Shane The Walpole Evri Courier

Hi all, as most of you reading this know but for those who don’t, I’ll explain. (This will be a long read so make yourself comfortable)

I am the Walpole Evri courier. I deliver between 120 - 210 parcels a day 7 days a week, roughly 8 months ago I bought an AA-used approved van for £12995 and took out a loan to make the purchase. Thinking I was doing the right thing I also paid extra for warranty.

3 months later the van mechanically broke down and the warranty refused to help so off of their website I found a trusted garage and prepared myself to pay another £2800 for a recon engine.

for 5 days my pride, joy, and workhorse sat outside this garage with nothing being done to it until I had a phone call from the police to say my van had been broken into and vandalized.

After the garage pleaded with me not to go through the insurance they agreed to fit an engine and fix the vandalism and stolen parts, this took a further 8 weeks to complete and when I eventually got the vehicle back things were not right but I couldn't bare to leave it with them any longer.

the most important bit (the engine) had a loss of power until it hit 2200prm which was making my job impossible to do, I had two garages look into it and they both said the engine had been rebuilt so badly they recommended a completely new engine rebuild at an estimated cost of £4000. In fact, one suggested I purchase a low-millage 2nd hand engine because it would be cheaper.

Well before I could even get to that stage I was out delivering on a Sunday, I had 7 parcels left and as I pulled onto the main road and gained speed there was a loud tap tap tap, a bang, and then I filled the road up with blue smoke. as I pulled over the engine came to a stop.

having gotten the vehicle recovered home I can not see what is physically wrong to do the work myself. i have contacted the garage in the hope it's covered under his warranty. The garage has been fobbing me off now for 6 weeks So here is to hoping he takes responsibility and does the right thing.

In the meantime those of you I deliver to I'm sure you have either seen or asked me about my van as I tried to keep you updated on the situation and to reassure you I would not let this stop me from doing my job.

so once again I begged and borrowed more money to purchase the van you currently see me out and about in Ive now had it three weeks when my bad luck streak hit again. I pulled into a drive way and caught their gate post (gate post is ok and survived the ordeal) how ever my van is not ok dented and scratched side door, two holes in the side panel smashed rear light lens and creased panels currently hidden up by cardboard and duct tape.

some of you mentioned about starting a go fund me page and as I write this I'm a hesitant, mostly because I don't like to ask for things or help and anything I've got or own I've worked for, but today I had a very nice lady feel so bad for what I call my streak of bad luck, offer me quite a lot of money and obviously I said I couldn’t take it but this very nice lady then made me promise I would do this go fund me thing, my friends have also said why not try what harm can it do, so here we are.

I don't actually know what I'm asking for. I still owe a lot of money on my loan for the previous van and having to take another loan for my current work horse I’m out of ideas and simply exhausted.

If nothing else just know that I will try my best to always get your parcels delivered even if it means I have to come round on a push bike.

if you should decide to donate THANK YOU VERY MUCH I appreciate you and more importantly it makes me feel like I’m not alone.