To ask what to do with this parcel?

[DoomPoodle]

DD took a parcel in about 3 weeks ago for a neighbour a few doors down. Neighbour has not collected the parcel. We have knocked on at various times of day/evening and no answer, and also put a note through the letter box asking them to collect it.
Mutual facebook friend has sent neighbour a message which was read but not replied to.

There's no return address. It's in packing for a particular parcel company, but I've messaged them twice with the tracking no. and they've not replied either.
Parcel is big enough to be in the way, and has a strange smell emanating from it. (Smells a bit like dog treats, but it's quite strong).

Any suggestions as to what I should do with it?

Thankfully we live in a cul-de-sac and know our neighbours so we all take in parcels for each other.
My DH has an Amazon prime account and DS who is an engineer has just bought a load of tools. He just transfers money across. DD lives abroad but goes on a shopping spree before coming to UK. Xmas was busy.

Can you put it in a black sack to keep rain off then put it in the back garden? If wildlife get to it thats her tough luck

My advice - pop a note to say "Hi neighbour. We have a parcel in our house (Number X) for you. If it is not collected by 5pm tomorrow, we will be dropping it over the fence/side gate for you. We've tried to get you to collect it before now and can no longer have it in our house as it is taking up space. We will not accept any responsibility for this package as it was not addressed to us. Please collect it from our house by 5pm tomorrow or it will be behind your side gate/in your recycle bin/chucked over the back garden fence. No damages to the item will be accepted either."

Return it to sender, neighbour may have claimed for it going missing and had a refund.
The OP says there's no return address.

Surely if she had social anxiety then she would know that ordering something online means that she will have to open her door to someone.

Note through door saying if not collected inn24 hours it will be thrown over their fence. Simple

Are the lights on in the house?
Can you see if a car has parked there tonight.?
If so go knock on the door till they answer.

I/DH/DD/DS have all been knocking on the door at various times of day and evening.

I don't think she has a car, and there were no lights earlier (and now it's raining and hailing so I'm not going out to check again)
3rd time lucky with the email to to delivery company though (maybe there's a mumsnetter there) and they're getting back to me.

Return it to sender, neighbour may have claimed for it going missing and had a refund.
The OP says there's no return address.

Dispatch note is often inside the parcel though, with an address on.

If you've contacted the company, are they a dog food company? Or did you mean the courier service?

Ignore me, reread the OP 🙄

Any luck @DoomPoodle?

Well, another neighbour over the road says they've seen lights in the house, but not seen her.
Parcel company have contacted the sender and are waiting to hear back.
My hall smells baaad.

Why are you creating a drama about this? Just put it on her doorstep. Are you really letting this parcel stink out your hall? I can’t believe people are this wet. Do you really think she’s going to sue you over a parcel you held on to for 3 weeks? Do you think the company or the neighbour would have a leg to stand on?
Just get rid of it ffs!

FFS! Just take it and drop it over her fence. Not through her door telling her that her parcel stinks and you won't take further repsonsibility for it!

Why are you creating a drama about this?

Because having accepted the parcel she's accepted legal responsibility for it. Dropping it on the doorstep to have it stolen could well come back on OP, especially as she's presumably signed for it.
Getting it sent back with courier is exactly the right thing to do as it covers her.

My hall smells baaad.

You've had a parcel for three weeks. Take it round, leave it there and be done with it. Absolutely no need for this drama.

I honestly can't imagine putting that much energy into a random parcel.

Dispatch note is often inside the parcel though, with an address on.
I don't think the OP's opened it, and I don't think she should.

It’s madness isn’t it Coolcool

I/DH/DD/DS have all been knocking on the door at various times of day and evening

You and your entire family honestly spent your whole evening taking it in turns to knock on this woman’s door?
Newsflash OP : SHE A’INT COMING FOR THE PARCEL!

Dispatch note is often inside the parcel though, with an address on.
I don't think the OP's opened it, and I don't think she should.

Neither do I, but it might be the only way to return it and avoid being accused of pinching it which I think would be better than leaving it in their garden or in the street.

It might be something that has gone off and that is why they don't want it.

I think you should open it.

Neither do I, but it might be the only way to return it and avoid being accused of pinching it which I think would be better than leaving it in their garden or in the street.
It's already been suggested that she write a note, take a photo of the note and the parcel and then post/leave it.

Wow, well, OK. We've signed for it, so yes, we have responsibility.

It's not like we're doing some sort of weird family relay, banging on her door, just sometimes, if one of us goes past we knock on, on the off chance she'll answer.

I'm not just leaving it on her step. It's directly on the street, and will be stolen, likewise I'm a bit reluctant to just chuck it over the fence at the back, because if she does want whatever it is, and it's been nicked/eaten by wildlife I don't particularly want her screaming at me on the doorstep (and she is that type, other neighbours have had issues with her).

At least if I return it, then there's no come back on me.

And I'm not putting a huge amount of energy into this. A few emails and a moan on here isn't much effort!
I realise she's not collecting it, which is why I'd like to return it to sender.

Completely sensible @DoomPoodle and I'd do the same.

Whilst it's very very unlikely it would come back on you I certainly wouldn't take the chance for the sake of calling the courier to pick it up again.
If she's that type of neighbour I can easily see a scenario where Police are called and told you stole her parcel, and if your signature is on the received slip it makes things awkward.

It's easy for half of MN to tell you to dump it on her doorstep when it's not them it could potentially backfire on isn't it?

Neither do I, but it might be the only way to return it and avoid being accused of pinching it which I think would be better than leaving it in their garden or in the street.
It's already been suggested that she write a note, take a photo of the note and the parcel and then post/leave it.

I just think that returning it to sender is the best way to resolve it, either via the delivery company or by contacting the sender who may have already had to refund for it and might want to know what happened. Sometimes sellers request damaged items be returned so they can claim for them and minimise losses.