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Original poster

Down nearly £300 due to safe place delivery - what to do?

31 replies

caggie3 · 06/12/2023 18:17

I ordered something online that was being delivered. The time frame they provided was between 8.30-6pm and I waited in all day apart from the school run and they tried to deliver it then. It got rescheduled to the next day and they assured me it would be the morning. Again they attempted delivery when I was on the school run. I ended up phoning and saying this is going to keep happening so can they just leave it behind my gate in my back garden if they come during the school run. It was a high value item so it was meant to be signed for but they agreed to this. They again came during school run today and said they'd left my parcel in a safe place except it isn't there. I phoned up and they said it was left in the agreed safe place and I consented to that and am liable for the item from that point onwards. It's a high value item in a box that obviously states what it is so I feel like the drivers seen an opportunity and kept it and it seems there's nothing I can do about it? Sad

OP posts:
Elieza · 06/12/2023 18:18

My delivery drivers take a photo of the item. Is there any evidence it was delivered?

Original poster
caggie3 · 06/12/2023 18:19

They've taken a photo of it against my fence in the back garden yes but it isn't there. I only got home 13 minutes exactly after they delivered it. I live on a safe quiet estate. I do not believe for a second anyone else would of pinched it. What's to stop the driver in safe place deliveries from taking a photo and then taking the item?! Sad

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 06/12/2023 18:20

There is usually some spiel saying that you take responsibility for anything left in a safe place.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General shopping
Delightfuldays · 06/12/2023 18:20

See if any of the neighbours have ring and have video of the driver putting it back in the van.

NotEvenThought · 06/12/2023 18:21

Have you got cctv?
Some thieves follow delivery vehicles.

Mammyloveswine · 06/12/2023 18:21

Sorry but no way would I have left a £300 item to chance

FunkyMonks · 06/12/2023 18:21

Only thing you can do is contact the sellers of said item and see if they are willing to refund or send out another but I would pay extra and have it delivered with another company like DPD for example that give you estimated time slot within an hour etc or a click and collect type of option where you can take pick it up from a store or locker.

Sadly it's your word against the delivery driver you did consent to have it left in a safe place so they are right there.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 06/12/2023 18:24

It's worth contacting the seller as a pp said. They might contact the courier - and there could be a pattern with this particular driver, and so they might believe you, you don't know. It does seem very unlikely that the driver didn't take it or have a mate locally who went straight round to get it.

Original poster
caggie3 · 06/12/2023 18:30

I wouldn't usually for something so expensive but it keeps coming in the same 30 min period I'm not home so I allowed them to leave it if it happened to come in that same time. Thinking what's worst that can happen in 30 mins. Sad

OP posts:
Elieza · 06/12/2023 18:33

I’d go round neighbours with cctv and blink doorbell type things tonight and ask

id suggest now before it gets late and before they delete the potential evidence ( as if they pay a subscription to a company and it’s perhaps cheaper to delete regularly than have megs of cloud data costing money. )

Fartooold · 06/12/2023 18:35

That's totally shit!
I KNOW it's useless saying this now, but I've started using a pick up point for higher value goods.
My postman is brill, as is Amazon, but other delivery people are hit and miss.

I'm so sorry for you - it's the sort of thing I would have done.

ButterCupPie · 06/12/2023 18:36

NotEvenThought · 06/12/2023 18:21

Have you got cctv?
Some thieves follow delivery vehicles.

Exactly. This.

ButterCupPie · 06/12/2023 18:37

caggie3 · 06/12/2023 18:30

I wouldn't usually for something so expensive but it keeps coming in the same 30 min period I'm not home so I allowed them to leave it if it happened to come in that same time. Thinking what's worst that can happen in 30 mins. Sad

@caggie3

Thinking what's worst that can happen in 30 mins.

Well, now you know!

Wherearemymarbles · 06/12/2023 18:39

Unless you have proof then sadly nothing you can do about it.
I do think you were somewhat foolish though.

ButterCupPie · 06/12/2023 18:40

enchantedsquirrelwood · 06/12/2023 18:24

It's worth contacting the seller as a pp said. They might contact the courier - and there could be a pattern with this particular driver, and so they might believe you, you don't know. It does seem very unlikely that the driver didn't take it or have a mate locally who went straight round to get it.

There was a courier company in our town which closed down after 16 out of 18 drivers were arrested for theft. They were claiming that mobile phones were being delivered to 'safe places' and keeping them to sell on.

Binglebong · 06/12/2023 18:43

Do inform the police too, again they might see a pattern. And ask if there is CCTV in the cab which would prove the driver comes back with nothing in his hands. Just to prove his innocent for a police investigation of course.

Jtdoyoveme · 06/12/2023 18:46

Delightfuldays · 06/12/2023 18:20

See if any of the neighbours have ring and have video of the driver putting it back in the van.

I had an electric scooter delivered from Amazon when I wasn’t in. They took a picture at my door then my neighbour said they put it back in the van. I didn’t have any proof but contacted Amazon and they said this time of year they have many agency drivers and they did replace it

amylou8 · 06/12/2023 18:48

Unfortunately I don't think there's much you can do. I don't blame you I'd have done exactly the same thing. It could have been the driver or just an opportunist. So many people claim non-delivery for freebies these days the delivery company have probably just rolled their eyes. You could make a police report, but unless there's any evidence it won't go anywhere.

Sidebeforeself · 06/12/2023 19:01

I’d avoid assuming it the driver. Delivery drivers are no more likely to nick stuff than anyone else. Most people are good. You have no proof , in fact you have proof that it was delivered to the place you asked it to be delivered! Im amazed too that they have managed to deliver 3 times within the same half hour window .Bottom line is your safe space wasn’t as safe as you thought it was and you took a chance.

Georgyporky · 06/12/2023 19:02

" I live on a safe quiet estate. I do not believe for a second anyone else would of pinched it."

No, you don't. Thieves can live anywhere, they can also walk or drive in "naice" areas. Too late now, but perhaps a neighbour could take in parcels for you?

ny20005 · 06/12/2023 19:33

There's not a lot you can do. The company would be well within their right to refuse to replace the item. They delivered it to your safe place as per your instruction. Onus is on you to prove the delivery driver stole it

Badbadbunny · 06/12/2023 19:38

This is why we have a webcam in our front porch covering our driveway, with which you can see delivery drivers walking down with a parcel and walking back to their van without (or in one case, walking back with the parcel and claiming they'd delivered it - it was our webcam footage that we used to claim a refund - we'd have lost the money otherwise - it was proof that the driver had taken it and not left it as he claimed!).

Roselilly36 · 06/12/2023 19:40

I had an issue with non delivery of an electrical item, said it was delivered, very odd photo that could have been anywhere, not my front door, I was in all day. Checked my Ring doorbell, no delivery at all, meant to have been signed for by a very odd name, none of my neighbours. Contacted Amazon, explained the situation, I was refunded. I honestly think the item was stolen by the delivery driver. They must have been very disappointed with the contents, it wasn’t anything valuable, but annoying all the same I ordered it because I wanted it.

Roselilly36 · 06/12/2023 19:41

Amazon were going to investigate, so perhaps they had suspicions.

thedamnseason · 06/12/2023 19:43

I don't think you have any comeback at all because you agreed to the safe place.
Your only hope is a neighbour having a camera that covers the gate.