LONDON, Jan 26, 2026, 11:47 (GMT)
- DPD said it removed a driver after a customer shared footage that appeared to show a failed iPhone delivery
- The customer said a photo was logged as proof-of-delivery but the phone was not at the address
- Giffgaff said the delivery proof did not meet its requirements; police confirmed a report was made
DPD said it has removed a delivery driver after home security footage circulated online appeared to show the courier marking a high-value iPhone as delivered and then leaving with the parcel. (The Sun)
The incident matters because “proof of delivery” — the photo or signature used to close a delivery — is now often the only check in disputes over missing parcels. When a costly phone is involved, the argument moves fast: customer, courier, retailer, then the police.
It also lands at a moment when more electronics are being shipped straight to doorsteps, and more customers have cameras watching them. That makes mistakes, or worse, harder to brush aside.
LADbible reported the customer, Samuel Taylor, 20, ordered a £1,264 iPhone 17 Pro Max from mobile operator Giffgaff and received a photo on Jan. 19 that DPD said showed the parcel being posted through his letterbox. Taylor said his home camera footage showed the driver walking away still holding the package, and that he reported the matter to Greater Manchester Police; DPD said “the driver has been removed from the business”, while Giffgaff said the “proof of delivery was not compliant” and it had refunded Taylor’s deposit. (LADbible)
The Daily Mail also carried the account in recent days, as the clip spread beyond local social feeds. (Daily Mail)
DPD did not identify the driver. The company’s statement, as reported by British outlets, did not say whether the phone had been recovered.
But there is a basic uncertainty hanging over the episode: police inquiries can take time and may not lead to charges, and missing high-value goods are not always found. For DPD and retailers, each contested delivery risks refunds, complaints and copycat claims.
DPD UK is part of Geopost, the parcel arm of France’s La Poste Groupe, and operates nationwide networks that move hundreds of millions of parcels a year, according to a Geopost statement. (Geopost)
The company competes in a crowded British parcel market that includes Royal Mail and privately held Evri, which has grown quickly alongside Amazon’s delivery operation, the Financial Times has reported. (Ft)
