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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:
SassyPants87 · 28/08/2022 22:50

There’s nothing wrong with them refusing your parcel. There could be multiple reasons for it. I think you’re over reacting

Original poster
FishFingerSandwiches4Tea · 28/08/2022 22:54

SassyPants87 · 28/08/2022 22:50

There’s nothing wrong with them refusing your parcel. There could be multiple reasons for it. I think you’re over reacting

Well no, as I said it's their right to refuse. However personally I would not make a delivery drivers life more difficult by just responding 'no' and shutting the door in their face for no good reason. I think it's odd behaviour. I don't think I'm overreacting in being surprised and wondering at their motivation. But hey, we're all different. Clearly.

OP posts:
SpinCityBlues · 28/08/2022 22:57

But you weren't there. How can you know that's what happened?

dmask · 28/08/2022 22:58

They were probably going out and didn’t want to deal with the responsibility. Surely it’s not a big deal if you’re home a lot? It will be redelivered.

Original poster
FishFingerSandwiches4Tea · 28/08/2022 22:58

SpinCityBlues · 28/08/2022 22:57

But you weren't there. How can you know that's what happened?

Erm, because the delivery driver told the next neighbour along, who told me?

OP posts:
Womencanlift · 28/08/2022 23:01

You are taking this very personally as if you have been wronged by your neighbours

As other posts have said there may be other entitled neighbours in your street who don’t go round as quickly as you so they have decided on a blanket no for everyone which unfortunately includes you

It is not odd behaviour, it’s about them making a choice

Always so much angst about parcels on MN. Don’t remember the last time I was asked to take one in for a neighbour and similarly don’t remember having to go and collect one from a neighbour in a long time

SpinCityBlues · 28/08/2022 23:02

FishFingerSandwiches4Tea · 28/08/2022 22:58

Erm, because the delivery driver told the next neighbour along, who told me?

Show quote history

That's quite gossipy really. I wuldn't like to be talked about like that. And then to be put on an internet forum. Maybe they just want to keep themselves to themselves, quietly.

Whatthejackdawsaw · 28/08/2022 23:03

If its a one off thing it could be as simple as them having had or expecting bad news that day and not feeling up to people calling around later or perhaps someone other than the homeowner answered and werent sure if they should take in a parcel for their parent/aunt etc. If it turns into a long term thing where they refuse multiple parcels perhaps it's been the combination of getting the streets parcels and having the hallway start to look like a mail depot (this happened to me during covid as I worked from home I actually had to move all the boxes into the living room to get the pram down the hallway then had multiple pick ups disturbing teatime/bedtime) or that some people are taking a long time to pick up so they've spoiled it for others.

Mossstitch · 28/08/2022 23:07

@MomwasCasual I had one just like this (fortunately moved now👏) always me that had to take to her and it happened very regularly. The worst was xmas time, a huge box was delivered too big for me to pick up, so I knocked to say come and get it, she said oh the kids will see I'll come when they are in bed...... It sat there for over a week! I live in a tiny terrace with door straight into front room, she finally arrived xmas eve whilst my family were sat around enjoying the festivities, I seriously considered putting a cloth over it and using it as a table for nibbles🎅 no apology or anything....... And yes I know I'm a doormat and have issues around saying no🤦I should have charged rent for storage😂

Mariokartedoff · 28/08/2022 23:08

FishFingerSandwiches4Tea · 28/08/2022 22:58

Erm, because the delivery driver told the next neighbour along, who told me?

Show quote history

Is this an Amazon driver? I live near an Amazon depot a know a few of the drivers. They're all lazy fuckers who happily admit to just abandoning parcels left, right and centre. They'll make up any old bullshit to get people to take parcels in.

My old postman knew I was at home in the day and effectively used me as the local post office for our street. I'm glad he's fucked off now.

Lindy2 · 28/08/2022 23:08

I've just taken a parcel in for our neighbours. I'd normally do it without hesitation but today I almost said no because we have Covid in our household.

They'll come over tomorrow to collect so I'll have to warn them to keep their distance while I pass it to them.

If I was about to go away I'd probably say no because the parcel could end up stuck at my house while I'm away.

Original poster
FishFingerSandwiches4Tea · 28/08/2022 23:10

@Womencanlift I don't feel I've been wronged by them, I'm confused about this suddenly becoming an issue for them when it hasn't been in the past. I thought we got on well enough, and would have gone out of my way for them if they needed anything, but now I feel like if they won't take in a rare parcel then maybe I've upset them? I don't like the thought of there being any upset that's all.

OP posts:
Scarydinosaurs · 28/08/2022 23:12

You’ve got absolutely no idea why they said no - you’re making so many assumptions.

I wouldn’t give it another thought.

Ladybyrd · 28/08/2022 23:13

I really don't like it when delivery drivers bother our neighbours. I just ask them to leave it in a safe place instead.

MarmiteCoriander · 28/08/2022 23:15

There could be SO many reasons OP.

  • early dementia, couldn't recall your name/address and therefore refused as its not THEIR name/address
  • Young children and didn't want them woken by neighbours coming around and ringing the bell late
  • They are going away very soon and don't want to hold a package that may not be collected before they leave
  • Being ill/covid/flu/D&V and not wanting to answer the door or pass it on
  • Bereavement and not wanting to answer the door to a neighbour and discuss
  • Delivery driver not making it clear who the package was for or not reading/pronouncing name correctly. We once had one tell us the package was for 'Thocks cottage'. We said, sorry, I don't know that house along here at all and I refused the package!!! Turns out it was for 'The Oaks Cottage'!

Just a few thoughts on why they didn't accept it.

Ladybyrd · 28/08/2022 23:16

There is an address that gets mixed up with ours and we were happy to take those and drop those around. But one day, the occupant confused my partner for a delivery driver (which he is in his day job), and spoke to him like shit. Now if they don't come and ask for their parcels, after a week they go in the bin.

Original poster
FishFingerSandwiches4Tea · 28/08/2022 23:18

@Mariokartedoff yeah it was amazon 🤔. The neighbour who took the parcel from him is 2 doors away though so it makes sense he'd have tried next door first.

That's annoying about the postman! I'd totally understand you refusing in that situation!

OP posts:
abovedecknotbelow · 28/08/2022 23:18

So many reasons why they mate said no.

Where are you that Amazon don't leave it in the doorstep though?

Ladybyrd · 28/08/2022 23:19

Maybe next door was out, or maybe they went there by mistake? I wouldn't read too much into it.

starfishmummy · 28/08/2022 23:22

I knew it was small so expected it to be pushed through the letter box

But surely you know its sods law that if you think it is going to fit through your letterbox, it will actually arrive in a giant box!!

PyongyangKipperbang · 28/08/2022 23:23

I now refuse because NDN to the left tried to scam when their parcel was left with me and I gave it to them but they went to company and claimed that I refused to give it to them. It was a V expensive item so it did get taken seriously, luckily for me the item (brand new top of the range iPhone) was used by a pair tech incompetents who registered it the next day!

Used to be own occupiers around here and we all did it for each other but now it is mainly short term renters who can scam and run so I am not prepared to take the risk. Nothing against renters, just that the turn over in my street is high due to how the local work market is so it is easy to scam scam scam and then leave.

fantasmasgoria1 · 28/08/2022 23:24

I understand why you feel this way and perhaps you could ask them why?

Original poster
FishFingerSandwiches4Tea · 28/08/2022 23:32

Some of you guys have right CFs for neighbours, I'm not surprised at some of those reasons for you refusing after experiencing that! I guess I'll never know the reason for my neighbours suddenly refusing but I'll put a note on my delivery preferences to say NOT to go next door in future and to leave it at my front door instead.

OP posts:
Ladybyrd · 28/08/2022 23:36

@FishFingerSandwiches4Tea I started doing that since our CF landlord who lived next door decided he was going to keep our £50 cat tree that was left at his and actually came into our house taking pictures of the replacement all assembled so he could sell it on gumtree, the scumbag.

I can see it from both sides. Just leave it in the greenhouse please!

rwalker · 28/08/2022 23:41

Your parcel could of been 1 of many from all the other neighbours
do they could of just stopped taking any parcels irrespective of which house there for