Footage shows Hermes couriers launching parcels around depot as manager 'tells undercover reporter posing as member of staff to 'act stupid' if customers complain

 Footage has captured Hermes couriers launching parcels around a depot in a bid to save time and a manager telling an undercover reporter posing as a member of staff to 'act stupid' if customers complain.

An employee at the delivery firm is seen chucking deliveries against cages, walls and onto the floor in the video secretly filmed at the site in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, earlier this month by The Times

At one point, the depot's manager, Mark, confesses a surge in Christmas orders has led to next-day delivery deadlines not being met every single day, despite customers paying out for the service.

He says: 'This time of year, it's difficult. Volumes shoot up. This depot is supposed to be clear every day. It's supposed to be empty. Never happens.'

Giving advice on how to deal with customers' complaints, the manager adds: 'All you can do is act totally stupid, say: "I really apologise."' 

The newspaper's investigation further found that couriers joke about throwing deliveries over fences, refer to customers as 'c***s' and leave parcels in the rain.

It was also claimed that hundreds of customers are having to launch legal action against Hermes over lost or damaged orders.

The reporter said he earned £8.08 per hour on average - in addition to a £25 new-starter earning - while the national living wage is £8.91 for those aged 23 and above.

The company said it is conducting a full investigation and that senior teams at the delivery unit are undergoing an 'urgent review' - but added the site is performing well with no issues relating to service or damage. 

It also strongly refuted the claims regarding minimum wage payment, saying the average courier is paid £14.88 per hour after expenses.

Meanwhile, shopping giants that deliver items through the company - namely Next, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and H&M - have expressed their 'alarm' at the footage and urged the firm to 'urgently' investigate.

An employee at the delivery firm is seen chucking deliveries against hard cages, walls and onto the floor in the video secretly filmed at the site in High Wycombe earlier this month

An employee at the delivery firm is seen chucking deliveries against hard cages, walls and onto the floor in the video secretly filmed at the site in High Wycombe earlier this month

At one point, the depot's manager confesses a surge in Christmas orders has led to next-day delivery deadlines not being met every day, despite customers paying out for the service

At one point, the depot's manager confesses a surge in Christmas orders has led to next-day delivery deadlines not being met every day, despite customers paying out for the service

While discussing how to deal with customer complaints in the clip, one employee suggests 'telling them you start today', as the manager adds: 'First day today, I've been lumbered.

'Yeah that's all you've got to say, say: "Look, I'm awfully sorry, it's my first day.'

While discussing being kept waiting to deliver an order in another part of the video, a courier says: 'You've got f***ing big houses to go to.

'They've got massive gates, you've got to ring the f***ing bell. You've got to wait for the c***s to open it, you know what I mean?'

'Best thing to do is just f***ing chuck it over the gate mate, but you don't know how to do it.' 

In a statement, Hermes said: 'We do not claim to be perfect and are aware that in an operation of our size there will be individual issues that we need to improve. 

'We are determined to do this but remain confident that the vast majority of these allegations are unfounded and do not reflect our business and the standards we deliver.' 

The company added: 'We have however acted swiftly and launched a full investigation. Our senior teams are currently at the Delivery Unit mentioned undertaking an urgent review. 

Shopping giants that deliver items through the company - Next, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and H&M - expressed their 'alarm' at the footage and urged the firm to 'urgently' investigate

Shopping giants that deliver items through the company - Next, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and H&M - expressed their 'alarm' at the footage and urged the firm to 'urgently' investigate

Hermes said it is conducting a full investigation and that senior teams at the delivery unit are undergoing an 'urgent review' - but added the site is performing well with no issues relating to service or damage (file photo)

Hermes said it is conducting a full investigation and that senior teams at the delivery unit are undergoing an 'urgent review' - but added the site is performing well with no issues relating to service or damage (file photo)

'This unit is performing well and there are no issues regarding service or damage.

'Finally, we strongly refute his claims regarding payment of minimum wage. All courier rounds pay above National Living Wage and the average courier pay is £14.88 per hour after expenses.'

Responding to the investigation, John Lewis told the newspaper it was 'alarmed' and had asked Hermes to 'investigate urgently', while Next and H&M said they were discussing the footage and Marks & Spencer took the claims 'very seriously'.

The revelations follow Hermes and Yodel performing the worst in a league table released by Citizens Advice last month.

The table, which compares top parcel firms against criteria such as customer service, problems and accessibility, found that no delivery company received more than three out of five stars overall. 

It also revealed that DPD scored lowest when consumers were asked if they'd had a problem with their last delivery with two in five customers reporting one.

As a result, Citizens Advice warned urgent action was needed across the parcel delivery industry.

The revelations follow Hermes and Yodel performing the worst in a league table (pictured above) released by Citizens Advice last month

The revelations follow Hermes and Yodel performing the worst in a league table (pictured above) released by Citizens Advice last month

It said online: '"If something you ordered hasn't arrived" has been viewed almost 160,000 times so far this year, a 69 per cent increase on the same period before the pandemic in 2019.'

The top five delivery companies by parcel volume were measured against four criteria including quality of service, accessibility, customer service and trust.

It found that Hermes and Yodel performed the worst, scoring 1.5 and 1.75 stars respectively. Amazon Logistics scored highest, but with just 2.75 stars overall.

Meanwhile, DPD scored lowest when consumers were asked if they'd had a problem with their last delivery.

Some 41 per cent of polled customers polled by Citizens Advice reported a problem with their last delivery, whereas at the top end 32 per cent of Amazon Logistics customers reported an issue.

When trying to resolve issues, 48 per cent of people polled weren't able to get the help they wanted. This rose to 56 per cent for Yodel and 43 per cent for Amazon Logistics.

It also used data from Citizens Advice Consumer Service, consumer polling and social media complaints.

Have your parcels been lost or damaged? Email katie.weston@mailonline.co.uk

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