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Original poster

Neighbour refused to take in a parcel

114 replies

FishFingerSandwiches4Tea · 28/08/2022 22:09

Obviously it's their right to refuse, but I'm a bit miffed! We've been neighbours for 10 years, and they have taken in parcels for us in the past, as have we for them, although as they are retired and we both (were) working outside the home they've done it more than we have iyswim.

Since lockdown we're home 95% of the time so they've not needed to take one for us for a while. Today we were out for 2 hours, and during that time a small (a4ish size if that's at all relevant) parcel turned up from amazon. The neighbours refused to take it. I only know as the next neighbour along took it and the delivery driver told them.

I know there's bigger problems etc, but I feel... slightly annoyed and unsettled by it! It seems like a really petty thing to do, ans now I'm worried we've unknowingly upset them in some way. Obviously I'm not going to make an issue of it, but wtf?

OP posts:
Ohdearnotagain76 · 28/08/2022 22:11

Maybe they just had enough of taking everyone’s parcels, doesn’t mean it’s personal

chillipenguin · 28/08/2022 22:12

It might be they don't want to become the default parcel takerinerer for the rest of the street. Maybe other neighbours have taken the piss. Maybe they are away for a week from tomorrow so it won't get to you. Who knows. But it's perfectly reasonable for them to say no.

Mrsjayy · 28/08/2022 22:12

Maybe they are going away so didn't want to take it in, or are just fed up taking parcels In they are allowed to get fed up, don't worry about it I am sure they are decent neighbours still. Redirect your parcel s in future.

BettyOBarley · 28/08/2022 22:13

They might be going away and didn't want to keep hold of it? If you normally get on well I'm sure it's probably some innocent reason.

Saying that I refused to take one for my next door neighbour for the first time the other day as every time I take one they never come for it and it's takes me a few times of knocking to get them to open the door. Not saying you're like that though!

SpinningFloppa · 28/08/2022 22:13

I never take in my neighbours parcels as they didn’t collect so now I refuse haven’t got time to go round delivering them and we aren’t friends so I say no now

TimboWimbo · 28/08/2022 22:13

Probably going away

Createagate · 28/08/2022 22:14

They might’ve been planning to go away for a night or two, and didn’t want to declare that to the postman?

MissMaple82 · 28/08/2022 22:15

It's petty that you're so annoyed that you're taking to mumsnet !!

Vallmo47 · 28/08/2022 22:15

I’ve had to refuse in the past due to plans in future days/weeks meaning I won’t be home a lot and I really didn’t want to put my neighbour in a position where they couldn’t receive their stuff in ages.

I have also refused due to previous neighbours taking the absolute piss by putting my name down as the chosen address for Amazon deliveries, over their own! Sometimes I accepted huge parcels and once the delivery driver said “Did you know they’ve redirected it all to you?” and I was fuming as they had not even asked me!! Once they were in and left it 3 days before collecting. I nearly binned it.

It could be either of the two Op. Eventually people can get cheesed off doing these favours for others, especially if the deliveries happen a lot. One elderly neighbour outright told me he won’t, he’s struggling with his mobility and cannot stand to go down two flights of stairs only to discover it’s a delivery for someone else. Fair enough.

chillipenguin · 28/08/2022 22:17

They might have covid

JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 28/08/2022 22:17

Going away would also be my guess. Or been inundated. One Christmas a neighbour took in a parcel for me and when I went over to collect it he said "which one are you?". He'd taken in parcels for 3 other neighbours so I felt quite bad about it.

chillipenguin · 28/08/2022 22:19

Or they've had a bereavement and just don't want the hassle at the moment

RedWingBoots · 28/08/2022 22:19

You should have told your neighbour that you were expecting a parcel and were going out for a couple of hours.

I got to the point that I refused to open the door to delivery people because they were expecting me to take in random people's parcels as I WFH. Some of these so called "neighbours" weren't next door but a bloody street away.

My neighbour who I take in the most parcels for had to give me the heads up that they were expecting something if they weren't going to be in.

Now it's gone back to delivery people only giving me occasional parcels and for my actual neighbours.

MomwasCasual · 28/08/2022 22:19

I'm sure you did Grin but did you always go round to pick them up?

I used to be the go to delivery receiver when I started WHF about 8 years ago. I never minded, but eventually I realised that next door-but-one never came and knocked for them, but instead waited for me to deliver. So I thought fuck that for a game of soldiers!

It came to a head when a rather large box had been sitting in my hall for a week or so. The night before bin day, I was out dragging the wheelie bin to the end of the drive, the lazy bastard NDBO came out and asked if we had a parcel for them- I said yes, then went in and closed the door.

It still took him until the next morning to knock and ask for it, so after that, I used to check with the delivery drivers and and refuse any for them.

SunshineLoving · 28/08/2022 22:22

You're overthinking it.

There's loads of reasons they may not have taken the parcel in. To name a few:
They're going away/they were going out for the rest of the day
They've had enough of taking parcels in
They're not feeling well and needed to be alone without the responsibility of delivering your parcel

Starlightstarbright1 · 28/08/2022 22:22

I used to worl from home..

At some point i became the default for all neighbours so started refusing.

I used to refuse for one neighbour as they always came round at ds"s bedtime..

I also refused once when neighbour had a new toilet delivered..

So many reasons i have refused.. most not personal.

Original poster
FishFingerSandwiches4Tea · 28/08/2022 22:25

They're not going away. They don't go anywhere. One of them has mobility problems but the other doesn't and is always there too. I've always gone straight round to pick up a parcel so it isn't that. Ah well. As I said, definitely bigger problems in the world right now!

OP posts:
huuskymam · 28/08/2022 22:30

I stopped taking my previous neighbours parcels cause she was taking the piss. She'd clearly be there and refuse to answer the door,, then would walk out 5 minutes after the delivery fella left. I asked her once did she not hear him ringing the bell and she replied she didn't like answering the doors to strangers, that's fair enough but there's a big dpd or fastway van outside and you're expecting a bloody delivery.

RedWingBoots · 28/08/2022 22:33

huuskymam · 28/08/2022 22:30

I stopped taking my previous neighbours parcels cause she was taking the piss. She'd clearly be there and refuse to answer the door,, then would walk out 5 minutes after the delivery fella left. I asked her once did she not hear him ringing the bell and she replied she didn't like answering the doors to strangers, that's fair enough but there's a big dpd or fastway van outside and you're expecting a bloody delivery.

😂

DPD and a lot of others text and/or email you to tell you the 1-2 hour block they are going to do your delivery in. How does she know you won't go out in that time period?

There's nowt so queer as folk.

KurtCobainsColourfulCarpet · 28/08/2022 22:34

Clearly they hate you. Probably have photos of you pinned to the wall for target practice. This is just the first step in a long, detailed, targeted campaign to drive you so insane that you flee town and sell your house to them at rock bottom price.

Womencanlift · 28/08/2022 22:39

You might go round right away but other neighbours may not and they are sick of being the post office for the street

Also you can track your parcel so why go out when it was due? And it it was unavoidable did you not think about getting it to a locker to avoid bothering your neighbours?

huuskymam · 28/08/2022 22:39

RedWingBoots · 28/08/2022 22:33

😂

DPD and a lot of others text and/or email you to tell you the 1-2 hour block they are going to do your delivery in. How does she know you won't go out in that time period?

There's nowt so queer as folk.

Show quote history

Once my car is there, I'm there. I had no problem taking stuff for the other neighbour while she stood there getting her own 😂😂 don't think she was happy.

PinkButtercups · 28/08/2022 22:40

My mums NDN did this all the time to her. They all worked in the day and my mum worked in the evening. They weren't even that friendly but knew my mum would always take it in. I answered the door once and refused as they'd leave the parcels there for days even after she had attempted to knock when she knew they were in.

Not saying this is what you do but it's proper CF behaviour.

Original poster
FishFingerSandwiches4Tea · 28/08/2022 22:43

KurtCobainsColourfulCarpet · 28/08/2022 22:34

Clearly they hate you. Probably have photos of you pinned to the wall for target practice. This is just the first step in a long, detailed, targeted campaign to drive you so insane that you flee town and sell your house to them at rock bottom price.

😱 Ruth and Geoff, is that you...? 😂

OP posts:
Original poster
FishFingerSandwiches4Tea · 28/08/2022 22:46

Womencanlift · 28/08/2022 22:39

You might go round right away but other neighbours may not and they are sick of being the post office for the street

Also you can track your parcel so why go out when it was due? And it it was unavoidable did you not think about getting it to a locker to avoid bothering your neighbours?

I knew it was small so expected it to be pushed through the letter box or left by the front door. Plus when we left it just said out for delivery with a delivery window of 4 hours 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
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