ACS Courier tracking

What is ACS Courier?

ACS Courier, whose full legal name is ACS Postal Services S.A., known in Greek as ACS Ταχυδρομικές Υπηρεσίες Α.Ε., is the leading courier and logistics operator in Greece. Founded in 1981 under the original name ACS Air Courier Services Int'l, the company built its market position over four decades of continuous expansion and infrastructure investment. ACS operates as a subsidiary of Quest Holdings, formerly known as the Info-Quest Information Technology Group, which holds a majority ownership stake. In October 2024, GLS, a pan-European parcel carrier and subsidiary of IDS, International Distribution Services and formerly the parent of Royal Mail UK, acquired a minority stake in ACS and holds contractual options to purchase the remaining shares, marking the company's most significant corporate development in recent years.

The company's history follows the development of the Greek courier market from its earliest stages. ACS was restructured as a limited liability company by 1985 and underwent a further legal reorganization in 1992 before joining the Info-Quest Group in 1999, a move that provided the capital and corporate infrastructure needed for rapid expansion. Between 2000 and 2001, ACS extended its domestic network to over 300 service points across Greece. International operations launched in 2002 with entries into Albania and Cyprus, followed by a Sofia, Bulgaria office in 2005. Financial and auxiliary services including MoneyGram money transfers, ticketing, and bill payments were introduced at ACS stores during that same period.

Significant technology investment characterized the period from 2007 onward. ACS developed its own parcel management software, deployed mobile PDA devices for digital signature capture in the field, and by 2010 had installed electronic signature tablets at store locations. Automated sorting equipment arrived at the Athens facility in 2011 and was progressively upgraded through 2013. The ACS Mobile App for iOS and Android launched in 2018. A new Athens sorting center opened in 2021, capable of processing over 50,000 shipments per hour, and Card on Delivery via mobile POS was rolled out nationwide in 2019, enabling cashless payment at the recipient's door.

• Founded: 1981, as ACS Air Courier Services Int'l
• Legal name: ACS Postal Services S.A. (ACS Ταχυδρομικές Υπηρεσίες Α.Ε.)
• Headquarters: Athens, Greece
• Parent company: Quest Holdings holds a majority ownership stake. GLS, a subsidiary of IDS (formerly the parent of Royal Mail UK), holds a minority stake with contractual options to acquire the remaining shares
• Annual shipment volume: Approximately 54 million shipments (courier and postal combined) per year
• Service points: Over 750 courier shops and service points across Greece, Cyprus, Albania, and Bulgaria
• Locker network: Over 57,000 to 60,000 individual locker cells installed across Greece
• Sorting capacity: Over 50,000 shipments processed per hour at the Athens sorting hub
• Domestic reach: 15,500 distinct delivery destinations within Greece
• Active customers: Over 30,000
• Total operational space: Over 60,000 square meters of warehouse and processing facilities
• Certifications: ISO 9001:2000 (quality management) and ISO 14001 (environmental management)

ACS serves individual consumers, small businesses, large corporations, and online retailers. Dedicated e-commerce solutions include Cash on Delivery with automatic bank deposit, parcel locker delivery, and a shipment redirection tool introduced in 2016 that allows recipients to modify delivery preferences through an SMS or email link. The company processes approximately 54 million shipments annually across its courier and postal operations, and its operational footprint spans more than 60,000 square meters of warehouse and processing space across its Greek and Balkan network.

Which countries does ACS Courier deliver to?

ACS Courier covers the entirety of the Greek territory, including all mainland regions and island destinations. Within Greece, the carrier reaches 15,500 distinct delivery points, from major urban centers such as Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, and Heraklion to remote villages and outlying islands. For island shipments, transit times are extended to account for ferry or air transport legs. Shipments to remote island destinations typically require up to three business days, and certain difficult-to-access areas may extend to five business days before final delivery is completed.

Beyond Greece, ACS operates its own direct courier infrastructure in three neighboring countries. Cyprus, Albania, and Bulgaria are served through the ACS Net Express service, which has been available since the early 2000s and is priced significantly below what standard international courier alternatives charge for those same destinations. Cyprus is additionally covered by a separate sea transport option for non-urgent packages. This direct own-network presence in the Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean means ACS can offer pricing and transit times that larger global integrators cannot easily replicate on those specific routes.

For the broader European Union, ACS works through partner carrier networks to reach member states. The ACS Europe 5 service uses road transport with delivery windows of approximately two to eight business days. A budget road option, ACS EU Economy, handles heavier non-urgent parcels going to EU countries. For large road shipments, ACS Europe Large Parcel operates via the DPD network, with particularly competitive rates for Western European destinations including Germany. Worldwide destinations beyond the EU are covered through ACS World Express across five pricing zones, reaching over 200 countries and territories globally.

• Greece (domestic): Complete coverage of all mainland regions and islands, reaching 15,500 distinct delivery destinations including remote and difficult-to-access areas
• Own-network countries: Cyprus, Albania, and Bulgaria, served through dedicated ACS infrastructure with pricing below standard international courier rates
• European Union: All EU member states via road transport (ACS Europe 5, ACS EU Economy, and ACS Europe Large Parcel via the DPD network)
• Worldwide: Over 200 countries and territories through ACS World Express and ACS World Import Express, organized across five tariff zones

International shipments to non-EU countries are subject to customs clearance at the destination country, which can extend transit times beyond the standard delivery windows. Recipients in certain countries may also be liable for local import duties and taxes depending on applicable regulations. For EU destinations, road transport options offer the most cost-effective pricing for heavier parcels, while express options remain available for shipments where faster transit is required.

What are the ACS Courier services and delivery times?

ACS Courier structures its domestic offering into several tiers, each defined by the combination of pickup method and delivery mode. The premium option, Express Next Day Door to Door, involves a courier collecting the shipment directly from the sender's address and delivering it to the recipient's door the following business day. For same-city destinations, same-day delivery is available in one to five hours. The Point to Door option, where the sender drops off the parcel at an ACS service point, provides a cost saving of up to 20% compared to Door to Door. Point to Point, where both deposit and collection occur at ACS service points, reduces costs by up to 25% and represents the most economical standard domestic tier.

Several additional services complement the core domestic offering. ACS Combo Express bundles Point to Door delivery with free ACS-branded packaging materials, available in formats including the Express Envelope for documents up to 500g, Express Boxes across multiple weight classes from 1 kg to 10 kg, and Express Bottle configurations designed for one, two, or four bottles, with discounts of up to 25% applied. ACS Kiosk Xpress is a lightweight option for standardized folders up to 200g, accepted at retail partner kiosks. Morning Delivery, guaranteed by approximately 10:00 am or within a defined two-hour window, and Saturday Delivery are available at additional cost.

For domestic delivery times, same-city standard destinations receive next-day delivery. Shipments within the same region or to mainland land destinations take one to two business days. Island destinations require one to three business days, and difficult-to-access areas can extend to five business days. Collection cutoff times from Attica are 18:00 for domestic envelopes and 16:00 for packages. International shipments must be lodged by 13:00. Packages over 2 kg collected after the domestic cutoff may be dispatched the following business day.

• Express Next Day - Door to Door: Courier collection at sender's address, next-day delivery to recipient's door
• Express Next Day - Point to Door: Sender deposits at an ACS service point; delivery to recipient's door, up to 20% cheaper than Door to Door
• Express Next Day - Point to Point: Both deposit and collection at ACS service points, up to 25% cheaper than Door to Door
• ACS Same Day - Door to Door: Delivery within 1 to 5 hours for destinations within the same city
• ACS Combo Express: Point to Door delivery bundled with free ACS packaging in envelope, box, and bottle formats, at discounts of up to 25%
• ACS Kiosk Xpress: Lightweight option for standardized folders up to 200g, accepted at retail kiosk partners with cash payment
• ACS Net Express: Own-network international service to Cyprus, Albania, and Bulgaria at below-market pricing
• ACS Europe 5: Road transport to EU member states in approximately 2 to 8 business days
• ACS EU Economy: Budget road option for packages from 1 to 40 kg going to EU countries
• ACS Europe Large Parcel: Heavier road shipments up to 31.5 kg to EU destinations via the DPD network
• ACS Cyprus Economy: Budget sea transport from Greece to Cyprus for packages between 1 and 40 kg
• ACS World Express: Express delivery to over 200 countries across five pricing zones
• ACS World Import Express: Import service from worldwide destinations with special pricing for business customers

Value-added domestic services include Cash on Delivery with automatic bank deposit and email notification to the sender, a Shipment Return Service for e-commerce returns, a Purchase Service where ACS procures items on behalf of the sender, and a Bulk Distribution Service for corporate and group mailings. The ACS Info Service delivers automated SMS and email notifications at key stages of the shipment's journey. Card on Delivery, introduced nationwide in 2019 via mobile POS devices, allows recipients to pay by card at the door rather than in cash.

What are the ACS Courier rates and maximum dimensions accepted?

ACS Courier calculates charges based on the greater of actual weight or volumetric weight, also known as dimensional weight. The volumetric weight formula divides the product of the parcel's length, width, and height in centimeters by 5,000, producing a result in kilograms. Whichever figure is higher, the actual weight or the volumetric weight, determines the billable weight for the shipment. This method is standard among courier operators and means that large but lightweight packages are billed at a higher effective weight than their physical mass alone would indicate.

Pricing is organized into three customer categories, where ACS Member loyalty card holders receive automatic discounts on published tariffs and retail customers paying at service points are charged the standard rate. Contract and credit customers who have established a business account with ACS benefit from individually negotiated pricing. An online cost calculation tool allows customers to enter shipment details and select their customer category to obtain a precise rate for any domestic or international destination before committing to a shipment.

For international services, a fuel surcharge is applied across all options and updated periodically. The ACS Europe Large Parcel service, operated via the DPD network, is particularly competitive for shipments to Western European countries where the per-kilogram road transport rate is more favorable than air-based express pricing. For worldwide destinations, five pricing zones determine the applicable tariff. All international weight charges are calculated using the same actual-versus-volumetric comparison used for domestic shipments.

• Volumetric weight formula: Length x Width x Height (in centimeters) divided by 5,000, with the result in kilograms
• Maximum weight (international): 50 kg per shipment
• ACS Smartpoint locker maximum: 10 kg, with maximum dimensions of 50 cm (height) by 44 cm (width) by 59 cm (depth)
• ACS Europe Large Parcel maximum weight: 31.5 kg
• ACS Europe Large Parcel maximum girth: 300 cm (calculated as length plus two times the sum of height and width)
• ACS Europe Large Parcel maximum single dimension: 150 cm
• ACS Europe Large Parcel minimum dimensions: 23 cm by 17 cm by 2 cm
• Cargo and pallet shipments (business customers): Individual pallets up to 500 kg at a maximum height of 1.7 meters
• Customer pricing categories: ACS Member (loyalty card), retail cash, and contract/credit (negotiated business rates)

What are the ACS Courier delivery options?

ACS Courier offers several ways for recipients to receive or collect their shipments. Standard home delivery for Door to Door and Point to Door services involves up to three delivery attempts before a shipment is classified as undeliverable. The ACS Mobile App and SMS or Viber notifications alert recipients at each key stage of the delivery process. If the recipient is absent during a delivery attempt, the courier typically leaves a notification and schedules a further attempt before redirecting the parcel to a nearby service point for collection.

The ACS Smartpoint locker network is one of the largest automated parcel locker systems in Greece, with over 57,000 to 60,000 individual locker cells installed across the country. Lockers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making parcel collection independent of shop opening hours. Recipients are alerted by SMS or app notification when a parcel is available, and access the locker through the ACS Mobile App, which requires Bluetooth to be active on the smartphone. Cash on Delivery payments at lockers are processed via an integrated POS terminal accepting Visa and Mastercard. Parcels held at lockers must be collected within two calendar days of the notification date.

Beyond dedicated ACS stores and lockers, two additional retail collection networks extend the pickup footprint. ACS Smart Points at Shell gas stations across Greece offer a convenient collection location for recipients passing these sites during daily routines. ACS Xpress Points at retail kiosk partners accept deposits of up to 200g standardized folders and serve as collection points in areas without a dedicated ACS store nearby. The ACS ReDirect feature allows recipients to change delivery preferences, including redirecting a parcel to a different address or a service point, through a link sent via SMS or email, without needing to contact ACS directly.

• Home delivery: Up to three delivery attempts, with SMS and Viber notifications at each stage; if unsuccessful, parcel is held at a nearby service point
• ACS Smartpoint lockers: Over 57,000 to 60,000 individual locker cells available 24/7, accessed via the ACS Mobile App (Bluetooth required); maximum parcel weight 10 kg, maximum dimensions 50 cm by 44 cm by 59 cm; collection required within 2 calendar days of notification
• ACS Smart Points: Parcel pickup at Shell gas stations distributed across Greece
• ACS Xpress Points: Retail kiosk partners accepting lightweight deposits and serving as collection points in areas without a dedicated ACS store
• ACS Service Points (stores): Over 750 walk-in shops across Greece, Cyprus, Albania, and Bulgaria, handling shipments, returns, and services including MoneyGram transfers and bill payments
• ACS ReDirect: Allows recipients to redirect a parcel to a different address or service point via a link sent in an SMS or email notification, without calling or visiting a store

What should I do if my ACS Courier parcel is lost or damaged?

ACS provides a structured process for handling claims across several categories of service issues. By telephone at +30 210-8190000 or +30 211-5005000, customers press option 1 for English-language support, after which staff log the request and route it to the appropriate internal department. Registered users can also file claims through the MyACS customer portal using the "File a Claim" feature, which allows the submission to be monitored within the platform after it is recorded. Customer support runs Monday through Friday from 07:30 to 21:00 and on Saturdays from 08:00 to 16:00.

Standard ACS shipments include automatic coverage against loss or total destruction of the parcel. For high-value items, particularly on international shipments, supplementary insurance can be arranged through prior agreement with the ACS International Department. ACS notes that damage during transit is frequently the result of inadequate packaging. The company offers 13 distinct branded packaging formats, including the Express Envelope, multiple Express Box sizes, Express Bottle configurations, and Express Pack options, and recommends their use as a practical measure to reduce the risk of damage during handling and transport.

• Telephone claims: Call (+30) 210-8190000 or (+30) 211-5005000 and press option 1 for English-language support
• Online claims: Registered users submit through the MyACS customer portal via the "File a Claim" function
• Support hours: Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 21:00, and Saturday from 08:00 to 16:00. An automated gateway is available 24/7 for out-of-hours registration
• Eligible claim types: COD payment issues, delivery delays, billing discrepancies, loss or damage to shipments, and service issues at ACS store locations
• Standard coverage: Automatic protection against loss or total destruction is included with all standard shipments
• Supplementary insurance: Available for high-value or international shipments by prior arrangement with the ACS International Department

Does ACS Courier handle international shipments and customs formalities?

ACS Courier handles international shipping through a combination of its own direct network and partner carrier arrangements. For shipments to Cyprus, Albania, and Bulgaria, ACS operates through its own infrastructure, offering the ACS Net Express service at pricing substantially below standard international courier alternatives for those destinations. For EU member states, road transport services run through partner networks, including the DPD network for ACS Europe Large Parcel. Worldwide destinations beyond the EU are covered through partner arrangements across five pricing zones, with express options available for time-sensitive shipments.

For shipments outside the European Union, specific customs documentation is mandatory. Non-EU shipments require a completed Proforma Invoice, form E1509, filled out in English. Shipments to the United States containing food products require a separate Foodstuff Commercial Invoice listing all contents by type, quantity, and detailed description. US-bound shipments with items containing fabric require a Textile Declaration detailing the composition of those items. Shipments containing pharmaceutical drugs or prescription medications require an English-language doctor's prescription that includes the drug name, dosage, the physician's signature, and an official stamp.

• Non-EU shipments (general): Completed Proforma Invoice (form E1509), filled out in English
• US-bound shipments with food: Separate Foodstuff Commercial Invoice listing all food contents with types, quantities, and detailed product descriptions
• US-bound shipments with fabric content: Textile Declaration detailing the composition breakdown of affected items
• Shipments containing pharmaceuticals: English-language doctor's prescription including drug name, dosage, physician's signature, and official stamp
• Prohibited items: Liquids, dangerous goods and hazardous materials, standard food items on non-approved routes, live animals, and antiques

The responsibility for accurate and complete customs documentation rests entirely with the sender. ACS does not provide customs brokerage services and reserves the right to refuse carriage if required documentation is missing or incorrectly completed. Customs clearance at the destination country can introduce additional transit time beyond the standard delivery windows. Recipients in certain countries may also be liable for import duties and taxes under local regulations. All shipments are subject to the laws of the country of origin, any transit countries, and the destination country.

Understanding tracking statuses

When you track an ACS Courier parcel online, different statuses appear as it moves through the delivery network. ACS operates its own proprietary tracking infrastructure called SPITTS, which stands for Special Postal Items Track and Trace System. Each shipment is identified by an Express Delivery Voucher, also referred to as a POD, or Proof of Delivery, or simply a voucher, which carries a barcode and a unique tracking code printed on the shipping label. ACS tracking numbers are numeric only, containing no letters, and typically comprise 10 digits, located directly below the barcode on the label. Some sources indicate that codes can range from 7 to 11 digits, though 10 digits is the most consistently cited length for standard EDV codes.

Shipments can be tracked through the Track and Trace section of the official ACS Courier website, through the ACS Mobile App for iOS and Android, or through a range of third-party tracking platforms . ACS automatically sends status updates via Viber, SMS, and email at key stages of the delivery journey. The company uses the Routee SMS platform, operated by AMD Telecom, for its messaging infrastructure, achieving delivery rates above 97.7% and platform uptime of 99.993%. These notifications allow recipients to follow shipment progress in real time and use the ACS ReDirect tool if a change of delivery preference is needed.