Is it legally ok to put "U/C" rather than "Unchecked"?

Is it legally ok to put "U/C" rather than "Unchecked" when signing for a
parcel and not making the courier wait for you to inspect the contents??

--
Lordy

Lordy wrote:
Is it legally ok to put "U/C" rather than "Unchecked" when signing for a
parcel and not making the courier wait for you to inspect the contents??


IANAL so I can't give a definitive answer on the legality or otherwise
but in a previous job I was always the first person in the office
everyday (I chose to go in early to avoid the traffic) so ended up
signing for many early deliveries and was always pulled up if I forgot
to put "UNCHECKED" on the delivery docket.

The company once had a delivery that, on unpacking, turned out to be
damaged so contacted the sender, who contacted the carrier. They
initially tried the "it was signed received in good condition" line but
when it was pointed out that they were signed "UNCHECKED" the carrier
sorted the matter out pretty quickly.

Of course that is a business situation where the carrier - and the
sender - both could potentially lose a lot of future business but I
would doubt whether signing "UNCHECKED" would be as effective for Joe
Public receiving something from Dabs, eBuyer et. al. because they would
be relying on the vendor fighting their corner for them with the carrier
(since the contract is between the vendor and the carrier).

Of course, it can certainly do no harm signing "UNCHECKED" and I always
do it.

Regards,

Parish

"Lordy" wrote in message
...
Is it legally ok to put "U/C" rather than "Unchecked" when signing for a
parcel and not making the courier wait for you to inspect the contents??

Does Unchecked have any Legal meaning? Or is it just a nicety between
courier and receiver.

Trev wrote:
"Lordy" wrote in message
...
Is it legally ok to put "U/C" rather than "Unchecked" when signing for a
parcel and not making the courier wait for you to inspect the contents??

Does Unchecked have any Legal meaning? Or is it just a nicety between
courier and receiver.



Couriers say it means nothing. The reason for people writing it is that
where you sign it says something like "Received in good condition" which
the couriers consider to be binding, i.e. they use it as an excuse to
abdicate their responsibility when they get a complaint about damaged
goods. But how many delivery drivers would wait around while you open a
package, possibly several, and inspect the contents[1]? None IME

I don't know whether there have been any court cases over this but I
would expect a court would rule, especially if the plaintiff wasn't a
business customer, that printing "Received in good condition" doesn't
remove the courier from taking reasonable care of the goods it transports.

Parish

[1] Where I used to work there was an MoD place across the road and
delivery drivers used to curse the place. Because of security procedures
they couldn't just get everything signed for at reception. If there
wasn't a name on the parcel it wouldn't be accepted, full stop, and they
had to wait while the person a parcel was addressed to was found and
came down to reception to sign for it, and they wouldn't sign until they
had opened the package and checked the contents and the delivery/packing
note. We used to see TNT trucks parked outside for anything up to an hour.

"Parish" wrote in message
...
Trev wrote:

Does Unchecked have any Legal meaning? Or is it just a nicety between
courier and receiver.

Couriers say it means nothing. The reason for people writing it is that
where you sign it says something like "Received in good condition" which
the couriers consider to be binding, i.e. they use it as an excuse to
abdicate their responsibility when they get a complaint about damaged
goods.

And it's a catch-22 situation. If the box is undamaged, but the contents
are, then the packing could be considered inadequate. Therefore, if there
is no visible damage to the box, the arguement goes that the reason for
damage to the item can only be inadequate shock protection. Having said
that, a 'drop' that results in the box landing perfectly square, even from a
great height may not result in visible damage to the carton/box, but would
have required an insane amount of shock protection within the box.

Hence, if there is the slightest mark on the box, cross out good condition,
and write box damaged. Alternatively, refuse to accept the package.

But how many delivery drivers would wait around while you open a
package, possibly several, and inspect the contents[1]? None IME

And why should they? Goes back to the arguement that if something gets
damaged in transit, yet the outside of the box is fine, then the shock
protection was inadequate.

printing "Received in good condition" doesn't
remove the courier from taking reasonable care of the goods it transports.

True, but it does make life less simple for the poor sod who's received
something damaged, in having to get the sender to resolve a claim/make a
claim etc. In some ways it's a good thing that the contract is between teh
vendor and the courier; generally the recipient has no contract with the
courier.

[1] Where I used to work there was an MoD place across the road and
delivery drivers used to curse the place. Because of security procedures
they couldn't just get everything signed for at reception.

Been there, done that. Photographic ID issued by the army to enter, once
clearance granted, then find the person that you are delivering to. Some
large companies are quite similar in that the receptionist or loading bay
folks will not accept a delivery, they will only call the person who's
package it is to come and collect it. And if they didn't come down within
five minutes, any courier will generally be on their way to the next drop...

note. We used to see TNT trucks parked outside for anything up to an hour.

Better that than trucks full of TNT ;-)

Ian Harper wrote:
"Parish" wrote in message
...
Trev wrote:

Does Unchecked have any Legal meaning? Or is it just a nicety between
courier and receiver.

Couriers say it means nothing. The reason for people writing it is that
where you sign it says something like "Received in good condition" which
the couriers consider to be binding, i.e. they use it as an excuse to
abdicate their responsibility when they get a complaint about damaged
goods.

And it's a catch-22 situation. If the box is undamaged, but the contents
are, then the packing could be considered inadequate. Therefore, if there
is no visible damage to the box, the arguement goes that the reason for
damage to the item can only be inadequate shock protection. Having said
that, a 'drop' that results in the box landing perfectly square, even from a
great height may not result in visible damage to the carton/box, but would
have required an insane amount of shock protection within the box.


Indeed, but what is considered an acceptable height for a box to be
dropped without causing damage to the contents? IOW what level of shock
protection is required?

Hence, if there is the slightest mark on the box, cross out good condition,
and write box damaged. Alternatively, refuse to accept the package.


I have noted it on the docket if the box is damaged - but how do you do
that on those PDA things UPS use?

But how many delivery drivers would wait around while you open a
package, possibly several, and inspect the contents[1]? None IME

And why should they?

IMO because the company is asking you to sign that the goods are in good
condidition and the only way you can ascertain that is by unpacking them.

Goes back to the arguement that if something gets
damaged in transit, yet the outside of the box is fine, then the shock
protection was inadequate.

printing "Received in good condition" doesn't
remove the courier from taking reasonable care of the goods it transports.

True, but it does make life less simple for the poor sod who's received
something damaged, in having to get the sender to resolve a claim/make a
claim etc. In some ways it's a good thing that the contract is between teh
vendor and the courier; generally the recipient has no contract with the
courier.

[1] Where I used to work there was an MoD place across the road and
delivery drivers used to curse the place. Because of security procedures
they couldn't just get everything signed for at reception.

Been there, done that. Photographic ID issued by the army to enter, once
clearance granted, then find the person that you are delivering to. Some
large companies are quite similar in that the receptionist or loading bay
folks will not accept a delivery, they will only call the person who's
package it is to come and collect it. And if they didn't come down within
five minutes, any courier will generally be on their way to the next drop...

note. We used to see TNT trucks parked outside for anything up to an hour.

Better that than trucks full of TNT ;-)



Or not as the case may be :-)

Parish