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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Next doors pissing parcels WIBU

226 replies

Lovelost01 · 25/06/2019 20:40

Moved almost 3 months ago, waiting to go back to uni so I’m in maybe 60% of daytime hours. Next door is also a single mum and doesn’t work. I hear her in most of the time I’m in.

In the 3 months I’ve lived here, I’ve had delivery people knock for her packages to be left here between 1-3 times a week. Every week. She never introduced herself, I have seen her a few times over the garden fence and said Hi, tried to initiate chit chat when seeing her on the front but she doesn’t seem to want to talk (completely understand that).

Out of all these parcels she has never come to pick them up, the delivery people always say they will put a note through her door so she knows they’re here. I’ve always waited a day or two then taken them round, usually when there’s a few.

On Thursday I accepted a package for her then another man appeared, they brought a huge really heavy box with a picture of a chest of drawers on! He said he was pretty sure he heard someone in the house but no answer so I took it anyway. It’s far too heavy for me to even move slightly. So it’s been here since thursday and she still hasn’t come round. I put a note through her door this morning asking her to come get it and she put one back through mine (?!) saying she can’t because it will be too heavy and she’s a single mum. I knocked for her again knowing she was in but she didn’t answer. It’s definitely too big and heavy even if I suggested we both try to move it to hers we probably couldn’t. WIBU to call the couriers back and tell them I want to return it?! Would they even do that? I can’t open my front door properly because its so huge, cant move it elsewhere!

OP posts:
Lovelost01 · 26/06/2019 12:43

In the past she has answered the door when I’ve taken smaller packages round so I have no idea why she won’t open up now. I put her a note through saying that i will help her dismantle it and take it round, if it’s still here tomorrow my dad and brother are leaving it on her doorstep. She’s definitely in and haven’t heard anything yet so I’m guessing she’s going with the later. Made my sign just saying no parcels for number # so as not to piss off my other neighbours! I put on the note that i wont be accepting anymore for her

OP posts:
SchadenfreudePersonified · 26/06/2019 12:49

You’ve signed for it and therefore it’s now your legal responsibility.

This ^ unfortunately.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 26/06/2019 12:59

If you intend to leave it on her doorstep, get some evidence of doing so (photograph or something). Block her door with it so she HAS to shift it.

minisoksmakehardwork · 26/06/2019 13:02

@timeisnotaline - we had a CF neighbour (dh's ex best friend's (now) ex wife). She claimed she hadn't received parcels and no note was left. Except I had signed for them and had taken them round to her, even asking the delivery man to write how many parcels were with us on the note I watched him push through the door.

The company set us a letter asking for our version of events as she was claiming not to have them but delivery had shown as signed by us. I gladly gave them our version. Including the fact that we had called police out for suspected burglary, which turned out to have been her.

From then, I have always been very cautious as to accepting parcels and I don't put it past anyone to allege they haven't received them in order to get a refusing.

wednesday32 · 26/06/2019 13:11

why on earth are you providing a free postal service? Decline any future deliveries as youre allowing yourself to be taken the piss out of. I would put a card up on my door/porch stating only post/parcels for this household will be accepted. end of.

wednesday32 · 26/06/2019 13:13

oh and get that furniture returned ASAP.it shouldn't be your problem. You are opening a can of worms by offering your friends/family round to build it/dismantle it. She ordered the item surely she knew it would need putting together.

ShitAtScarbble · 26/06/2019 13:14

Hang on - so you are STILL involving your Dad and Brother in this ridiculous carry-on? Why? So many people here have made viable solutions for the problem which do not involve the intervention of your family members ffs.
Why would you be going to all this trouble for someone who can't even be arsed to answer the door to you?

Itssosunny · 26/06/2019 13:17

Don't leave it on her doorsteps as you may be liable for it. Seek legal advice first from Citizens Advice Bureau. That's a lesson for you and keeping the drawers inside is a small inconvenience. The company may charge you money for it if you put it on her doorsteps. I don't know why you can't send an email or call the buyer as the box will have their details. Sure they will respond to you.

Itssosunny · 26/06/2019 13:19

By small inconvenience I didn't mean to underestimate anything. I am just afraid that some shit can come out once you leave the parcel next to the bins. She is definitely not right in her head or it could be a scam.

Itssosunny · 26/06/2019 13:21

Call the seller OP. That's the best what you could do. Their contact details should be inside of the box. Alternatively Google them.

Itssosunny · 26/06/2019 13:22

As much as you wish to teach her a lesson you will be the one paying for it after damping everything on her doorsteps.

MaltedMilk88 · 26/06/2019 13:32

I'd just drag it round if you can to hers, put a note through and then never ever take a parcel for her again

SenselessUbiquity · 26/06/2019 13:32

She sounds really odd. This is beyond CF and makes me think..... ishoos.

If you don't want to confront this (and I wouldn't - ishoos), you don't need to put up signs or state as policy you aren't taking in parcels any more - you can just stop. I have done this with an annoying neighbour - I take in small things if I feel like it; and if I don't feel like it, or it's been a really busy patch with her stuff, or it's huge and I'm sick of her crap in my hall, I just tell the courier that I can't take it in as I'm going away and she won't be able to collect it. they can't force you - they don't even need that excuse. You can just instantly start saying no, with a smile if you want, from now on.

About the chest of drawers - I think you have to get it to her somehow now as you have it and have signed for it. I would be chirpily in her face about at every possible opportunity from now on - in the garden, text if you have her number, knock, notes through the door with smiley faces on, whatever. It's the very last time, so you can just pull out all the stops till you get rid of the thing and that's it if you never accept another parcel again. Offer to unpack it and take it round piece by piece and extract an agreement from her that it's ok to do so, if that's what it takes.

Itssosunny · 26/06/2019 13:43

People, stop advising OP to take the parcel apart and leave it outside! She can't do it without contacting the buyer first. This is important so she doesn't pay for it.

daisyboocantoo · 26/06/2019 13:52

Call the company back to see if they can collect

SerenDippitty · 26/06/2019 13:57

Actually you made things in some way worse for your neighbour by taking her parcel in as she was expecting it to be delivered straight to hers. Also she might be busy with her child and not always quick enough to open her door. We had this problem in the previous house a lot. The delivery drivers knocked literally for 3 seconds and it wasn’t enough for me to go downstairs.

This would not excuse the neighbour from making prompt arrangements to collect the parcels once she knew they were at OP’s house.

MummytoCSJH · 26/06/2019 14:55

Search my name to see my previous thread on this. Stop taking them in and return or dump the ones you have outside.

Ambydex · 26/06/2019 15:17

Sounds like a good plan OP. I think her avoiding you now is only to be expected - she knows you are rightly cross.

ChesterDrawsDoesntExist · 27/06/2019 11:44

OP you really should contact the seller and not get your brother and dad round. I don't mind taking other people's parcels in, even big ones but anyone who takes the piss gets it returned to seller.
She could easily claim it was not delivered (which could get you into trouble for stealing it). If it's a big item of furniture it's more likely the company would pursue the matter.

RestingBitchFaced · 27/06/2019 12:19

What a CF. I would dump it in her gateway so she can't get in or out (once you know she is home) then it's her problem

Pinkyyy · 27/06/2019 13:37

Did she make any attempt to collect it today, OP?

SheldonSaysSo · 27/06/2019 13:53

I've had this but not as extreme as you. I now don't answer the door unless I'm expecting someone or a parcel. If I do run into a courier I tell them I don't take parcels in for other people - I'd put it outside her front door and stop accepting parcels for her.

Kanga83 · 27/06/2019 19:27

Checking in to see if the CF neighbour has taken her stuff yet?

StrongTea · 27/06/2019 19:33

I think she has changed her mind about buying it and is hoping to get a refund.

Namedafteraship · 27/06/2019 21:16

You have no obligation to take on your neighbours parcels. Don’t let anyone con you. I live next door to neighbours who are not pleasant (big back story) I decline their parcels
I’ve had Ryanair and other s trying me to con me to into taking their luggage/ crap.

I’ve signed nothing - owe you nothing - Jog on mate.