Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should they have kept my parcel?

115 replies

Sandybval · 07/05/2020 13:12

My sister ordered me a birthday present to be delivered directly to my house, unfortunately she got the house number wrong, so the courier company etc didn't deliver it to the wrong house or do anything wrong; but it means that it was obviously delivered to the wrong house, but with my name at the top. They are only a few doors away, so I knocked early evening last Monday and there was no reply, which is fine- their perogative to answer the door or not. As some people might be nervous to answer at the moment, instead of keep randomly trying I posted a note, just saying really sorry for the inconvenience, I can pick the parcel up whenever is best for you, or if you would prefer feel free to leave it outside my house (I left my phone number and house number). They must have been near the door already as I saw a shadow and heard it being picked up, so I am assuming they have read it. It's been well over a week now and nothing, so it seems that they just aren't planning on returning it. If it was me I might have returned it to the company if I didn't know who it was for, so we waited a bit to see if they had done that- but no. Do I knock again? I don't want to be rude and it was DS' error, but it seems a bit savage to keep a £150 pair of shoes that you know aren't yours, and you know are a neighbours. I guess maybe technically have they done anything wrong? First world problems I know, part of me is trying to let it go, the other part feels annoyed about it. £150 is a big amount to both of us, but she wanted to get something special because of everything going on.

TLDR- parcel incorrectly addressed to neighbour, asked politely for it back no response, would you let it go, or ask again?

OP posts:
Embracelife · 07/05/2020 13:43

It s not your neighbour fault.
Maybe they dont want to go out.
Just keep being polite.
Apologise for the mistaken delivery.

peperethecat · 07/05/2020 13:50

It s not your neighbour fault.
Maybe they dont want to go out.

Nobody is saying it is the neighbour's fault, but it really wouldn't take much effort to give the OP a call and confirm they've got it and decide what to do about it.

IntermittentParps · 07/05/2020 13:51

I'd leave one more polite note, and if you don't get it back then I'd get on to the delivery company or seller of the item and explain. Let them have a go at sorting it.

Thelaughinggnome123 · 07/05/2020 13:52

Had your sister seen evidence that it was handed to the home owner?

PumpkinP · 07/05/2020 13:53

If the sister wrote the wrong address then the seller and delivery company won’t get involved as it wasn’t there mistake.

SonjaMorgan · 07/05/2020 13:57

Keep going back. They can't keep it, it was addressed to you.

Rathersexyfortysomethingblonde · 07/05/2020 13:58

See I had a similar to happen last year.
My mum who lives abroad sent me a big package full of sweets and toys for my child.
It was delivered by parcelforce to a house in our road but it had my All correct address and name, but I missed the delivery by 10 mins.

I went to the house to pick it up with the card parcelforce put through my door and the person in that house refused to give to me!
She kept sayin she does not understand what I mean and she can’t give me the parcel without consulting it with her family first who rents the house.
I went home and got my driving licence with my details on it to prove I’m the right owner of the parcel.
She blankly refused.
A Royal Mail mail Van just stopped outside to deliver the post in our street and I asked the two postman’s for help.
They went there with me, she still kept refusing.
It was a bit dramatic as those postmen got really pissed off with her, telling her now it’s a criminal matter to keep it.
She didn’t care and shut the door.
My husband just was driving home for lunch and saw us all outside that property so he stopped and went to see. Again. No luck.
After about 1-2 hrs I went there again and another person answer the door and gave it to without any problem.
But what a drama!
I must say I don’t these people as the house is on other end of road, so not my neighbours but still......

Jimdandy · 07/05/2020 13:59

If they don’t hand it over then I would
Call the police. It’s theft by finding.

nitgel · 07/05/2020 14:25

Theyre prob waiting for you to pick up. Go now go on

IntermittentParps · 07/05/2020 14:37

Theyre prob waiting for you to pick up. Go now go on
She's already been round. They know they've got her parcel. Hmm
Can't people read properly? Or is it comprehension that's a problem?

nitgel · 07/05/2020 14:42

Hmm yourself

i would go and ask for it it's yours!

Butterymuffin · 07/05/2020 15:02

Different tack. Get your sister to complain to the retailer that the parcel was not delivered to its proper destination and claim for a replacement. The courier has fucked up. This is, unfortunately, how you get a refund or replacement.
This doesn't stop you continuing to knock on the door and ask for your parcel, but you seem extraordinarily reluctant to do that, even though the neighbours have stolen your property.

cacaca · 07/05/2020 15:14

@Butterymuffin why would she do that? She has admitted that the parcel was delivered to the correct house. Her sister entered the wrong delivery address. The courier company has done absolutely nothing wrong.

imsooverthisdrama · 07/05/2020 15:19

Yes go back and leave a further note to say you are surprised you didn't reply to my note . you have proof that it was delivered here and please can I have my parcel . Can you reply by return so we can agree a mutual delivery thanks .
The cf !!

BuggerOffAndGoodDayToYou · 07/05/2020 15:21

This doesn't stop you continuing to knock on the door and ask for your parcel, but you seem extraordinarily reluctant to do that,

OP HAS knocked on the door! She has also left her contact details.

Unfortunately the courier has not misdelivered the parcel as OPs sister put the wrong address so neither OP or her sister have any claim against the supplier or the courier.

Jaxhog · 07/05/2020 15:38

Even if she put the wrong address, it still had the right person's name on it. Your neighbour can't keep it knowing it was not for them.

I would suggest your Sis reports it as not delivered. Then it's up to the courier company to prove that they delivered it to the 'wrong' house e.g. a photo or a signature. If the courier company can prove they delivered it, then it's a matter for the police. It is theft for anyone to keep an item that clearly isn't for them.

peperethecat · 07/05/2020 15:38

I think I'd just go back round there with another person and knock on the door until they answer.

Beautiful3 · 07/05/2020 15:43

Go back and knock again. I would keep going back 3 times a day until I got it back.

NoMorePoliticsPlease · 07/05/2020 15:43

Most couriers are taking a photo of the front door instead of a signature, ask the supplier then you will know they definitely delivered

SnickettyLemon · 07/05/2020 15:46

This happened to me a few years ago. It was also my sister who sent a parcel with the wrong number eg. 46 instead of 45. Unfortunately the houses directly opposite are completely different, so it was actually delivered the other end of the street. I went to the house it was sent to, and the owner said she assumed it was for next door so gave it to them (and they took it!) When I went next door they had left it by the front door inside. I gave them my driving licence and they handed it over. I don't know if they ever would have attempted to find the rightful owner. I always used to check in the phone book to see if there was anyone nearby with a particular name if post was wrongly delivered to me, not everyone has a landline now and I certainly don't get a phone book delivered any more.

YE420032c · 07/05/2020 16:05

Some time ago a package was misdelivered by a courier to a neighbour and I had to go around to collect it because she did not attempt to bring it around. I took a relative with me for backup. At first she played dumb and pretended she knew nothing about a parcel. My relative suggested she “check with her family” as we had just spoken to the courier who had described her house and was willing to make a statement. My relative mentioned that if we left without the parcel the next step would have to be the police to report a theft. He got out his phone and she panicked and went inside. Eventually she returned with the parcel that had been opened. So it was obvious that she had intended to keep it. I told her that I would be warning the postman and all the courier companies never to leave packages with neighbours as some of mine were dishonest.

Nottherealslimshady · 07/05/2020 16:11

It doesn't matter what the address is, it's not addressed to HER so it's not hers, it's a criminal offence. Just keep going back. Tell her you'll have to call the police if she wont return your property to you.

PippaPegg · 07/05/2020 16:19

The correct behaviour would be to return to sender!!

CFs and criminal!

Hope you get it back OP

Butterymuffin · 07/05/2020 16:22

Sorry, I had stupidly forgotten the bit about the wrong house number. Still think OP should be able to ask more persistently for her own property.

Maybelatte · 07/05/2020 16:25

YANBU but it sounds like an awkward situation. All you can really do is constantly go back until they answer.

Swipe left for the next trending thread