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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

peperethecat · 07/05/2020 16:33

The correct behaviour would be to return to sender!!

Only if they don't know who the intended recipient is or how to get it to them, which they do. It would be a lot more effort to trek out to a Post Office and return to sender than it would be to just text the OP and say they're leaving it on their front doorstep.

SunshineCake · 07/05/2020 16:47

It's amazing how often this happens that the wrong recipient is intimidating and the rightful owner is a wuss.

stop being a wuss. Put a note through saying if not returned by 6pm you will call the police. You don't have to call them but...

SnickettyLemon · 07/05/2020 17:59

Also a few years ago I bought a monthly magazine subscription for my sister. The first two didn't turn up and my DSis just thought it had taken a while to process. When I checked my order I had the correct address, but when I rung the company it transpired that they had transposed the numbers,so 23 became 32. My sister went around to the address and the woman said she had had them, but had thrown them away once she had read them!!!! My DSis asked her sarcastically if her name was also 'Miranda Brown' and she replied "No, of course not." So my DSis asked why she had opened them and not attempted to re-deliver or send back. The woman just shrugged and as my DSis walked away she shouted after her " By the way the free body wash in the first edition was lovely ."

Redglitter · 07/05/2020 18:03

The correct behaviour would be to return to sender

Why on earth would anyone choose to do that when a neighbour has put a note complete with contact details through the door explaining its theirs

DoTheNextRightThing · 07/05/2020 18:18

technically they don’t need to give it to you since it was delivered to their address, but it's also against the law to open it when it is clearly addressed to someone else - which would mean they are stuck with a box they can't open. Why would anyone want that?

Go back and ask wtf they are doing.

Original poster

Sandybval · 07/05/2020 18:23

Glad to know I'm not unreasonable for wanting it back even though it was our error. I am only really a wuss since having DS haha, I used to be quite feisty but definitely a lot more hesitant now to start anything! I did knock again earlier and left another note, they didn't answer although I could hear them inside. It's more the principle really, I would love the shoes of course; but my sister has a lot of neurological problems so I do most things for her, that's what makes her ordering them so much more meaningful as she doesn't usually have the confidence to do much. The downside is she feels terrible about getting it wrong, I've assured her it's okay and I'm obviously not annoyed with her, but would rather they had been lost than kept by someone else. I will keep trying, if nothing else hopefully they will eventually just be honest if they've sold them or chucked them.

OP posts:

NeutrinoWrangler · 07/05/2020 18:32

No way would I ever let this go. If they haven't returned it or given it to you, they've effectively stolen it. They know who it's for, so they can't even claim ignorance.

Definitely go back, and if they continue to ignore, I'd contact the police.

imsooverthisdrama · 07/05/2020 18:36

I can't believe they have still ignored you .
I'm assuming you put your number on the note , then if you don't hear anything by tomorrow afternoon go again. Is it a house ? Just thinking can you knock on the windows or shout over the garden.
Keep knocking for a few minutes next time, show them that you been business .

MagnoliaJustice · 07/05/2020 18:38

I inadvertently sent my daughter-in-law's present to the wrong house, no. 6 instead of no.16. She had no problem retrieving the parcel. However, this was before lockdown and now that couriers are leaving parcels on the doorstep, it could be that someone else has taken it, and the people at the house haven't got a clue what your note is about.

iklboo · 07/05/2020 18:44

it could be that someone else has taken it, and the people at the house haven't got a clue what your note is about.

Then why not ring the number the OP left and tell her that?

PrincessMonacoOfKent · 07/05/2020 18:51

My (over 70) parents had a parcel left on their doorstep last week that wasn't for them. They asked their immediate neighbours, but no-one knew the addressee.

They then contacted the company who sent it who told them to drop it back to their local store, which is what they did.

I daresay if they then had a note about it dropped through the door, they'd probably ignore it as they no longer had the parcel.

Just because you think these people have your parcel, it doesn't mean they definitely do!

OP, if you're in Hampshire and it was coming from John Lewis, it was dropped back at the John Lewis desk in your local Waitrose!

WoeIsMee · 07/05/2020 18:56

Just go and knock every day!

tillyteatowel · 07/05/2020 19:03

I daresay if they then had a note about it dropped through the door, they'd probably ignore it as they no longer had the parcel.

They wouldn’t call the number and explain?

Changedname1468 · 07/05/2020 19:34

Have you changed some details on this because i could swear this is about me. Except that's not the full story, if it is. I missed the knock but rang the number. I was informed that a mistake was made and the wrong house number was put on by mistake. There are several deliveries coming to my address but for a neighbour down the road, who I don't know and have never met. Apparently, they can't get in touch with the company to inform them of the mistake (?) and could I be so kind as to take all the parcels in over the next week or two weeks for neighbour/you.
I'm really sorry, i want to be a good neighbour but there are so many alarm bells ringing.
Yes, it's not addressed to me but to tell me it cannot be rectified and could I just take them in just seems dodgy. I know you sounded very friendly on the phone and I do have sympathy but I don't know you at all. One parcel maybe but several orders over the next two weeks? Sorry, but no. I explained why it doesn't sit right with me and why I will ask the courier to return them. Just fyi, I did tell the courier today that you lived at house number x and she just said no way will she drop it off there. I also had a wobble and told her she could probably leave it here and I'll let you know and she just confirmed that sending it back is the thing to do here. Again, we are not taking about a one off delivery!
If this is not you then I apologise but there were too many similarities.

Changedname1468 · 07/05/2020 19:38

And I'm happy to hear other people's opinion on this as I've been going backwards and forwards on this over the last two days.

Original poster

Sandybval · 07/05/2020 19:49

@Changedname1468 no definitely not me! Just the one over a week ago now, it was from Sophia Webster, and I would be so lucky to have several coming over the next few weeks. But in seriousness I agree that is annoying and does sound a bit dodgy!

@PrincessMonacoOfKent that's part of the reason I left it a week or so because that's possibly what I would have done, but nothing is showing as sent for return on her account (the way they do it would show when the returns label was scanned).

OP posts:

crazymare20 · 07/05/2020 19:49

Give her the parcel you have and refuse deliveries of the others? The returned parcels will be sent back to the sender and refunded anyway

Longdistance · 07/05/2020 19:51

Can you do a Sheldon at their door ‘Penny? Penny? Penny? Penny?’ Or ‘number 4? number 4? number 4? number 4?..’

PrincessMonacoOfKent · 07/05/2020 19:52

I daresay if they then had a note about it dropped through the door, they'd probably ignore it as they no longer had the parcel.

They wouldn’t call the number and explain?

Probably not - they have some funny ideas sometimes! They'd probably consider it to not be their responsibility - especially as they've already contacted the retailer and advised them of the situation.

Original poster

Sandybval · 07/05/2020 19:52

That is really weird though, imagine if we were neighbours! I did try and leave options in the note ie to just dump it outside mine if they didn't want me to have their number by calling or anything. To those saying knock again, as I don't know them I know I should because I do want my shoes, but they might be really disturbed by the bell going or something and I feel like I'm imposing. I know that's silly and probably why I won't get them back, but I feel the note was kind of giving all sorts of options!

OP posts:

PrincessMonacoOfKent · 07/05/2020 19:56

that's part of the reason I left it a week or so because that's possibly what I would have done, but nothing is showing as sent for return on her account (the way they do it would show when the returns label was scanned).

@Sandybval if it is John Lewis, apparently they said they couldn't arrange returns at the moment and the person at the counter they gave it to didn't seem to know what they were supposed to do with it, so that could explain the lack of info on her account.

Changedname1468 · 07/05/2020 19:56

Total coincidence then. Thinking this could have only come from unknown neighbour.

But it was definitely from a different company. I also have no idea how much she ordered. Quite a lot apparently. First parcel came today. I guess, I'll see what I'm in for next week. I hope you get your shoes. (Parcel today definitely wasn't shoes).

PrincessMonacoOfKent · 07/05/2020 19:57

@Sandybval if you are in Hampshire, feel free to PM me. I don't live in the UK so have this all second hand.

AnxiousMama24 · 07/05/2020 19:58

Why not just knock if you can see someone there say through letterbox ‘look I know you got my parcel there’s photographic evidence from the courier either drop it outside my door in the next hour or il just ring the police for theft your choice... and if you have social media say you will out them to warn people about the kind of people they are.. bring that feisty person back and see if the shift their arses and stop being so scabby

princesstwinkle · 07/05/2020 20:00

I'd post another note saying that you are reporting to the police the theft of the parcel as you have not yet received it and are concerned the couriers have stolen it. You are giving them their address to investigate fully.

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