The National Authority for Communications Administration and Regulation (ANCOM) has sent a series of recommendations for sending parcels so that they arrive on time during the holidays.
“During the winter holidays, the volume of mail and online purchases increases significantly, which can lead to delays or damage to shipments.
To ensure that the surprises arrive on time and in perfect condition, ANCOM supports senders and recipients with a set of recommendations regarding packaging, labeling and delivery times and reminds the legal obligations of postal service providers”transmitted, on Tuesday, ANCOM, in a press release.
According to ANCOM, for correct packaging and labeling, it is necessary for the sender to consult the general conditions regarding the provision of postal services of the provider of such services, writes News.ro.
“Some suppliers provide detailed packaging guidelines for fragile goods or goods that require special handling (electronics, glass, cosmetics, etc.). It is indicated, for example, the use of suggestive labels, such as Fragil, which the supplier is obliged to recognize and respect if they correspond to the technical norms“, says ANCOM.
The authority reminds that the legislation in the field of postal services allows the supplier to check whether the shipment is properly packed and, otherwise, to refuse collection. At the same time, the postal service provider is obliged to accept the shipment if the packaging used by the sender corresponds to the standards and technical norms in force.
ANCOM also shows that “food products require increased attention, there are special transport and storage rules established, for example, by sanitary-veterinary regulations. Depending on the nature of the goods, there is even a ban on transporting them.”
“As a rule, suppliers do not accept the delivery of a parcel containing perishable products. In the case of sending a product not accepted for transport, they are not legally responsible for any damage or destruction”
According to the release, if the sender chooses to send food products, it is essential that they are not perishable and, by their nature or the way they are packaged, do not cause damage to people, the environment, the facilities used by the postal service provider or the other goods sent.
During the holidays, the large number of postal items and the adapted working hours of the couriers may affect the delivery time. Thus, to avoid inconvenience, it is recommended to send the parcels earlier than usual.
ANCOM reminds that postal service providers have clear obligations regarding delivery, which must be made to the addressee or authorized person, at the address or at a contact point, depending on the type of service.
Providers are required to attempt delivery at least once, and as a rule must inform recipients (via SMS/email) of the arrival of the shipment, especially in the case of delivery to vending machines. If the recipient is not found or does not pick up the shipment, the supplier has the obligation to keep it at a work point and advise the recipient about the method of collection.
Any dissatisfaction with the postal service should be reported to the supplier in the first instance. For problems related to products ordered online (damage, delay), users must contact the online store. ANCOM intervenes only to analyze and sanction the provider’s conduct from the perspective of audiovisual legislation.
