If you are a courier driver who is running their own business then you only have to look on the likes of Google News to read about how some parcels are not being delivered correctly. As with many things, it is no doubt a small minority of courier drivers who are brining the trade into disrepute.

Yes, the weeks leading up to Christmas are a very busy period for most parcel delivery firms but it is important that a good level of customer service is provided. After all, many of your customers will have paid a delivery charge with some paying more than normal to arrange express delivery to ensure the parcels arrive before Christmas meaning that the recipients are not disappointed.

So, do endeavor to deliver the parcel to whom it is intended for. Don’t just ring the doorbell as it may not be working – knock on the door to hopefully attract the attention of the occupier of the property.

If there is nobody in then check your records to see if he or she has left an alternative delivery option such as leaving the parcel with the next-door neighbour or behind the green or black wheelie bin or behind the plant pot outside the front door.

If you leave the parcel elsewhere then make sure that you leave a note through the letter box of the intended recipient as to exactly where you have left the parcel.

Unless, you have been given specific instructions to do so, do not leave a parcel inside a bin as it may be smelly and partly full of sticky, wet, waste produce as this could damage the contents of the parcel.

If the parcel is marked as being FRAGILE then do treat it with that bit extra care. If it contains a breakable item then it would not be very pleasant for the recipient to open it to find it is broken and needs to be returned.

If it is raining when delivering a parcel be extra careful where you leave it if nobody is in. Try to leave it with a neighbour who can bring it in out of the rain.

When driving around delivering parcels, do drive with care as you do not really want to reverse into someone’s wall or a vehicle. Not only would it probably cause some ill feeling but it may mean you are off the road for a day or two potentially loosing much needed income.

In summary, imagine yourself in the shoes of someone waiting for a parcel. Where would you be happy for it to be left if you were not in?