Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour asked me to take in her parcel whilst she went out

137 replies

ready4sunshine · 14/02/2026 13:50

So yesterday I got a message from a neighbour who lives two doors down to me to ask if I would be able to take in her parcel to my house.

Her parcel had already been delivered and was left in a safe place in the side where she usually had her parcels delivered.

It was raining and she wanted me to bring it in.
I did it but was slightly annoyed as why order a parcel if your going to be out?

This is the third time this has happened now.

I am aware our mutual neighbour refuses to accept her deliveries and even has a Royal Mail Opt out sticker on her letterbox.

I have only ever spoken to her three times. All related to her deliveries. She dosent even say hello usually.

I don't want this to be a regular thing but as I am on the neighbourhood watch group chat she just messages me now.

I don't want to be seen as rude or ignorant but I don't want it becoming a regular habit.

OP posts:
NotMajorTom · 14/02/2026 15:07

Fizbosshoes · 14/02/2026 14:35

We have a road whatsapp group. Often someone will ask if someone can take their parcel in, and another person says yes.
I sometimes take parcels for our neighbours and they sometimes take them for me. (One ndn came to bring the parcel at 10pm which was a bit antisocial imo)

it seems a much bigger deal on MN than IRL

This. I never understand why on here it’s such a big ask of people. I take parcels for neighbours, they do for me. Surely that’s a much nicer world than saying no?

OSTMusTisNT · 14/02/2026 15:04
  1. Change your profile picture to your cats.
  2. Leave all her messages as unread from this point onwards.
  3. Occasionally send a photo of your cats then follow up with a "whoopsie, that was meant for my friend also called Doris, hope you enjoyed the photo anyway hehe"
Ilovemyshed · 14/02/2026 15:01

The nicer you are to people the nicer they feel they should be back. Kindness is infectious.

Isittimeformynapyet · 14/02/2026 14:59

Jellyslothbridge · 14/02/2026 14:21

I would be tempted to go a bit pirates of the Caribbean "I am disinclined to aquesque to your request"

Acquiesce

SweeetFannyAdams · 14/02/2026 14:59

ready4sunshine · 14/02/2026 14:08

She called it ugly and scary looking because he is a black cat, not a very nice thing to say about an innocent animal.

And I thought 'going round telling everyone your cat got killed' was jumping the shark...

WeepingAngelInTheTardis · 14/02/2026 14:58

I would just archive her messages and never open them.

Johnogroats · 14/02/2026 14:58

Can you mute the chat? And/or be presenting on a vital Teams all day call?

neverwakeasleepingbaby · 14/02/2026 14:54

TheMorgenmuffel · 14/02/2026 14:08

Ime, the type of person who won't normally even say hello to you and has only ever spoken to you to ask for favours is normally the type who won't help you out with anything no matter how many favours you've done for them

Show quote history

Fair enough. I’ve had better experiences

TomatoSandwiches · 14/02/2026 14:44

ready4sunshine · 14/02/2026 14:08

She called it ugly and scary looking because he is a black cat, not a very nice thing to say about an innocent animal.

She can go swivel then.

WallaceinAnderland · 14/02/2026 14:42

Don't read her message until the evening, or turn off read receipts. Pretend you didn't see it until it was too late.

pinkyredrose · 14/02/2026 14:40

Just say no.

MissMoneyFairy · 14/02/2026 14:35

She sounds horrible, no cat or any other animal is ugly. She has an allocated safe place, she can put a,parcel box or bin there for when it's raining, I wouldn't open any more messages.

Fizbosshoes · 14/02/2026 14:35

We have a road whatsapp group. Often someone will ask if someone can take their parcel in, and another person says yes.
I sometimes take parcels for our neighbours and they sometimes take them for me. (One ndn came to bring the parcel at 10pm which was a bit antisocial imo)

it seems a much bigger deal on MN than IRL

pinkdelight · 14/02/2026 14:31

GardenGaff · 14/02/2026 14:24

I’d be inclined to reply “I’m not going out in the rain, I’ll grab it once the rain stops”, then forget.

That would be a bit dim given that the rain was the only reason she wanted it bringing in. If you mean it as a way to put the neighbour off asking, might as well just say no rather than appearing to be dim.

GardenGaff · 14/02/2026 14:24

I’d be inclined to reply “I’m not going out in the rain, I’ll grab it once the rain stops”, then forget.

Jellyslothbridge · 14/02/2026 14:21

I would be tempted to go a bit pirates of the Caribbean "I am disinclined to aquesque to your request"

CinnamonBuns67 · 14/02/2026 14:20

You don't always know when a parcel will be delivered, I've had parcels turn up 2 days before I thought it would without notification, some I've had but an hours notice when I'm already out. Not always an option to ask them to deliver another time either.

I would normally take it in as a one off in hopes they'd do the same for me, however as she sounds like a horrible cow from your other posts, I'd ignore her message and let the parcel get wet.

Bearbookagainandagain · 14/02/2026 14:17

I don't understand why you would accept and then complain about it on MN. You're not held at gun point, just say no.

"I did it but was slightly annoyed as why order a parcel if your going to be out?"
Because no one can tell when the parcel is actually going to come? Do you ever place online orders?

BudgetBuster · 14/02/2026 14:17

ready4sunshine · 14/02/2026 14:08

She called it ugly and scary looking because he is a black cat, not a very nice thing to say about an innocent animal.

No, it's not nice. I don't particularly like animals but I'd never say they were ugly.

I was genuinely curious what someone would say to slag an animal.

If you have no ambition to be friends with her I'd probably just text back and say "Sorry, I can't". No is a full sentence and she'd be weird to ask why you can't. No need to make excuses.

dudsville · 14/02/2026 14:13

But you might be in but doing anything else. You might be napping, or colouring your hair, or nipping out to the shops. I feel a tiny bit guilty when I have to go to work and my DH is home but I'm expecting a parcel. I don't get to choose when a parcel is delivered, and I can collect it from the post office if we miss delivery, and he knows I'm ok with this if he misses it because he was off living his best life. This is an agreement between two people who love each other very much. To your neighbour I would be even less receptive.

TheMorgenmuffel · 14/02/2026 14:08

neverwakeasleepingbaby · 14/02/2026 14:03

It’s nice to be nice. Besides, you might need a favour one day. Good to build some goodwill with neighbours

Ime, the type of person who won't normally even say hello to you and has only ever spoken to you to ask for favours is normally the type who won't help you out with anything no matter how many favours you've done for them

Original poster
ready4sunshine · 14/02/2026 14:08

She called it ugly and scary looking because he is a black cat, not a very nice thing to say about an innocent animal.

OP posts:
BudgetBuster · 14/02/2026 14:06

ready4sunshine · 14/02/2026 14:05

I must admit I am not overly keen on her, I have overheard her slagging off my cats and when one was killed she went round telling everyone.

It is a bit difficult to say I'm not in as she has a ring bell thing and she knows I have Fridays off.

I will just not open the message until later in the future.

Slagging off your cat 😂
Sorry... what was she saying that counts as slagging a cat

Needmorelego · 14/02/2026 14:05

Have you never ordered a parcel?
You don't exactly get to choose the time slot 🤣
You had 3 choices.
Ignore.
Say you were out yourself.
Just take the parcel out of the rain as a neighbourly favour.

Not exactly complicated.

Original poster
ready4sunshine · 14/02/2026 14:05

I must admit I am not overly keen on her, I have overheard her slagging off my cats and when one was killed she went round telling everyone.

It is a bit difficult to say I'm not in as she has a ring bell thing and she knows I have Fridays off.

I will just not open the message until later in the future.

OP posts: