Every courier website says “fast, reliable, professional”. The differences only show up when your consignment is on the line — so here are the eight questions that separate a genuine same day operator from a booking agent with a nice logo, and the answers you should expect to hear.
1. “Will my goods travel on a dedicated vehicle?”
The single most important question. Some firms quote “same day” then co-load your goods with other customers’ consignments, adding stops, handling and risk. The right answer is unambiguous: one vehicle, one driver, your job only, loaded once and unloaded once.
2. “Is the price fixed and all-inclusive?”
Ask specifically whether congestion charge, ULEZ, tolls and fuel are included, and how waiting time is charged. A professional operator confirms a fixed figure in writing before collection; a problem operator says “plus extras” after delivery.
3. “How quickly will you actually collect?”
“Fast collection” means nothing; “typically 30–60 minutes in London, and we confirm a real ETA before you commit” means everything. Be wary of anyone who promises an exact time without asking where you are.
4. “What insurance covers my consignment?”
Expect goods-in-transit cover (commonly £10,000+) plus public liability, with higher declared-value cover available if your goods warrant it — confirmed in writing, not implied.
5. “How will I know where my delivery is?”
You want proactive updates at each stage — collected, en route, delivered — and a direct line to the team running the job. What matters is not the technology but whether a human answers when you call at 9pm.
6. “What proof of delivery do I get?”
Photo or signature POD with the recipient’s name and time, sent immediately — not available on request three days later. For legal and medical work, named-recipient handover should be standard.
7. “Are you genuinely 24/7?”
Test it: call at an odd hour before you need them. A real 24/7 operator answers with a person who can quote and dispatch; an office-hours firm gives you voicemail with a promise.
8. “Who am I actually dealing with?”
Some “couriers” are brokers who resell your job to whoever is cheapest that hour. There’s nothing wrong with subcontracting done well, but you deserve to know — and an owner-operated firm whose own reputation rides on every job tends to care more about yours.
The Quick Test
If you only have time for one filter: ring them, ask for a fixed all-inclusive price on a real job, and note whether the answer is a straight number from a decision-maker. That one call tells you most of what the other seven questions would. And if you’d like to run the test on us, we’re on the phone 24/7 — or get a fixed quote now.