Fed up residents fear they won’t receive parcels in time for Christmas after a courier service admitted staff shortages were causing delivery delays.
Hermes, which has a depot in Alexandria, says high volumes of packages and driver absences has meant longer than usual waits for deliveries.
They said Covid and new self-isolation rules had exacerbated the situation.
One Dumbarton woman said she was waiting for three parcels to turn up and had waited over two weeks for one of them.
She said: “I know loads of people across Alexandria and Dumbarton who haven’t received their orders.
“It’s getting really close to Christmas now and people are worried they aren’t going to receive them in time.
“I’ve got three outstanding orders and my mum is missing parcels which should have arrived weeks ago.
“People have spent a lot of money on presents and some don’t have the money to spend it elsewhere to make sure they arrive on time.
“I’ve tried contacting Hermes but I’m not getting anywhere.
“I get a message saying they’ll get back to me in 48 hours but when that’s up I get told I have to wait another 48 hours.
“You can’t get through to speak to anyone.
“The situation is ridiculous. At this time of year, it’s just not on.”
Residents have been taking to social media to vent their frustrations at the situation.
One said: “Hermes deliveries in Alexandria are an absolute joke! Seriously What is going on?!
“Not anywhere on their website can I raise a concern or complains either.”
The issue is reportedly also an issue in Glasgow, Huntly and Aberdeenshire, with a shortage of drivers leaving thousands of parcels at depots ahead of Christmas.
A Hermes spokesperson said: “We are experiencing delays in the local area as a result of high volumes of parcels and this is being exacerbated by staff absence as a result of Covid and the new self isolation rules.
“Our couriers are working hard to address this and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.
“We ask that anyone who is concerned about their deliveries should contact their retailer/seller in the first instance, who will in turn contact Hermes if required.”
