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AIBU?

Aibu to think this is not really my problem?

83 replies

Thetartofasgard · 01/06/2018 12:17

Parcel delivered last Friday, no name on it but with my address. I opened it and it was obviously supplies for a shop.

I telephoned the company on the invoice (they’d put the wrong postcode on it) and they said they would send a courier to collect it (company is in Scotland, I’m in England.

Courier has been twice this week, while I’m at work.

Company is getting annoyed with me as saying it costs them money every time the courier attempts to collect. Said they would report it as stolen.

The courier won’t come at a specific time and just gives a timescale of ‘between 7am - 7pm’

Any ideas on what I can do? Other than taking time off work so that I can be home when courier turns up. The only day I don’t work is Sunday and the courier won’t collect it then.

Although I’m tempted to, I can’t leave it outside (we live in a terrace on a busy main road with no porch/front garden) and my neighbours all work too.

I don’t want to get in any trouble but it’s starting to get on my nerves now. I’m getting daily phone calls from the company. The goods are worth nearly £1000 So I understand them needing it back ASAP but they were the ones to make the mistake, yet I’m the one who is expected to put myself out to rectify it.

Thanks

OP posts:
Thetartofasgard · 01/06/2018 12:18

To clarify, the company I’m talking about is the supplier, not the intended recipients.

OP posts:
stinky · 01/06/2018 12:18

Can they collect from your work?

ProudThrilledHappy · 01/06/2018 12:19

Ask them to email a prepaid postage label so you can take to royal mail

Alternatively tell them if they want to report it stolen Hmm you can drop it at local police station for them to collect (I doubt they will want to do this)

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 01/06/2018 12:19

Can you take the parcel to work for it to be collected from there?

MiggeldyHiggins · 01/06/2018 12:20

Tell to to cop themselves on, reporting them as stolen would be fraud. They can either send you a returns label or they can arrange an actual time and date for a courier to come to you.
You do not have to wait in all day to help them recover their property that they sent to you by mistake.

Thetartofasgard · 01/06/2018 12:22

Parcel is heavy! Says 40kg on the ticket.
Can’t take it to work as I get a bus/train there plus I work in a hospital so courier wouldn’t get in.

OP posts:
SmilingButClueless · 01/06/2018 12:22

Ask the company whether they would prefer to arrange for a courier to pick it up on a Sunday, to arrange a courier who will pick it up at a mutually agreed and specific time in the week, or for you to leave it outside.Alternatively, can they arrange for you to take it to a parcel drop off shop?

Their mistake, so they need to fix it without undue inconvenience to you. It’s not reasonable to expect you to be in 7-7 when you work and didn’t order the stuff anyway.

FizzyGreenWater · 01/06/2018 12:28

As above.

'Dear Company

May I remind you that I have absolutely NO responsibility for these goods. This situation has arisen entirely as a result of your error and rather than express your irritation that I am not prepared to actually lose money in order to help rectify it - ie by taking time off work to wait in all day for a courier - may I suggest that you instead thank me for being willing to continue engaging with you at all? I certainly won't be for much longer if this is your attitude.

You either need to send a courier at a time convenient for me, or I am happy to accept a returns label and I will send the goods back to you. Please note that this will also mean me taking time and effort to rectify your error, which I'm happy to do.

Your threat that you will report the goods as stolen is shocking. I expect an apology in reply to this email for that ridiculous comment (our communications alone will expose that report as fraud on your part). If I don't receive this reply, either with a returns postage label or a new, precise courier time, I'll be dropping the goods at my local police station with a report of our communications and that will be my final communication.

Yours, OP'

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 01/06/2018 12:29

They can get a courier to pick up at a specific time (two hour slot for instance) and on a Sunday but they don’t want to because it will be very expensive. Tell them when you’re in and to arrange it for then. Then tell them to start communicating only through email (good to have a written record) and to stop continuously calling you.

DarlingNikita · 01/06/2018 12:43

Tell to to cop themselves on, reporting them as stolen would be fraud. They can either send you a returns label or they can arrange an actual time and date for a courier to come to you.
You do not have to wait in all day to help them recover their property that they sent to you by mistake.

100% this. Get annoyed right back at them! Of course you can get specified-time couriers; they just don't want to pay for one.

Loonoon · 01/06/2018 12:44

I agree with Judas. You want a paper trail for this. Email them saying you find their attitude aggressive and excessive. Give them a choice of date and time you will be available for collection, maybe ask them what compensation they will be giving you for storing their goods safely.

Strugglingtodomybest · 01/06/2018 12:46

If that's their attitude I would stop answering the phone to them and chuck the parcel.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 01/06/2018 12:50

"I have already gone out of my way to try and help rectify YOUR error. I have told you that I work and yet you still sent a courier to my home - TWICE - during working hours. That again is your own error. Feel free to report the parcel as stolen, as I can then prove to the police that I have made repeated efforts to return it.

Please arrange for a courier to collect it at my convenience.Or email me a pre-paid label and I will post it."

Bloody cheek!

blackteasplease · 01/06/2018 12:52

Tell them they need to pay for a courier who will come at a specified time!

Mitzimaybe · 01/06/2018 12:53

Agree with everyone else. They need to arrange a specific time for collection, you should not have to take any time off work for their mistake. Also as Loonoon says, technically you can charge them a storage fee so you might want to mention this if they continue to be arsey with you. Definitely ask for all communications to be confirmed in writing (email) from now on.

ChasedByBees · 01/06/2018 12:58

They have a cheek. This is not your problem. They need a time specific courier as it’ll be cheaper than repeatedly sending couriers when you’re not there. You could tell them if they expect you to wait in, then they have to pay you for loss of earnings. You’d effectively be spending a day housebound for their convenience.

BonfiresOfInsanity · 01/06/2018 13:02

I wouldn’t ask for the prepaid label, it’s a 40kg parcel that you will have to lump down to a post office or courier point. If, like for me, that’s a car journey away and you travel by bus then that’s a massive ask.

Tell the boss that if the courier won’t collect when convenient then he can always take a day off work (like he’s expecting you to do), pop down and collect it himself!

Jux · 01/06/2018 13:03

Sned them Fizzy'sor GreenFinger's reply. They are trying to bully you, so don't let them. Be firm.

Maybe you would have been willing to carry a heavy parcel somewhere at the beginning of this, but I certainly wouldn't be now.

Let them report it as stolen if they really want to go down that route (I'm sure that's an empty threat) as the police will then come to you and take it away for you. You can prove you've tried to be reasonable and they can't prove you haven't, so they are the ones who will suffer.

AnathemaPulsifer · 01/06/2018 13:08

Bonfires has it right: Tell the boss that if the courier won’t collect when convenient then he can always take a day off work (like he’s expecting you to do), pop down and collect it himself!

maddening · 01/06/2018 13:09

Fizzy's letter is fab ☺

ArghWhoAreYou · 01/06/2018 13:14

Clearly they've lost their minds. I'm Hmm about sellers who expect you to be in to wait for their packages between 7 and 7 for somethign I actually want but as you've done them a massive favour they can fuck the fuck off. Call the polie and ask what your legal responsibility actually is.

AnnieAnoniMouser · 01/06/2018 13:16

You’ll need to omit part of Fizzys letter though because you do not need to be taking a 40kg package anywhere!

Tell them they have two choices - to send someone when it’s convenient for you or to write the goods off. End of.

Laugh when they suggest reporting it stolen. Idiots.

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Cindie943811A · 01/06/2018 13:19

OP basic rule of law — you are classified as a gratuitous bailee — that I you have had these goods thrust on you unasked and your only obligation is to that reasonable care of them ie don’t give them to the DC to play shop or the dog to chew, but if said DC or dog happen to get hold of them from the safe place you put them, then too bad.
You have no obligation to return the goods, they must collect them.
If they want you to be home for their courier then they must be prepared to pay you costs.
Tell them you have consulted a lawyer and if they want to collect them they need to pick them up on Sunday. Tell them that even this is an inconvenience as it means you can’t go out. If you feel like it you can ask if they’d like you to leave them at your local corner shop for collection at their own risk and to pay the shopkeepers fee. This needs to be acknowledged in writing.
I reckon it is the idiot who wrongly addressed the parcel who is giving you a hard time — doesn’t want to admit their mistake to superiors.
You could try googling the company and ringing the boss direct to complain about the harassment you’ve been receiving.
Just don’t panic. Not your circus, not your monkeys. No repercussions for you.

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 01/06/2018 13:23

YANBU - it's their problem. I don't know why some companies won't give an arrival time - I travel all over and I still manage to tell people when i'm coming - we have google maps and sat navs now so it's bang out order for companies to still be saying they'll be there between 7 and 7. They can pick up the fucking phone and speak to the driver and ask them to come to you at a specific time.

Clubcuts · 01/06/2018 13:24

Tell them you're going to start charging storage costs for their property on your premises!

On social media shame them!

Can you imagine what the police would say! They should be charged with wasting police time!

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