Is this a scam?
Posted by Apophany@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 45 comments
I received a call today while I was at work from a delivery driver claiming to be dropping off a pallet at my house! I can't verify if he was actually there but he had my name, and address, and claimed there was a pallet with boxes to be left. After 5 mins back and forth of him getting annoyed that I wasn't there, he hung up, and when I got home there was no sign of any pallet.
Later on, I found a text on my phone from earlier in the morning, which has been flagged by Google as suspected spam from a company called Palletline - with a tracking link, saying the delivery would be made today. I didn't click the link, but I did go to the website and found the pallet ID, and it does have my name and address on it. So it seems like a 'genuine' delivery.
But I've not ordered anything, my partner hasn't, I asked family if they had, and no one has. Also it would need to be massive to be delivered on a pallet??
I'm quite confused, none of it makes sense, so I'm thinking scam, but equally I can't see what the angle is for how I'm being scammed!
ThePangolinofDread@reddit
Pallet delivery driver here.
Palletline are a legit company, if you went to their website not via the text link but by googling them and they have a pallet tracking number then they have a pallet for you.
Unless there are specific instructions allowing us to "leave safe" we are not allowed to leave just the pallet without a signature. Our contract is with the company who is sending the pallet so even if the recipient is okay with us leaving the pallet we need the sending companies permission to leave safe.
Where I work redelivery charges are for the sending company and it will be up to that company to try and get that money from the customer if they wish, can't imagine Palletline are different. It's so much easier to get the money from an entity you already have a contract with and there will be a part of that contract that covers redelivery.
It's a rare week that I don't get at least 1 domestic delivery where the person goes "but I'm not expecting anything" but when they see the pallet they go " oh! I didn't think that would be delivered on a pallet" or " That's not due for delivery until next week"
My advice would be to contact Palletline with the tracking number and findout who has sent it, contact who has sent it and find out what they have sent. Most times all the driver will not be able to say about what it is, just that it's something wrapped in plastic and packaging material!
As for the size question, my smallest thing on a pallet so far was a box about 5cm3 containing a replacement on/off switch for a bandsaw! Had quite a laugh with the recipient about that one!
mattjimf@reddit
I once had a Windows software licence delivered on a pallet. An A2 piece or paper with some numbers written on it. Absolutely barmy.
fishter_uk@reddit
It gets to the point where you know that the person that packed it onto the pallet was 100% malicious compliance.
ThePangolinofDread@reddit
definitely some MC with the switch box I delivered, it had 2 bands to make sure it didn't come off. (That's the super strong plastic strap & metal clasp that's used to secure heavy/awkward stuff)
Djinjja-Ninja@reddit
Similarly, back in the day, I had a bunch of Cisco licenses delivered individually boxed on a pallet.
It used to be a relatively common occurrence in IT, it was the old school equivalent of a giant Amazon box with a book in it.
grotscif@reddit
A2 is a huge piece of paper to be fair for a short string of numbers, was it printed in size 1000 font?
mattjimf@reddit
Ah... I keep forgetting the higher the number, the smaller the paper, so would have been A6
UnacceptableUse@reddit
Maybe that's exactly how the mixup happened, "A6? That must be huge! Better get a pallet"
Apophany@reddit (OP)
Amazing thanks! I'll try and contact them
bacon_cake@reddit
You better follow up OP!
Apophany@reddit (OP)
Just edited the Op :)
bacon_cake@reddit
The plot thickens!
Sounds like a fulfilment error at a warehouse if you ask me.
roxieh@reddit
I just wanted to say your comment is one of the reasons I love reddit.
This kind of info would not be found anywhere else. I often want to quit because a lot of this site is an echo chamber full of doom and gloom but stuff like this reminds me of a good side.
Thanks for helping out OP.
satanless@reddit
Planner here, different pallet network but this is the answer.
bacon_cake@reddit
Yeah my money's on this exact situation.
Darkheart001@reddit
This is the crowd wisdom you are looking for.
watchfulsea@reddit
would you believe this is the first post I checked on this morning, wondering if you'd updated lol! Thanks for the update, 31 radiators, a Murphy's Law situation to be sure !
Apophany@reddit (OP)
Delivery systems and procedures are so well refined and rigid now that as soon as a mistake pulls you outside the normal procedure everything seems to collapse!
Kingshaun2k@reddit
Have you won anything big on a competition lately?
Apophany@reddit (OP)
This was my secret hope :D I do enter competitions occasionally. Unfortunately the losing streak continues! At least I'm warm
deltree000@reddit
Haha yeah my first thought was this. My mate once won a "lifetime supply" of dog food. They sent out 10x 25kg bags on a pallet. Luckily he had a garage to store it in but ended up donating most of it to dog shelters.
zilchusername@reddit
It is common for delivery companies especially pallets to pass work onto others. So it is highly likely the radiator company paid company A to deliver, Company A subcontracted the delivery to Company B/palletline which is why the radiator company hadn’t heard of delivery company that were actually delivering.
endianess@reddit
I had a small bag of adhesive delivered on a pallet and they wouldn't take it with them. Sounds like a back end systems issue rather than a scam.
Certain_Car_9984@reddit
I've heard of people ordering parts for their pc and getting something a bit better but ordering 1 radiator and getting 31 is something else
That's a pretty big balls up
Apophany@reddit (OP)
It's impressive if nothing else!
Kronenburg_1664@reddit
Could it be two separate radiator companies owned by the same parent appliance company, and somethings got badly mixed up internally?
SeanyWestside_@reddit
Maybe the delivery company the people you ordered the radiators from outsources to Palletline for bigger deliveries, or didn't have enough delivery vehicles because of a spike in larger orders?
peterbparker86@reddit
Let us know what it was!
RevolutionaryPace167@reddit
We need to know what was sent, when you get it
boldstrategy@reddit
It is way to late that I read Palletline as Palestine.
If you aren't expecting anything ignore it, they will phone back.
Apophany@reddit (OP)
Yup.. it's more the intrigue, so many possibilities for a pallet!
fiery-sparkles@reddit
OP could you report back what it was please? I'm one of those nosey people who needs to know 🙂
boldstrategy@reddit
Usually anything they can't lift by one person delivery, I've had car parts on a pallet for example
Timely_Egg_6827@reddit
My exhaust arrived on a low loader which was fun on residential street and pet food by pallet before. Joint delivery of 40kg to us and 120kg to cat rescue round corner.
sbdart31@reddit
In my "just woke up still half asleep" current state I read that as one 40kg joint and thought you either really like weed or I'm coming to yours for the best roast beef ever
GetNooted@reddit
Maybe delivering the sausages
Gingrpenguin@reddit
Palletline seem an odd target to scam especially as delivering pallets to domestic addresses is such a pain anyway as people rarely expect a pallet.
Did you order something very large like a water but or extra heavy? Any diy or furniture you ordered?
Parcel carriers have fairly strict size and weight requirements and at the extremes palleetcarriers are far cheaper
Dazz316@reddit
but I did go to the website and found the pallet ID, and it does have my name and address on it. So it seems like a 'genuine' delivery.
Is this a legit and known website? They had your name and address already, they could have easily just made up a delivery note.
If I had your name and agress ie John Smith 123 King St. I can say 123 King St, London, Pallen#1239723 Date 20/11/24
JimmyBallocks@reddit
OMG WHERE DID YOU GET MY DETAILS WHY ARE YOU EXPOSING ME LIKE THIS
Ultiali@reddit
Just give them a ring and ask who sent it
Quirky-Property-7537@reddit
No order? Common scam. Delete and ignore
Moogle-Mail@reddit
The "re-delivery" charge mentioned by u/Valuable-Wallaby-167 is the most likely angle. Scams such as this are ridiculously easy to set up and the scammers only need a teeny, tiny percentage of people to fall for them and they make money. They also get all of your credit card details and then have a window of time where they can use that CC for further scams until you notice the extra charges on your CC and shut that down by contacting your CC company.
Good on you for questioning it. I once got through around 50% of the screens needed to log into my bank account asking me to enter my full information before my brain kicked in and thought "Hang on a minute, they already have all this information".
BriefAmphibian7925@reddit
Things can also be delivered by pallet:
if they're too heavy for normal couriers (even if not very large);
large in number (even if individually not that large, eg a whole load of small electronics components each in their own not-so-small box).
Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit
I suspect the scam is that if you tried to "redeliver" there would be a charge.
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