was down for 2 hours while someone came out to change the starter motor. No he did not know that, but did he have the right just to let fly because he did'nt get his flowers at 8am. Some drivers are out till 8 at night delivering the workload they have and it's a long day. The last thing a driver needs is someone giving them the verbals for something outwith their control. I tried to give the guy an explanation but he just kept ranting about M&S said his flowers would be delivered before mid day and that this was unbeleivable. I just walked away with his flowers and put them back in the van and drove away. He was running at the back of the van still ranting and raving like the lunatic he was. I got hauled up in front of the manager after his complaint but told I did the right thing, so it just goes to show the customer ain't always right. There are numerous more incidents that I could tell but just bare in mind that mostly all delivery drivers try to do a good job wherever they are and that some things are outwith their control like gaining access to security buildings, finding addresses that are not on street maps because they are new structures, address labels are wrong because whoever sent them in the first place did not get it right. There are numerous more and all delivery companies have these problems, not just HDNL. I'm afraid it's not just a case of sticking it in the van and taking it from A to B
21/08/07 @ 13:15
Comment from Ben
My problem is'nt with the drivers at all, it's the management and the admin side of the company.
I have never dealt with such a poorly run company.
I have been on the phone constanly to this company, every time I have been told that I would receive the package tomorrow.
I even stayed at home to receive the package, as it was important, yet no one turned up.
Finally 3 weeks pass, and I'm getting sick and tired off trying, so I got my wife to phone, who has a skill when it comes to getting answers, would you beleive it, they sent the package back to BT after I have been told countless times they where sending it to me.
I think some kind of petition needs to be started so that it can be showed to companys like Argos, Amazon, Bt and other large companys that getting involved with a cheap crappy company like this, is gonna loose them business.
And hopefully what ever idiot managing director will find himself back on the doll que.
Never been so cheesed of with a delivery company before.

Complete jerks.
21/08/07 @ 14:42
Comment from n/a
If you people are so worried about when you are going to receive you parcels then why dont you go to the shops and do your buying. You people are just lazy. You do not understand the processes involved in delivering the parcels because you have limited knowledge on the delivery network of any company be it Parceline, HDNL or UPS.
21/08/07 @ 21:24
Comment from dawn
i worked for hdn on a self employed basis delivering catalogues a few months ago.

they gave me the wrong catalogues for the addresses...after 2 weeks finaly got that problem sorted out...then found out they had given me to many envelopes for the catalogues i had to deliver...so waited another week until more catalogues came

and to top it off i have not been paid....AVOID THIS COMPANY.
22/08/07 @ 08:47
Comment from GoScrewYourself
Once again here are my parcel details for todays delivery:

Tracking information for parcel number 8arl250*****a002
Date Depot Action Reason
19/08/2007 00:00:00 Customer Parcel Data Received
21/08/2007 03:12:51 Sort Centre - Shaw, Oldham Sorted
21/08/2007 12:20:09 Morley Depot Received
22/08/2007 01:42:00 Rochdale Depot Received
22/08/2007 07:26:42 Rochdale Depot Loaded onto vehicle
22/08/2007 13:28:07 Rochdale Depot Delivered


it seems to me like there is'nt a problem with the delivery company, maybe u should check whether you have given the right address details.

Dawn if u didn't deliver any catalogues WTH do you want paying for :p

HDNL Putting The Customer First!
22/08/07 @ 14:03
Comment from GoScrewYourself

our company

Home Delivery Network Limited is the UK’s largest dedicated home delivery service. With over 90 years combined experience, we deliver parcels on behalf of major clients to every postcode, every day.
our company

From fragile fresh flowers to bulky home furniture our network of parcel depots and specialist delivery hubs provide bespoke delivery and collection services for you.
our company

Each week 2.2 million parcels under 25kg are hand delivered by our 3500 friendly delivery drivers. Our specialist hubs handle larger items that require two-people to deliver to your room of choice.

HDNL Putting The Customer First!
22/08/07 @ 14:05
Comment from Austin
I would just like to say HDNL have much improved since some of these comments have been submitted. HDNL does have its problems im not denying that however as with every delivery service it provides good customer support but unfortunately has its limitations. HDNL cannot provide a time for delivery thats true but does offer other things, ie: Leave with a n/bour, leave somewehere secure if the parcel does not require a signature, collect from depot, re-direct for some parcels. What it cannot do is deliver parcel via a taxi which some customers have suggested and have the delivery driver sign for the parcel and just it in a bin amongst other things (who the hell would want a parcel left in a bin anyways)! The question is: Why order things to be delivered if you are never in, have no n/bours, dont have anywhere secure to leave the parcel, cannot collect from depot and have no other address for it to be re-directed to? Surely that tells you not to bother having anything delivered. And guess what... YES there are ppl out there that do this and wonder why they never receive there parcels. Absolute idiots! And another thing... if you are unsure about anything, question it with your supplier, it is not the fault of HDNL if your supplier has said HDNL will call prior to delivery, HDNL simply do not provide this service. And another thing...It also states on the card that HDNL return parcels after 5 workings days so why are customers still ringing HDNL to ask that very question, do ppl just not open there eyes anymore, i mean come on ppl, its not difficult, its there wriiten in black and white. Blimey! HDNL are a good service, i think that ppl just have far too high expectations and to be more realistic about what can be achieved.
22/08/07 @ 20:01
Comment from James
One good advantage of ordering through the Internet is , you needn't move from your chair , Then when you can't get off your backside to answer the door you can also complain in the comfort of your chair , The Internet is a great invention used mainly by the American people i think ,No wonder so many are obese . be health wise and take care all :)
22/08/07 @ 23:51
Comment from Jane
Same old story & I'm furious. After several days watching my delivery, ordered via Amazon, being sent from Droitwich-Wembley-Droitwich-New Cross for no apparent reason, I am told today the driver was unable to deliver. This is to my work address, a large City of London firm with a security desk manned 24/7, a reception desk on every floor manned 8am-6pm (this was at 4.30pm) and me sitting at my desk all afternoon situated in front of the lift from which the driver would have emerged should he have actually bothered to go to the floor stated in the address specified in my order. Now I know the driver was lying - there is simply no possiblity that there was no one there to accept my deliveryw. Why did I use Amazon super saver delivery?

Rant over, can someone please advise me what to do in order to either get a refund or actually see my delivery, bearing in mind I have no transport to attend the depot (or inclination to visit New Cross)?
23/08/07 @ 01:29
Comment from JC
Same old story & I'm furious. After several days watching my delivery, ordered via Amazon, being sent from Droitwich-Wembley-Droitwich-New Cross for no apparent reason, I am told today the driver was unable to deliver. This is to my work address, a large City of London firm with a security desk manned 24/7, a reception desk on every floor manned 8am-6pm (this was at 4.30pm) and me sitting at my desk all afternoon situated in front of the lift from which the driver would have emerged should he have actually bothered to go to the floor stated in the address specified in my order. Now I know the driver was lying - there is simply no possiblity that there was no one there to accept my delivery.

Rant over, can someone please advise me what to do in order to either get a refund or actually see my delivery, bearing in mind I have no transport to attend the depot (or inclination to visit New Cross)?
23/08/07 @ 01:32
Comment from I'm A Mouse In Need
Hi Jane, very sorry that your parcel hasn't reached you in time.
I can't be 100% on your particular problem without seeing what the HDNL Tracking system Details are, but I would hazard a guess that because you're in an office building the post code has not been recognised by the system, as it was designed for residential post codes. We are currently trying our very best to update the system, which silly as it sounds we are doing as we come across these "Unknown" post codes.
It could also be that the driver did find the address but the man at the main reception couldnt tell the driver where you actually worked or maybe the driver thought well i havent got 10 - 15 minutes to mess about going up and down in a lift trying to find you.

Either call the all the New Cross Home delivery network depot number: 02077325595 or 02077321444 or 02076358094 and see if they still have your parcel (I Doubt they will though) so that you can try to re-arrange delivery. Failing that you can ring Amazon and tell them that you would like it to be Re-delivered to Family, Friends or a Neighbour that you can trust.
If non of the above is possible get your money back from amazon.

P.S. We don't deliver to PO Boxes either.

Putting The Customer 1st.
23/08/07 @ 06:55
Comment from Carl
Not sure why there are delays however my item was dispatched, from Reading, on Monday.

Thursday and it's still not even at my local depot, and apparently I should be expecting deliver Tuesday.

Can't say I'm hugely impressed at an item taking a week to travel from Reading to London.
23/08/07 @ 12:44
Comment from lisa thomas
I have never had a bad experience with hdl, very pleasant drivers, quick delivery within the specified times and absolutely no messing about. Until now that is: I am not going to rant and rave because after reading through as many of the posted opinions as i possibly could, i can sympathise with everbody. But the problem is that i have ordered my son a nintendo ds lite for his birthday on sept 9th, i ordered it back in july from studio home shopping. It said there was a waiting time of 21 days which back then wasnt a problem at all, but now studio are telling me that the parcel has been despatched on the 15th august and the hdl tracking system is showing parcel data recieved on the same date, but nothing since. What has happened to my order? When will i recieve it? If somebody could please help me i would be very grateful, i just want my son to get his birthday present on time.
Thankyou Lisa
24/08/07 @ 00:37
Comment from Stuart
This is about Citylink, not HDNL, but it's my website so I can do what I like :)

My front door has a big metal knocker on it that you can't fail to hear anywhere in the house. I was waiting in today for a delivery when I heard a faint knocking noise, as if someone wearing gloves was tapping on wood. I went down and opened the door and found the Citylink guy on his way back to his van with my parcel. I just managed to catch him.

If I didn't know better, I'd say they were paid per delivery attempt not per delivery. Why else ignore a large metal ring and knock gently?

/rant over
24/08/07 @ 12:05
Comment from fred blogs
im a hdnl employee,i know what some of you think of us but were not all like that as i was a driver and i hate carding people i started work at 5 30am and got home at 7pm or later some times i got to know my customers and try to find out where i could leave a parcel if not in i did my best for the customer but i did have a bad area that i could not leave anything and the customers understood i tried loads of houses before carding them, at end of route i would see where i carded and go back through the route on way back to depot and try them again and they appreciated it
24/08/07 @ 20:24
Comment from dawn
response to goscrewyourself.

the catalogues were delivered after the total mess hdn made of the wrong delivery of catalogues to me was sorted out.

i sent my manifest in for payment for the job done ...12 phone calls and 2 letters later i am still waiting to be paid.

i am seriously thinking of taking it to the small claims court just out of principle...hdn is the worst company i have ever dealt with.
29/08/07 @ 09:29
Comment from J S
HDNL - cant give you a time, cant give you a saturday, cant tell you when the local depot is open, or barely where it is! can't do much really apart from be generally unhelpful. Ah well - BT are trying to deliver something to me from them - I have no idea what it is, as they havent advised me, so I'm leaving them now as they're about as incompetent as HDNL. Bye bye! Nice knowing you both!
29/08/07 @ 22:39
Comment from J S
HDNL - cant give you a time, cant give you a saturday, cant tell you when the local depot is open, or barely where it is! can't do much really apart from be generally unhelpful. Ah well - BT are trying to deliver something to me from them - I have no idea what it is, as they havent advised me, so I'm leaving them now as they're about as incompetent as HDNL. When i aske dif HDNL could do a staurday as their website proudly claims they do, or even let me pick up my mystery gift on saturday, this depended on 'people wanting to do overtime' - wow - great news for the customer! Bye bye! Nice knowing you both! Putting hte customer LAST
29/08/07 @ 22:42
Comment from J S
HDNL - cant give you a time, cant give you a saturday, cant tell you when the local depot is open, or barely where it is! can't do much really apart from be generally unhelpful. Ah well - BT are trying to deliver something to me from them - I have no idea what it is, as they havent advised me, so I'm leaving them now as they're about as incompetent as HDNL. When i aske dif HDNL could do a staurday as their website proudly claims they do, or even let me pick up my mystery gift on saturday, this depended on 'people wanting to do overtime' - wow - great news for the customer! Bye bye! Nice knowing you both! Putting the customer LAST
29/08/07 @ 22:45
Comment from J S
HDNL - cant give you a time, cant give you a saturday, cant tell you when the local depot is open, or barely where it is! can't do much really apart from be generally unhelpful. Ah well - BT are trying to deliver something to me from them - I have no idea what it is, as they havent advised me, so I'm leaving them now as they're about as incompetent as HDNL. When i aske dif HDNL could do a staurday as their website proudly claims they do, or even let me pick up my mystery gift on saturday, this depended on 'people wanting to do overtime' - wow - great news for the customer! Bye bye! Nice knowing you both! Putting the customer LAST
29/08/07 @ 22:49
Comment from Liam Calland
HDNL are truly awful. I work at a radio station in the centre of Bradford and have had dozens of delivery's from Amazon to my work address. Yet the first time HDNL are the carrier, they can't find the address after going out 3 times to try and locate the address!!!!!

Another item I ordered on Amazon which was dispatched days after the HDNL item has just been delivered via TNT. Yet I am still waiting for the HDNL delivery.

I have just sent a complaint off to Amazon and mentioned all the complaint on this site about HDNL.

What really annoyed me is on the tracking page it said "CARD LEFT" and right next to that it said "DRIVER COULDN'T LOCATE ADDRESS" How can they leave card if they can't find the building?!!!
30/08/07 @ 14:04
Comment from Liam Calland
HDNL are truly awful. I work at a radio station in the centre of Bradford and have had dozens of delivery's from Amazon to my work address. Yet the first time HDNL are the carrier, they can't find the address after going out 3 times to try and locate the address!!!!!

Another item I ordered on Amazon which was dispatched days after the HDNL item has just been delivered via TNT. Yet I am still waiting for the HDNL delivery.

I have just sent a complaint off to Amazon and mentioned all the complaint on this site about HDNL.

What really annoyed me is on the tracking page it said "CARD LEFT" and right next to that it said "DRIVER COULDN'T LOCATE ADDRESS" How can they leave card if they can't find the building?!!!
30/08/07 @ 14:07
Comment from Emily
HDN where supposed to deliver my Topshop order to my place of work which has a 24-hr manned security hut at the gate who are always happy to sign for parcels. However they're tracking page claims they couldn't deliver so left a card - absolute nonsense!! To leave a card it would either have had to have been at the security hut or at reception and both are manned 24 hours for security purposes. It's impossible that they arrived but couldn't deliver; it's clear that they haven't been anywhere near my work. How can they blatently lie like this???
30/08/07 @ 16:23
Comment from James
don't you people read whats in these posts ? don't order from amazon !!!!!! i got a letter saying i had won 615k euros do i try and claim it ??? no because i know its a load of crap , if you aint happy with the supplier or delivery company go elsewhere , amazon aint the be all and end all for gods sake give me strength lol
30/08/07 @ 20:01
Comment from James
don't you people read whats in these posts ? don't order from amazon !!!!!! i got a letter saying i had won 615k euros do i try and claim it ??? no because i know its a load of crap , if you aint happy with the supplier or delivery company go elsewhere , amazon aint the be all and end all for gods sake give me strength , or pay extra if your so concerned about receiving your goods .
30/08/07 @ 20:06
Comment from James
don't you people read whats in these posts ? don't order from amazon !!!!!! i got a letter saying i had won 615k euros do i try and claim it ??? no because i know its a load of crap , if you aint happy with the supplier or delivery company go elsewhere , amazon aint the be all and end all for gods sake give me strength , or pay extra if your so concerned about receiving your goods .
30/08/07 @ 20:09
Comment from James
don't you people read whats in these posts ? don't order from amazon !!!!!! i got a letter saying i had won 615k euros do i try and claim it ??? no because i know its a load of crap , if you aint happy with the supplier or delivery company go elsewhere , amazon aint the be all and end all for gods sake give me strength , or pay extra if your so concerned about receiving your goods , and stop moaning about things that really mean jack shit in this life .
30/08/07 @ 20:14
Comment from James
and theres silly me thinking we live in a free country with free speech ha what a joke may as well be in america
30/08/07 @ 20:16
Comment from james
reply to emily , topshop !! havnt they got shops in every town and city ?? or do you live and work in the countryside ? i know we all have busy lives these days , but some people just use that as an excuse for being lazy :)
30/08/07 @ 20:30
Comment from james
must admit though since ive been working for them i have a strange craving for bananas lol
30/08/07 @ 20:36
Comment from Goldilocks
I am so relieved that I am not the only one who thinks that home delivery network is the worst delivery company ever. They tried delivering a parcel from Holland to me on Friday, I wasn't home, so they left a card saying they would try again on Tuesday morning (Monday was a Bank Holiday). I was home til 11 am, but nothing. So I rung them, specifically told them I would be in til 10 am or to try my neighbours. Got home Wednesday, no parcel and no card. Rung again, for some mysterious reason it was held back at the depot. They claim they have a depot where I live, but they wouldn't give me the address or phone number. So left instructions again that I would be home til 10 am and otherwise try my neighbours. If the depot is in my town, how hard is it to get to my house before 10 am? Got home Thursday night and there was a card that they tried my neighbours, but no-one in. Rung again and I was told the depot will get in touch within 24hrs but they are probably not open on a Saturday. And all next week I am at work at 7 am. how can people who work ever get a parcel delivered from them. You try to help them by giving them alternatives, but they rather do it the difficult way and then make out it's your fault for not being in. What am I supposed to do, take a day off so those incompetent people can deliver a parcel???
30/08/07 @ 23:00
Comment from Goldilocks
Oh and for you drivers saying that it's your own fault if you order something but you're not in. Firstly sometimes people send you gifts like in my case it was a surprise goodie box from home. So how can I plan that? And I shouldn't have to take a day off to have a parcel delivered. Secondly my boyfriend buys and sells a lot through ebay and we never have any probs with royal mail or other delivery services because they offer good alternatives for when you're not in. If it's Royal Mail I can go to their depot next day or on a Saturday (oh shock and horror a Saturday, surely you are not supposed to be able to pick a parcel up or have it delivered on Saturday that must be against HDN policy) and pick up my parcel.
30/08/07 @ 23:41
Comment from Ria
I thought it was me just having a bad day. I stayed in all day yesterday waiting for my order via HDN. I wasn't even given a time slot, all that was said it would be delivierd before 6pm. Of course no delivery. When i tracked my order it said they had tried to deliver twice and a card had beeb left, hmmm no card and I was in all day waiting for my doorbell to ring. Now they're saying today, Why do I feel its not going to happen!
31/08/07 @ 14:24
Comment from Jamie
Oh boy is it really that bad!!? You know I read these complaints and shake my head in disbelief. I’ve been a delivery driver for this company for many many years and I can tell you that’s its half the company’s fault and half the clients fault to whether a parcel get to its final place of destination or not… Firstly, when ordering and typing in or saying the address please make sure it is the FULL and CORRECT address with the CORRECT POSTCODE as you will be surprised at the comments I receive from the clients when we finally get the correct address, for example: A road with numbers from 1 to say 100 and you put a house name on the address but hey! What do you know?? you’ve not got the house name anywhere to be seen on your property or its covered up and oh yeah you’ve put a name instead of a number, how very helpful and lets not forget that when we do finally find you you say “well the post man know where I live” yes that’s right and now so do I… Let’s try this example… When the client is not at home we should leave a card saying what day/time who it’s from and where it’s left if able to, but if we’re not able to leave the parcel then you should have enough information on the card to think (that day) (and PLEASE not the 2nd day of trying as you are wasting our day as well as your day) now should I ring to have it redirected or as there seems to be a time I know he will be around in this area somewhere in that time on the card (now I know I may be the only one putting the time on the card and I hope very much that I’m not the only one with the sense to do it) so I’ll stay in if able to and if not I will leave a not on the door saying where its safe to leave it.. But alas no the amount of you people who either forget or leave it too late is beyond me and so this I point the finger for blame to you… Please remember we are not all bad, we like you are here to do a job so try and make it a bit easy for us as well as you and hopefully we will both get a better service…
31/08/07 @ 21:10
Comment from dawn
hdn advertise for self employed couriers to deliver their catalogues.

what they fail to say is that when you have delivered the catalogues and ask for payment they will completly ignore you and hope you will get tired of trying to get the money they owe you.

i am on my 14th attempt to get paid for a job i did for them months ago.....DO NOT TOUCH THIS COMPANY WITH A BARGE POLE.....it makes me wonder just who was paid for the job i did..?????
03/09/07 @ 10:47
Comment from Stuart
Top marks to Parceline. I had a phone call from the delivery driver to tell me he was a couple of minutes away and to confirm exactly where I was. The call seemed to have been routed through their head office somehow as the Caller ID wasn't a mobile number. See, it can be done well, you just have to put some effort in to it.
03/09/07 @ 11:33
Comment from james
sorry to hear you havnt been paid dawn ,but that doesnt suprise me with this company there always cocking the wages up , at least you havnt got to scan them though , by the way leave them in a secure place not the doorstep as we all do lol
04/09/07 @ 01:23
Comment from james
a driver can earn 150+ for a sat and 200+ easy for a sun on cats hence couriers
04/09/07 @ 01:27
Comment from james
i worked for them 27 years as a driver , ive seen drivers with 1600 on top for 1 weeks pay , were not all thickos lol but any questions fire away
04/09/07 @ 01:38
Comment from Richard
Hey, you lot think HDN are bad, try City Link. The last time they delivered to my house the driver punched my wife in the face and kicked her legs. Her mistake was asking to look at the parcel before she signed for it as it looked damaged, the driver claimed she snatched it out of his hand. She slammed the door in his face and found that he had left his clip board in the hall way, this delayed him enough that the police were able to arrive in time to arrest him. We've never ever had an apology from either the driver or City Link. So next time HDN let you down, be grateful it isn't City Link. Oh and yes we have had delivery's made to us from HDN and there has never been any problems.
04/09/07 @ 13:22
Comment from marc leighton
absolutely rubbish service...twice now ive been told my parcel is coming and they have not delivered. phone to confirm an exact day and took day off work and still they still never turned up....ring up next day and they tell me my parcel is sitting n depot at newhaven...not even an apology...i fail to see how this company can survive when so many complaints...obviously they are not a 'customer aware' company
05/09/07 @ 17:47
Comment from marc leighton
absolutely rubbish service...twice now ive been told my parcel is coming and they have not delivered. phone to confirm an exact day and took day off work and still they still never turned up....ring up next day and they tell me my parcel is sitting n depot at newhaven...not even an apology...i fail to see how this company can survive when so many complaints...obviously they are not a 'customer aware' company
05/09/07 @ 17:51
Comment from Alan Walters
They tried to deliver my Amazon parcel today while I was at work.

I rang the depot and said i wouldn't be in tomorrow either so don't bother trying to deliver it.

Their website says they deliver on Saturdays, so i says 'can i have it on Saturday?'

'We don't deliver on Saturdays' say's them.

Ermm??What??

The sad thing is I have another Amazon order being dispathced today, and guess who it's to be delivered by.........noooooooo!!
05/09/07 @ 18:19
Comment from james
they do deliver saturdays but you would pay extra , its tesco , argos and flowers from m&s , interflora etc , maybe other companies now but you would have to pay extra for saturday delivery they only have about 5 drivers covering around 50 routes
06/09/07 @ 00:07
Comment from james
in reality people expect to pay peanuts and expect a top notch service ??? well im afraid in this day and age of dog eat dog it doesnt work that way you get what you pay for im afraid
06/09/07 @ 00:17
Comment from Steve Turnbull
Oh my god what a load of incompetent fools. I work ona business park and the first time HDN tried to deliver my Amazon order said "wrong address" even though i've been using this for more than 4 years without any problem. The second time they delivered they said "no one home" its a business park! i even left my number but no one called! i then spoke to Amazon and HDN who said they would deliver it the next day (3rd attempt) but guess what it was left at the depot and not sent out for delivery ho hum. They said they left a card and the item is in the depot about 15 miles from where I work GREAT! so i've cancelled the order and it's being sent back to Amazon. I also told amazon to put a note on my account saying not to send anything to me using this network again. They said they have done it but I won't be ordering anything from Amazon until I know for sure. Next time i decided to buy something from Amazon i'll contact them first to make sure its not sent using HDN.
06/09/07 @ 09:52
Comment from james
reply to steve , these drivers have a set target to achieve , if its a local route your drop rate could be anything from 20-25 parcels per hour , which gives the driver 2.5-3 minutes per drop , now think the driver is in joe bloggs street , he has 3 minutes to drive to your business park find somewhere to park find your business make the delivery and get tohis next drop all in 3 minutes , thats why drivers aint to keen on delivering to business parks :(
07/09/07 @ 10:10
Comment from james
thats why you see drivers racing around like madmen , sometimes you can make time up with multiple drops but their rare ,if a driver took an extra minute per delivery say on a 200 target that would add 3.2 hours to his working day which he doesnt get paid for , would you work 3 hours for nothing ??
07/09/07 @ 10:18
Comment from Annoyed Frustrated and Confused
I have ordered a dress of laredoute four times and always had the money returned to my account after 2 weeks.I was a bit confused and called them out on it, according to them it seems the delivery never left the depot.
On this occassion I just got carded , which is an improvement, however the card had no tracking number and the wrong phone number and it was from HDN suddenly it becomes clear, the nightmare begins. In searching for their number, I found this site a decided to call them before i read through the whole site, well all your comments are true. I cannot believe the dress could not have been left with my neighbour who is always in, cannot be redelivered tommorow which is Saturday, can not be rediredted to my workplace as was done by interlink express when i purchased a dress from warehouse.
The mind boggles at the archaic way in which things are done. Laredoute gave me a 14day delivery time which meant I could not sit at home and wait; unfeasible. HDN's depot is 15 miles from where I live, on the outskirts of Birmingham.
I find this quite frustrating, the same drivers spewing their rants would be thr first to complain about bad service from banks, supermarkets etc. I do not understand why we as people do not try to do our jobs to the best of our abilities and exceed customers expectations, i bet we all work in a capacity that impacts on other people, if only we could pay good service forward. Based on the information I have got from this site, I will always enquire as to the delivery service to be used before I pay for anything.
I feel so disheartened at the we as customers are treated. Since there seems to be a retraction in consumer spending, mayybe this would act as a catalyst to ensure businesses see excellent customer service as a competitive advantage.
07/09/07 @ 19:35
Comment from james
ive had bad service from banks , gas and electric suppliers , shops in general , in fact you name it , i usually go elsewhere , doesnt that make sense ? what i dont do is moan on about the poor standard of service i'm getting because i'm a v.i.p who derserves better service , get a grip lol sorry folks just like winding you all up :)
08/09/07 @ 00:07
Comment from John
I used to work for these jokers, HDN,in management capacity, and have sympathy with both customers and drivers alike.

You may find the below helpful!

Home Delivery Network Ltd , Heathfield Industrial Estate , DEVON , TQ12 6TN , 01626 832545
Home Delivery Network The , Hitchin , HERTFORDSHIRE , SG5 1RT , 01462 421336
Home Delivery Network , Eastleigh , HAMPSHIRE , SO50 4NG , 023 8061 9866
Home Deliver Network Ltd , Lynx Trading Estate , SOMERSET , BA20 2NZ , 01935 432924
Home Delivery Network , Sunderland , TYNE AND WEAR , SR2 8QS , 0191-564 0924
Home Delivery Network , Dafen , DYFED , SA14 8QW , 01554 777877
Home Delivery Network , Warwick , WARWICKSHIRE , CV34 6QP , 01926 311404
Home Delivery Network , Rochdale , LANCASHIRE , OL11 3JR , 01706 352537
Home Delivery Network , Eastleigh , HAMPSHIRE , SO50 4NT , 023 8061 8398
Home Delivery Network , Yate , AVON , BS37 5QZ , 01454 316101
Home Delivery Network , Glenrothes , FIFE , KY6 2RU , 01592 773297
Home Delivery Network , Stoke On Trent , STAFFORDSHIRE , ST6 4PB , 01782 836071
Home Delivery Network , Park Royal , LONDON , NW10 7UA , 020 8961 8774
Home Delivery Network , Bolton , LANCASHIRE , BL3 6AX , 0870-154 5414
Home Delivery Network , Fareham , HAMPSHIRE , PO15 5ST , 01489 581544
Home Delivery Network , Lenton Lane Industrial Estate , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE , NG7 2TG , 0115-986 0431
Home Delivery Network , Gateshead , TYNE AND WEAR , NE10 0ES , 0191-495 2211
Home Delivery Network , Oldbury , WEST MIDLANDS , B69 3EX , 0121-552 5541
Home Delivery Network , East Kilbride , LANARKSHIRE , G75 0YA , 01355 233085
Home Delivery Network Ltd , Newbridge , MIDLOTHIAN , EH28 8LD , 0131-333 3651
Home Delivery Network Ltd , Morley , WEST YORKSHIRE , LS27 0BN , 0113-253 8226
Home Delivery Network Ltd , Basildon , ESSEX , SS14 3DT , 01268 286666
Home Delivery Network Ltd , Mitcham , SURREY , CR4 4HX , 020 8685 1032

09/09/07 @ 16:57
Comment from Ade
Spot on John, I also had the mis-fortune to work for this lot as a manager, I also have the utmost sympathy for all the customers and those that work there, apart from a core of senior managers who all they can do is blame everyone else when they should take a long hard look at themselves, but then I suppose they are the clever ones because they are still getting their fat salaries etc. what ever happened to that saying ''every dog has his day'' you never know John we may meet them again.
09/09/07 @ 18:38
Comment from Rob Godfrey
Like others, I’ve just received a card telling my my delivery was missed. I heard the card come through the door but nobody knocked or rang the bell. The card has no parcel/tracking number and nothing to make me think the driver didn’t just pre-prepare 30 cards last night and whiz through his schedule in time for an early finish.
I’ve mailed the MD, customer services and the Operations Director (thanks to brendon grimshaw at the start of this forum for the first two email addresses).
When I called them they took the address details then told me who the parcel was for (which is a breach of the data protection act) then told me they couldn’t discuss delivery with me because I wasn’t the recipient and they were limited by ‘data protection’.
I’m waiting for a response from them...
11/09/07 @ 14:29
Comment from SarahB
My company is a mail order retailer and we use HDNL as our primary courier in the UK - after reading the above comments I would like to let you know of our experience with them. We use their 2 day service which means for example parcels despatched on Monday are attempted for delivery on Wednesday and Thursday (we send our customers an email with the tracking details).

*** Over 90% of parcels are delivered within the first 2 delivery days primarily to the customer and often to a neighbour. *** (We do not allow parcels to be left without a signature otherwise I believe this figure would be higher. Not as bad as you thought are they ;-)

If a parcel has not been delivered 2 or 3 days after that we call the customer to help them to arrange re-delivery or redirection to an address in the local area - details are passed direct to the depot using their website and generally delivery is actioned as arranged without any problems.

However, if the customer calls the number on the card the response can be less than helpful. This is a bureau employed by HDNL to take the calls and allow the depots to do their job of actually delivering parcels however it seems many of the people working there need extra training in "customer service".

My advice to you as a customer is if you are having delivery issues call your supplier and get them to message the depot. If you want to collect we send your phone number to the depot, they get your parcel ready and then they call you with directions - it works!
11/09/07 @ 19:25
Comment from steve
Gotta admire James for defending his corner so gallantly, management would surely be proud. However I too am a delivery driver (parcelforce) and while James does raise a few valid points re.customer mentality he has to admit HDN are pretty poor on the admin side. I too have just waited in all day for my delivery from BT via HDN! Guess what...........no show! Boo....hiss. BT worse than useless gave me incorrect tracking no. and incorrect tel. no for HDN rhen stopped answering my calls full stop. So next stop HDN website for contact no. Alas to no avail no contact details. Now we don't live on a business park or in a block of flats, my house is clearly signed with its name. Parcelforce, city link, ANC, nightfreight and UPS have all delivered fairly recently with success but HDN man just couldn't manage it. James I think you need to move with the times, home shopping is what most shops want these days, no shops to maintain and staff etc.....A good deal of shops don't carry stock they are merely showrooms that offer free home delivery to the door, then this is where the expertise of the likes of you and I comes in. Also remember if a driver doesn't spend the early days of his new route learning where houses are he will never make it. I use all things available to me like maps, local knowledge, other drivers, but above all else my common sense. HDN have proven to be a let down the first time I have had any experience of using them. Doesn't bode well does it?
11/09/07 @ 20:16
Comment from James
yes Steve , you to have a valid point , i think you will find if the routes are covered by the usual driver there isnt a problem , its when drivers are off when the problems occur through unfamiliar drivers who dont know the area or agency drivers , about 95% of drivers deliver everything they have and the few that dont, bring at most 5 parcels back , like you say we use all means at our disposal to locate properties .Ive asked at post offices even police stations before , but as you point out admin and poor management let the side down alas ,i no longer work for them i took voluntary redundancy after 27 years
12/09/07 @ 10:32
Comment from James
regarding leaving calling cards , ive lost count of how many times the depot ran out of them , which means obviously the driver has none , ive had to buy a little notepad on numerous occasions to write delivery details on for customers all this just adds time to your day , but i would imagine most drivers dont , once again poor management .
12/09/07 @ 10:49
Comment from matthew
dear digruntled, i too work for hdnl and yes it is true we may misplace the odd parcel, but it is just that, an odd parcel, and only for a few days. On my route alone a quiet week for me is around 900 parcels and as amazon makes up about 2% of what leaves our depot, well misplacing the odd one isn't that bad, could be worse you could use Royal Mail (what was it 14 million losses in one year). Yes, I do agree with John, if you want it be in to receive it. YOU ARE NOT OUR ONLY CUSTOMERS. If you can't be in,have it delivered to your place of work, but we only go to the reception. It isn't hard people, use you brains that's what they were given to you for. Your beloved hdnl driver xx
12/09/07 @ 18:51
Comment from mark andrews
Aggree with all the bad things said about HOME DELIVERY NETWORK above. I purchased an item from DABS and paid a premium for next day delivery - guess what, HOME DELIVERY NETWORK failed to deliver the item as the "Driver ran out of time" !
They are very difficult to contact, and their customer service is NIL. I personally will not be buying anything else from DABS or anyone else that uses HOME DELIVERY NETWORK as their delivery service - I would advise no one else to either for your own sake - they are a cpmplete joke.
13/09/07 @ 06:53
Comment from Neil
I ended up at this website following two alleged "failed" deliveries (both alleged times of delivery I was in my flat) and a frustrating phonecall. Every single courier company I've dealt with is more than happy for you to collect the parcel from the depot - the same day in the case of Parcelforce.

I tried lying (yes, the depot have called me to say my parcel is ready for collection - just give me the address please!), being nice, being honest (I just want my parcel, it's a gift for someone!) but nothing.

In the end I found the address of the Crawley depot, turned up and asked for my parcel. The staff there were really helpful; I was in and out in under 15 minutes.

My advice would be to ring their customer service number, register your wish to collect the parcel, then go look for the depot address and go there the next day. That way, your request for pickup is logged on the system.

My dad used to deliver for Group 4, so I have the utmost sympathy for the delivery drivers who are often given very demanding routes on strict timescales, and on that basis, I can understand (but not condone) drivers who simply "card" people and don't ring. Having said that, I think a bit more customer service on HDNL's part would go a LONG way.
13/09/07 @ 11:13
Comment from Julia
Also had bad time with home delivery network but have a direct number to thier cardiff office in lamby way 02920779779
13/09/07 @ 17:05
Comment from SarahB
Guys, it seems to me that BT and Dabs (whoever they are) are guilty of not providing correct information to allow their customers to track their parcels - a number of people have reported incorrect tracking numbers being given. Don't harrass HDNL complain to your retailer they are often the ones at fault. If BT give you a 5-day window for delivery it's because they don't know when they will send it not because HDNL don't know when they will deliver it!!

Ring your retailer not the call card bureau and make them work for you - my comany does this and it works for us over 99% of the time.
13/09/07 @ 23:27
Comment from Bman
In the words of Johnathan Higgins from Magnum PI "OH MY GOD"

I have just been having a little trouble with the idiots of HDNL and during searching for their website I stumbled across this site. I'm shocked, but not surprised to read all these stories. I guess all I can do is add to this HDNL nightmare thread.

I too have been having problems. I waited in all day yesterday after noting my parcel was out for delivery. The day ends, I hear nothing. I check their website and find they attempted to deliver the item and have carded me. Not quite sure where they delivered it to or who they carded. But I guess their not sure either.

I feel it's a little unfair to just moan about them and not offer solutions to help them achieve their everyday basic targets;

1) Perhaps they could send the drivers on a learn direct course on basic reading. Then they would be able to read the delivery addresses.


2) Maybe provide the drivers with doors that open on their vans, so they can get out and deliver parcels.

3) Provide the drivers with maps, so they can find the locations.

4) Explain to the drivers that they are actually employed to deliver parcels and not just drive to the Burger King driver thru and back.

5) Employ a manager to run the depot and organise the drivers?

6) Contract out deliveries to more competent couriers, example.. The Chuckle Brothers, Dumb and Dumber etc..

Maybe they could put these ideas forward during their next operational planning meeting?

I'm sure other couriers might find these suggestions an insult, but maybe the Home Delivery Network need some help and guidance.

Having worked for a large mail order retailer, I can tell you it's most likely that Amazon are tied into a fixed term contract for a number of years and I'm sure with the number of complaints they receive, HDNL won't have their contract renewed when the time comes.

Anyway lets hope my parcel get delivered today.
14/09/07 @ 12:57
Comment from Bman
In the words of Johnathan Higgins from Magnum PI "OH MY GOD" I have just been having a little trouble with the idiots of HDNL and during searching for their website I stumbled across this site. I'm shocked, but not surprised to read all these stories. I guess all I can do is add to this HDNL nightmare thread. I too have been having problems. I waited in all day yesterday after noting my parcel was out for delivery. The day ends, I hear nothing. I check their website and find they attempted to deliver the item and have carded me. Not quite sure where they delivered it to or who they carded. But I guess their not sure either. I feel it's a little unfair to just moan about them and not offer solutions to help them achieve their everyday basic targets; 1) Perhaps they could send the drivers on a learn direct course on basic reading. Then they would be able to read the delivery addresses. 2) Maybe provide the drivers with doors that open on their vans, so they can get out and deliver parcels. 3) Provide the drivers with maps, so they can find the locations. 4) Explain to the drivers that they are actually employed to deliver parcels and not just drive to the Burger King driver thru and back. 5) Employ a manager to run the depot and organise the drivers? 6) Contract out deliveries to more competent couriers, example.. The Chuckle Brothers, Dumb and Dumber etc.. Maybe they could put these ideas forward during their next operational planning meeting? I'm sure other couriers might find these suggestions an insult, but maybe the Home Delivery Network need some help and guidance. Having worked for a large mail order retailer, I can tell you it's most likely that Amazon are tied into a fixed term contract for a number of years and I'm sure with the number of complaints they receive, HDNL won't have their contract renewed when the time comes. Anyway lets hope my parcel get delivered today.
14/09/07 @ 13:01
Comment from Elmo
I'd hate to work in their warehouse, think about how many parcels get returned each day!

I don't know how many parcels each van takes, but it must be something like 100 taken and 99 returned.

14/09/07 @ 13:10
Comment from Bman
Oh well, yet another day wasted hanging around the house, waiting eagerly for my Amazon order.

It's now 3pm and I guess the driver is now on his way back to the depot to return all his parcels.

Having just read the comments from HDNL staff it's pretty clear where we stand. They simply just don't care.
14/09/07 @ 15:03
Comment from Ben
I've just had an absolute shocker with HDNL. I spent a faily large amount of money on amazon and stupidly opted for the free delivery service provided by HDNL. I would urge anyone else in the same position not to. They are simply awful. I was trying to change the delivery address of my package as i wouldn't be home to sign for it, and that proved utterly beyond their means. My conversations with them made me so angry my eyes bled. At one stage they told me that despite being able to deliver to EC1 postcodes, they were unable to deliver to EC4 postcodes, for no discernable reason. In the end i cancelled my order and re-ordered using the express delivery. To their credit, Amazon did not charge me for the second delivery. So thanks for that. But the moral of the story, is NEVER USE HDNL.
14/09/07 @ 15:40
Comment from Bman

HOME DELIVERY NITWITS/NUMPTIES LTD UPDATE

Well checked the tracking information again and looks like they tried to deliver my parcel again today, while I was in. Which makes two failed attempts, but still no card.

It's unbelievable how crap a courier can be and it's across the whole company from what I've read so far.

I'm racking my brain trying to think what more I could do to get hold of my parcel. Maybe I should of got up early this morning, waited outside the depot, followed the van, forced him off the road, pulled the driver from his seat, dragged him into the lay-by that he spends his day sleeping in, held him at gun point and snatched my parcel off him? haha I bet van would be empty. Maybe all the parcels are in the warehouse collecting dust.

So the advice I hear from everyone is; HDNL AVOID


14/09/07 @ 17:08
Comment from Wendy Jones
HDNL has dumped my parcel from 5 times at a house down the road from myself. The latest one (I know I should have chosen Express delivery as Parcelforce have no problem finding me) has completely disappeared. The tracking number says that it has been delivered without electronic signature, and it isn't at the usual dumping ground so I don't know where it is now!! Like so many of you I was lost as to how to contact them, so was very glad I found this site. I am trying to ring them now and all their operators are busy, no surprise there really if this is the service! I am at home all day due to having a baby and when I do venture out!, my husband works from home so there is someone here all the time. Success just got through to an operator and they have told me the depot will contact me to say where the parcel is. Just out of curiosity is it worth trying to email one of the addresses at the top of this posting will I get an answer? I will definately be writing a letter to the address on the website, but wonder if the email might be worth a go too!
14/09/07 @ 17:53
Comment from Bman
I can't express how rubbish I think they are. they have claimed two days running they tried to deliver and have carded me, when I've been home all the time.

If I ever have the pleasure to meet a sales rep for HDNL trying to sell my company their service I'm really going to have some fun with them.

They are so poor it's almost unreal.
14/09/07 @ 18:56
Comment from snitch


Elaine.Boyle@hdnl co uk works drop her a line, I'm sure she will be delighted to hear from you
14/09/07 @ 19:14
Comment from HOME DELIVERY NIGHTMARE
Home Delivery Network Limited is the UK’s largest undedicated home delivery and collection service.

Delivering to just 2 residential postcodes throughout the country, a nationwide nightmare of 62 parcel depots and 4 Two-Man black hole locations, handles items of all shapes and sizes - from fresh flowers to bulky home furniture. But please don't pass us flowers because they will be dead by the time they get there.

We always put our customers first and their customers last.

14/09/07 @ 21:15
Comment from are you being served
keep up the good work hdnl lol
14/09/07 @ 22:45
Comment from The truth
Formerly known as Blue Arrow, the Home Delivery Service gave itself a makeover when it’s appalling reputation made it unfeasible to continue. With the leasing of new vans and the issuing of green sweatshirts to it’s drivers HDN hoped to put the past behind them. Unfortunately the same knuckle-dragging morons are at the customer end of the operation collecting and distributing the parcels – and since the company affiliated itself with Littlewoods and began to compete in the marketplace the drivers are not happy with the extra work load. Their answer is to sabotage deliveries and make sure nobody uses them twice. Lower management would seem to be complicit in this by ignoring complaints and claims and turning a blind eye to the distress caused to an unsuspecting public.

I run a small mail order business and have used a reputable courier firm for some years but was tempted by HDN’s low prices to make what turned out to be a false economy . From my first consignment of parcels half where not delivered and the rest where delivered to the wrong addresses. I have independent evidence that labels were removed or changed and that this was a malicious act by the collection driver after he was reprimanded for behaving in an offensive and misogynistic manner to a member of my staff.

There is no redress with HDN, no way to claim and emails are ignored, there is no business address or contact number openly available.

HDN will continue as long as you let them (only to reappear with different sweatshirts no doubt) so stick with a reputable established firm.

17/09/07 @ 11:34
Comment from another driver
In reply to the truth it was White Arrow that intergrated with Business Express to Form Home Delivery Network.
17/09/07 @ 12:15
Comment from another driver
Sorry, should read Reality Express, they were formally known as White Arrow, who probably did just change their name to protect themselves.
17/09/07 @ 12:18
Comment from B-man

B-man never did get his parcel.

He re-ordered his items and asked for the chuckle brothers to deliver instead, that way he had a fighting chance or getting his order.

But what do we expect, you become a Home Delivery Network delivery driver because you're not capable of doing anything else, even shelf filling is too complex. Proven fact!

It's been fun.




17/09/07 @ 15:23
Comment from Paula
Hi if anyone is interested I have address and phone number for HDNL Wrexham.

HDNL
Rhosddu Industrial Estate
Rhosrobin
Wrexham LL11 4YL

Phone: 01978 291559
19/09/07 @ 09:37
Comment from are you being served
when a company continually increases the employees workload without increasing wages , and your job is constantly on the line due to warnings for the slightest thing ie ; small scratch or dent on works van , the workforces incentive to do a good job somewhat diminishes ,i think you would find the same would happen in any organisation .
19/09/07 @ 10:40
Comment from are you being served
it ain't the drivers who are retards , its people who write posts about things that they know little of .
19/09/07 @ 10:43
Comment from sidz
Now for my whinge.
If you don't get an answer using the door bell, then knock!
I waited all this morning for my delivery, only to find out that they had already been. The battery in the door bell button had gone flat.
You would think the driver, after so many deliveries, would understand the concept of knocking on a door if they don't get a response from a door bell. Better they get the item delivered than piss off a person who has taken the day off work to get their parcel. Now i have to make arrangements for someone to be home tomorrow to get my delivery.
Not a happy camper!
19/09/07 @ 11:45
Comment from are you being served
yeah true , i always used to knock a few times if i didnt hear the doorbell working , did you put a note on it like some people do to say its not working ? but some drivers are in too mad a rush to wait im afraid, lets hope your delivery arrives tomorrow ok
19/09/07 @ 11:56
Comment from Sasha
Newhaven Depot East Sussex telephone number, staff are very friendly better than the CC staff

01273 516181
19/09/07 @ 12:57
Comment from sidz
Happy update to my whinge from above. Either the driver had a bit of time left over at the end of the day, or customer service mentioned the cry i had at them over the phone, but at 4.30pm, my parcel was delivered. Which is fantastic, because it was a laptop i am now using.

I really needed to vent this morning, and now i have had a positive outcome for my issue.
19/09/07 @ 20:41
Comment from Wendy Jones
After Fridays disaster with HDNL no parcel has turned up. Despite calling their so called customer service and getting the company I ordered from to put a query through. Does anyone know the legal position regarding paying for these items. I don't see why I should have to pay for them if I haven't received them, can anyone shed any light on the matter??
19/09/07 @ 21:56
Comment from Wendy Jones
After Fridays disaster with HDNL no parcel has turned up. Despite calling their so called customer service and getting the company I ordered from to put a query through. Does anyone know the legal position regarding paying for these items. I don't see why I should have to pay for them if I haven't received them, can anyone shed any light on the matter??
19/09/07 @ 22:01
Comment from Katie Costelloe
oh my god cannot believe their sevice the only way i got their number is through this site my tracker says they have tried to deliver 3 times and left a card each times Bull S**T and on their fourth attempt they have put delivered i have never recieved my parcel
20/09/07 @ 15:52
Comment from John
Amazon just lost another customer with me. I will never ever buy in Amazon again. Two weeks waiting and HDNL say tried deliver the item four times, but I have not received any card. I went to the depot and what a waste of time, they said they cannot find the parcel but the funny thing is that even if they find it they told me they won't deliver it because they already tried four times !!!!! This does not make sense. I had enough, I am asking for a refund.
20/09/07 @ 23:11
Comment from gem
I would strongly recommend NOT using Home Delivery Network. I have just lost £100 becasue they failed to use any common sense. They left me 3 cards: the first said they had left my parcel by a side door to my house - they hadn't and strangley then said they would re-deliver when i rang (even though it was supposedly delivered), the second said it was with a neighbour - it wasnt and they would re-deliver it (again). Finally they told me is was at the depot and the guy i spoke to about arranging a collection was very rude to me and didnt know where the depot was. Subsequently i dont know where my parcel is or if it even existed past the point of purchase and I just lost £100. Dont be a robbed by the home delivery network.
21/09/07 @ 21:21
Comment from none
Is lying & incompetency a British trait or is it specific to this shitty business called "Home Delivery Network". I am waiting for my BT broadband package... maybe one of these days I'll get it. Is it pure coincidence that a lousy company