**I'm writing this review as a receiver of goods, not the sender**

Before posting this review I was delighted to see that Parcelforce have a collective dooyoo rating of one star. Let's keep it that way, until Dooyoo allow the nil stars option of course.

Parcelforce are probably THE courier company in the UK, teamed with Royal Mail, I always assumed it was a name to be trusted and generally you would think your items are safer getting to you by courier than standard post. Well you would have thought so.

My dealings with Parcelforce are not frequent, and for that I'm happy based on the last time I used them.

Those of you who buy and sell on Ebay, will know to protect yourself against dodgy buyers/ sellers sending your parcel with some sort of way of tracing it will help you no end when trying to solve any disputes through the ever unhelpful paypal (but that's for another time!)

I'd been looking for a new television and won myself what should have been a bargain on Ebay. The company stated that they used Parcelforce 48 hour service to deliver the items and that they would be dispatched in this way. I patiently waited and waited. Nothing, so I contacted the seller, who in fact had done their end of the deal and provided me with the tracking number they had been given by Parcelforce.

A useful tool that Parcelforce have is an online tracking system where you can type in your code and get instant progress on your parcel. My parcel said that it had been delivered and signed for on a date where there was no one at home. Also the name of the person who signed did not exist, the surname was correct but it was signed by a Mr. considering only females live in my house, that's quite an achievement.

I contacted Parcelforce via email who, to their credit replied in 24 hours. Not however, with any answers. They said they would launch and investigation and get back to me within 24 hours. This was a Friday so gave them until Monday night to call me as they stated they would, Nothing.

Tuesday morning I gave the number on the email I received a call, it went though to my local depot. I informed the lady of the investigation, and gave her my reference code.. she knew nothing about it. She said that because a few weeks had now passed it was unlikely that the driver would remember that individual item and it's probably best to contact the seller for a replacement and for them to put a claim in.

Less than five minutes later the phone goes and another lady is calling from elsewhere in Parcelforce about the conclusion to the investigation. (Coincidence??) She said they had spoken to the driver and he remembers a person coming out of the house to sign for the parcel. I explained once again that there were no Mr. anybodys at our house, to which she repleid 'oh no it was a woman.' A woman who signs her name Mr, apparently.

The thing that annoyed me is that they were not interested in finding out what had happened, just arguing with me that I was wrong and they were right. They wouldn't even entertain my argument that they may have gone to the wrong house and someone has signed for it dishonestly. Clearly we weren't getting anywhere and once again I was told to go back to the seller. Luckily I had a very understanding seller who refunded me and put a claim in against Parcelforce, I don't know what the conclusion to that was.

The thing that bothers me is that somewhere it their system someone has either messed up, by taking it to the wrong house or has been having parcels for themselves. I can't see another explanation, and Parcelforce don't want to know., They just throw their hands up and say 'wasn't my fault'. I understand people my try on the 'I didn't get my parcel' thing all the time, but if there's dishonest customers then it's possible there's dishonest staff too. I would have though it would be in their interests to properly investigate this (asking a driver and believing them doesn't count) because if they are going to have to keep upholding claims against them it's going to cost them more in the long run.

Well that's my experience of Parcel Force. Steer clear.