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Original poster

15 year old keeps getting parcels and I'm starting to wonder where the money’s coming from

195 replies

EarlyMorningTea0 · 09/07/2026 13:29

My 15 year old daughter has suddenly started getting little parcels delivered a few times a week. Nothing massive, just those small padded envelopes or little boxes. She always says its just bits she’s ordered.

Thing is I cant work out how she’s paying for any of it. She doesn’t have a job, gets normal pocket money from us and that definitely wouldn’t stretch to this many deliveries. We’ve not noticed money missing or anything odd with the bank accounts either.

I’ve asked her a couple of times and she just shrugs and says she’s got money. When I ask from where she says she’s been saving or sold a few things, but she’s never really had much worth selling as far as I know.

Part of me thinks she’s 15 and entitled to a bit of privacy, but another part of me thinks I’m her parent and if money is appearing from somewhere I should know about it. I dont want to accuse her of anything if theres a perfectly innocent explanation, but equally I dont want to ignore something that turns out to be a bigger issue.

AIBU if I insist she tells me exactly where the money is coming from?

OP posts:
Mareseatoatsanddoeseatoatsandlittlelambseativy · 09/07/2026 15:19

rainbowunicorn · 09/07/2026 15:17

Nobody said anything about setting up a PO box though.

Show quote history

No, but OP needs to investigate all options until she gets to the bottom of this.

The sooner she asks DD the better.

rainbowunicorn · 09/07/2026 15:17

Mareseatoatsanddoeseatoatsandlittlelambseativy · 09/07/2026 15:03

Again, you need to be 18 to set up a PO Box.

Show quote history

Nobody said anything about setting up a PO box though.

Anywherebuthere · 09/07/2026 15:16

I would need to know too. Is it possible she is ordering from places like shein or temu with pocket money? Things are dirt cheap from there.

You should definately be asking questions or checking her bank balance.

JLou08 · 09/07/2026 15:14

Ask how much it costs and work out if she could afford it. It could be an indicator of exploitation, it could also be very cheap items from temu/shien.

Elsvieta · 09/07/2026 15:11

Banking app on her phone? Yes, definitely go through it - all money in and money out.

SwatTheTwit · 09/07/2026 15:11

With £10/week she’d be able to get parcels coming in, especially if she’s buying from AliExpress etc.

However I’d still ask and make sure she’s telling you the truth. There’s other less great things she could be doing.

Miyagi99 · 09/07/2026 15:10

Mareseatoatsanddoeseatoatsandlittlelambseativy · 09/07/2026 15:06

I didn't know you could have a bank a/c at 16 - so that's something I've learned !

It seems that OP's daughter has a bank a/c that she (OP) might not be able to access. That seems rather unwise.

She does have a bank account but it’s one we set up years ago and I haven’t looked at it in ages. I don’t know if I’m even able to without her there, I’ll have to check.

Edited
Show quote history

You can have a bank account at any age and now everything is online no need to withdraw money.

TaupeFinch · 09/07/2026 15:10

EarlyMorningTea0 · 09/07/2026 13:29

My 15 year old daughter has suddenly started getting little parcels delivered a few times a week. Nothing massive, just those small padded envelopes or little boxes. She always says its just bits she’s ordered.

Thing is I cant work out how she’s paying for any of it. She doesn’t have a job, gets normal pocket money from us and that definitely wouldn’t stretch to this many deliveries. We’ve not noticed money missing or anything odd with the bank accounts either.

I’ve asked her a couple of times and she just shrugs and says she’s got money. When I ask from where she says she’s been saving or sold a few things, but she’s never really had much worth selling as far as I know.

Part of me thinks she’s 15 and entitled to a bit of privacy, but another part of me thinks I’m her parent and if money is appearing from somewhere I should know about it. I dont want to accuse her of anything if theres a perfectly innocent explanation, but equally I dont want to ignore something that turns out to be a bigger issue.

AIBU if I insist she tells me exactly where the money is coming from?

As she is 15 do you have any oversight on her phone or internet access?

We gave our eldest access to Vinted at a similar age, and gave things to sell (if they wanted to) and they were allowed to sell things of their own, with agreement, so we didn't have expensive things sold for a £5. This really helped them in terms of ownership over their own style and bit of responsibility.

On the other end if they do have open internet and phone access, it could be something more nefarious. I would be inclined to just be open, and say you don't want to cause upset, but you're a bit worried about where the money is coming from and you'd like to understand how she is affording these things.

I hope it's positive :-)

Miyagi99 · 09/07/2026 15:09

Could be free stuff, you can get loads of bits on those websites, sample perfumes and make up and the like. Or Temu, lots of stuff for £1s.

InOverMyHead84 · 09/07/2026 15:08

Quite possibly dabbling in some trading, buying low selling high.

But equally, if the value of these things goes up. Then big red flags.

Mareseatoatsanddoeseatoatsandlittlelambseativy · 09/07/2026 15:06

u3ername · 09/07/2026 15:05

You don’t need a P.O. Box to receive things in InPost locker.
Op already said dd has a bank account.

Show quote history

I didn't know you could have a bank a/c at 16 - so that's something I've learned !

It seems that OP's daughter has a bank a/c that she (OP) might not be able to access. That seems rather unwise.

She does have a bank account but it’s one we set up years ago and I haven’t looked at it in ages. I don’t know if I’m even able to without her there, I’ll have to check.

Sunburntprune · 09/07/2026 15:06

I’ve actually just sat down and had a frank conversation with my 16 year old today - in our case about a potential eating disorder . It turns out there is something else entirely going on . However I thoroughly recommend the frank conversation - good luck

u3ername · 09/07/2026 15:05

Mareseatoatsanddoeseatoatsandlittlelambseativy · 09/07/2026 15:03

Again, you need to be 18 to set up a PO Box.

Show quote history

You don’t need a P.O. Box to receive things in InPost locker.
Op already said dd has a bank account.

Birthdayfeel · 09/07/2026 15:05

Is she even spending her own money, or does she have access to someone's card? Either given for who knows what reason or stolen?

MyMilchick · 09/07/2026 15:04

I would definitely want to find out in case she's doing anything unsafe/illegal

Mareseatoatsanddoeseatoatsandlittlelambseativy · 09/07/2026 15:03

BackToLurk · 09/07/2026 15:01

If it was really, really dodgy, wouldn't she just be getting stuff sent to an inpost locker?

Again, you need to be 18 to set up a PO Box.

Birthdayfeel · 09/07/2026 15:03

BackToLurk · 09/07/2026 15:01

If it was really, really dodgy, wouldn't she just be getting stuff sent to an inpost locker?

It's not the stuff that's likely to be dodgy but where the money is coming from.

u3ername · 09/07/2026 15:03

If you’re giving her cash for her pocket money how is she spending that online? Would she go to a bank to pay cash in?
My first job would be checking the bank account -
what goes in and what goes out.

Mareseatoatsanddoeseatoatsandlittlelambseativy · 09/07/2026 15:02

talliani · 09/07/2026 14:27

I would be looking at her bank statements.

Again you need to be 18 to open a bank a/c unless an adult is guaranteeing it.

Does she actually have one ?

BackToLurk · 09/07/2026 15:01

If it was really, really dodgy, wouldn't she just be getting stuff sent to an inpost locker?

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 09/07/2026 15:00

You need a proper chat with her. She may seem innocent but if she’s found a way of making money which isn’t strictly legal then she’ll be secretive about it. Whether it’s running up debt from Apple Pay or OF or something else then you need to sort this.

Mareseatoatsanddoeseatoatsandlittlelambseativy · 09/07/2026 14:59

maowmaow · 09/07/2026 13:32

Any orders placed at your address have the potential to come back on you, if any issues, so yes, I would insist she proves how she’s affording this.

if it’s innocent, and due to money she has fro selling on Vinted or other, then it should be a problem for her to show that.

Your house, your rules

Edited

If she's selling on Vinted or eBay she needs to be 18.

She's a minor OP so you need to ask her what's going on.

Luddite26 · 09/07/2026 14:56

It's hard not to think of the worst case scenario after vile Huw Edwards. Who would have thought that so anything is possible.
No need for secrecy if there's nothing dodgy unless you are an eco warrior type frowning on buying loads of cheap crap ( I would be lecturing about that so not judging).

quixote9 · 09/07/2026 14:55

I don't have a teenager, so rank amateur here, but I have been one. So the approach that would have made me less defensive is explaining that the legal system holds you responsible. That if there's any problems with these shipments, you could be facing a court case. And that's why you need her to be in your corner on this.If after seeing that you got the point across she's still defensive and secretive, then there probably really is a problem. That's the time to go full forensic detective on the case.

UpDownAllAround1 · 09/07/2026 14:55

Just ask her to open the next one in front of you

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