To wonder if neighbours are running a con...

[Bunnymumy]

...using my address.

So over the past 10 days or so 5 deliveries from at least two different companies have came to my address. They are actually for upstairs neighbours. The flats have numbers like 1/1. Very occasionally companies struggle with that so just number the flats 1-16 (eg: phone companies). So say i'm 1/1 (or flat 5) and the neighbours are putting 11 on their delivery. But the thing is all the numbers on the doors are the ones with the strokes so of course the drivers take it as 1/1.

The delivery ppl have kept buzzing till I answer.
I've sent them upstairs each time and they seem to find the right flat. I heard the lady who answered say once that she couldn't get the right address on the system (all she really needs to do is put say 24 (instead of 2/4) down as it would still find her as there aren't 24 flats inthe building.

But that's 5 times now and I'm getting a bit pissed off and starting to wonder if theres something else going on. I don't know if delivery drivers put a note on their files to say 'wrong initial address' but its making me paranoid that all this expensive stuff is coming out to my flat (one was a Henry hoover) according to their files.

They use the same name on each delivery but it isn't on their door. I'd go up with these deliveries to speak to them but I'm never properly dressed when they arrive. Not 100% sure what flat it is either, sounds like the one directly above me possibly but the thing is...that would mean they arent even flat 11.

Sorry if that was confusing af.
I just went up to knock but no answer, pretty sure they are in though. Do you think I should just flat refuse the parcels in future? Kinda dont want to put their nose outa joint if it is the ones directly above as they have form for noise.

Dunno if I'm being super paranoid about nothing...?

More likely to have it wrong in PayPal that then goes through to lost of retailers.

We had this issue in our last flat, I was 1/1, some online shops wouldn’t let you put / in the number, I would add it to the notes section. But parcels were often taken back to the delivery hub as flat 11 didn’t exist in our building, I tried just putting 1, but again the same would often happen.

In the end I put a sticker on the bell that just said 1/1 and 11 which solved it.

@WillSantaBeComingToTown

More likely to have it wrong in PayPal that then goes through to lost of retailers.

Ah that's a good shout actually! Maybe they don't know themselves that that's the issue.

First off check what Royal Mail have on their system. It could either be that the correct detail isn't on there. or it could be firms selecting the address pick the first approximation (yours). So simply pop a note on your door to say 'Deliveries for Mr & Mrs Smith are flat 2/2 which is on second floor'

Put a note on your door explaining the numbering system and directing them to the right flat.

LOL are you in Edinburgh by any chance?

Flats here in tenements are usually 2/1 or even 2F1 on the council system but can be just numbered 1 to whatever on other systems. Usually the / can't be used in an address online so the F helps or a - but the alternative is just to use 'Flat 6' but that's not how the local people generally work these addresses. If i were you i'd go up when you are dressed and speak to your neighbour. Ask if it's wrong on her paypal or online accounts and suggest an alternative (and that she puts her name downstairs on the buzzers).

Also ask the other flat to put their address as First Floor Flat 1.... or is that you.... Wait so they are Second Floor Flat 2?

Don't answer the door, and if they leave the parcel unattended do nothing with it. It's easy for the neighbours to leave it as it is, it doesn't inconvenience them at all. The first time they get one marked 'delivered' that they haven't got, they'll fix it.

Decline the parcels, but go and have a chat with them.

It is annoying, I keep getting wrongly addressed deliveries and because I'm working from home most of the time it can be very annoying when I have yes another delivery driver ringing the bell and it's not even for me.

I’d assume it’s laziness or confusion by your neighbours over anything fraudulent but agree that completely declining is fine, although I would try one last time and leave your neighbours a note saying anything that is delivered to your address after the end of next week won’t be accepted so they need to contact the companies and sort it out.

Simple. Only take parcels for people you know. That way you can't get caught up in anything dodgy.

For them to get the addressing sorted out. There is usually a place for "delivery instructions" when ordering.

Just to be clear, I dont take in any parcels. I tell them 'its someone upstairs somewhere' and the delivery person goes and finds the ppl.

It's not royal mail, its companies like very and argos.

Yes, Scotland lol.

If you missed it in my post a few back, I have dropped them a letter so hopefully that's that.

I'm off now guys.
Thanks to all who took the time to respond.

of course this could all have been avoided if companies didn't number the flats 1-16.

You could have flats 01, 02, 03, 04, 11, 12, 13, 14, 21, 22, 23, 24, 31, 32, 33, 34.

It might cause deliverers a moment's confusion, but if the flats were clearly labelled they'd soon work it out.

If I was delivering something addressed 24 High Street, and when I got there found there was no number 24 but flats numbered as you describe I would deliver it to 2/4. Wouldn’t anyone?

I don’t see the logic of using number 11 in that situation.

So your block of flats is based at number 11 of a certain road and you live in flat 1/1? And your neighbour is just putting the address as 11 __ Road?

Yes be clear to tell them to add like Flat 2/2 11 _ Road as their address

Well either its a scam or they are spectacularly thick. I mean, how difficult is it to put “Ground floor, flat 4” or 3rd floor, flat 2” or whatever?? I would include that in another note through their door, should you need one.

Many years ago we lived on a road which had a few developments added -converting an old building into housing.
We lived at 22 Burnett Rd., and the new development had No's 1-40 Burnett Gardens.
We started to receive post for the people at 22 Burnet Gardens -or rather assumed it was theirs as it had a different name but our address.
The first time it happened, my dad walked over and knocked to let them know that they had put the wrong address on their correspondence.
This went on for a couple of months and they never did anything about it so we just put everything back in the post with the correct address written on. Six months later it was still happening so everything ended up being returned to sender marked "unknown".
The long and waffling point I was attempting to make was if you have already mentioned that the address is wrong, stop accepting the post.

I am so confused by the flat numbering 🙈
Why would they not just be Ground Floor 1, Ground Floor 2 etc then First Floor 1, First Floor 2. I’ve never herd of the 0/1 then 2/1 numbering...maybe your neighbour is still confused about her own address!

I've never given that method of numbering a second thought. If I arrive and find it's a block of flats and each floor is numbered 1 - 4 I just assume the first number indicates which floor!

I'm not in Scotland, rural Gloucestershire. And see this quite a lot!

Now... just this week I really did get confused with a new development. The developers had very kindly duplicated very single address!

So there was 1 - 22 Juniper Avenue* that is blocks of flats..

... and then 1 - 22 Juniper Avenue that is a development of houses.

The road entrances lie side by side. The postcode is the same for them all (the sign for the flats includes it!). The buildings look very similar. Only the intervention of the postman solved the riddle for me!

*Obviously not the right address!

The numbering system sounds confusing to me but I'd guess that the problem has arisen because the flats existed long before we all had to pick our addresses from drop down lists for delivery companies and the systems can't cope with unusual characters. Other than putting some kind of note on the bells I'm not sure what you can do

It doesn't sound like a con to me. It sounds like the worst flat numbering known to man.

I don't think it's a scam and I can see why she's reluctant to put an incorrect door number in. If the door number doesn't exist then it may not even be available on systems. Personally I'd be neighbourly and just continue what you are doing as it's not really her fault the numbering isn't very sensible