I
n April I ordered white eggshell paint and some other items from the B&Q website, which cost about £100 in total. My order was due to be delivered by DPD and I made sure I was home. Unfortunately, instead of delivering it to my front door, the driver threw the package over my 7ft-high front gate. I was on a call with one of my clients when I heard a loud noise.
To my horror I opened the door to see the cardboard box had ripped open and paint was plastered over my garden path, fence, gate and even up the side of my house. The box was marked “this way up” but these instructions had clearly been ignored by the driver.
It was a hot day and I was worried about the paint drying so I panicked and immediately dug out the hose from the back of the shed. I spent an hour trying to clear up the mess by hand. I then borrowed my neighbour’s jet washer and eventually managed to get rid of the paint, but this really disrupted my day. I’m self-employed and not in the habit of cancelling client calls because I have to jet wash my path.
When I looked at DPD’s proof of delivery photo, the picture was of the front of my gate with no parcel in sight.
