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Original poster

To dispose of neighbour's parcel

175 replies

Petmalex · 10/06/2022 14:13

I have a parcel that I took in for my neighbour as they were out during delivery. This was 3 weeks ago! This isn't the first time it's taken them ages to collect their parcel. Once before it took them 10 days to collect it and they didn't even say thank you. The delivery driver said that their neighbours to the other side won't take their parcels in because they don't take theirs. I know they're in because I see them going in and out of their house and their car leaves and returns. So either, they haven't got the memo that I have their parcel, they have forgotten about it, or they just cannot be arsed and are waiting for me to go over with it. They've never been very friendly with me as I have tried with them so I'm less inclined to do the latter. Plus, I have a chip on my shoulder with them as back when we 'clapped for carers/NHS' at 8pm on a Thursday night, I was always putting my baby down to sleep or in the middle of some kind of baby stress and not in the position to come to my front door and clap. My opinion on this is for another time but needless to say, I don't deem someone less religious for not going to church every Sunday. Anyway, I am pretty sure they were the ones who put a note through my door saying could I come and clap for carers which I was furious about but I have no proof! So back to the matter in hand, what would you do with this package and how long do I have to keep it for before I either throw it in the bin (or return to sender obvs)?

OP posts:
FlippityFlapperty · 10/06/2022 14:16

Take it round and put it on their step, take a photo, put a note through the door saying you’ve had it for three weeks, can’t accept responsibility for their parcels and will no longer be accepting parcels on their behalf. Then stick to your word.

SamphirethePogoingStickerist · 10/06/2022 14:18

Next time you are sure they are in go and knock on their door. Shout that you know they are in ad need them to collect their parcel or you will dispose of it in any way you see fit. Pop a letter through the letter box to that effect, including the fact that you can see them inside the house and you are bloody fed up with their behaviour (well, maybe not that bit), give them 24 hours to comply then put the parcel in their garden the next time you see them inside their house. Again shout that you can see them, pop a note through the door, take pictures of the undamaged, dry parcel, etc etc .

And stop taking anything in from them.

Kerrrmieee · 10/06/2022 14:18

What @FlippityFlapperty said. I don't understand why you haven't taken it round already and sat stewing on it. Next time refuse collection.

NoSquirrels · 10/06/2022 14:18

Take it over, leave on step, never take another one.

Crunchymum · 10/06/2022 14:19

Flag one of them down when you see one of them going in and out, give them the parcel and don't accept anything else for them going forwards.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 10/06/2022 14:20

Just send it back, and put a note on the door saying you will not accept parcels for ‘xyz’. Job done for minimal aggro.

Or if sending it back is a hassle. Just throw it in the back of your shed and forget about it. They will either ask for it or not. You could try one last note through their door “dear xyz, I still have you parcel from 3 weeks ago if you wish to come and collect it, as their seems to be a problem with you answering your door”. Depends on the level of effort you want.

NoSquirrels · 10/06/2022 14:20

I wouldn’t faff about with taking photos of it dry and undamaged etc. Just leave it on their property.

Ihatethenewlook · 10/06/2022 14:20

I agree with put on the step and take a pic

DWofMN · 10/06/2022 14:22

They might not know you have it. I can't remember the last time we got a slip to say where our parcels had gone or that they'd been delivered to neighbours. Depending what it is and where it's ordered from, they could be waiting for it to arrive - if it's from abroad then a 3 week window isn't that big. DH regularly orders things online and forgets he's ordered them until they turn up. If you know they know you have it and they're expecting you to be their delivery service then I think they're being rude and entitled but, in reality, there's a good chance they have no idea you're holding on to it.

Also, legally speaking, when you accept the parcel, you accept that you'll ensure it gets to the neighbours - throwing it away is, technically, theft.

TattiePants · 10/06/2022 14:23

I have a similar neighbour except in my case, they are lovely people. Their parcels sit in my house for weeks, I send the kids over repeatedly but they're never in. Every time it happens I vow I'll never take another parcel.....then I do! The stupid thing is, they both own their own businesses so they could just have it delivered to their business premises.

winepleasenotwhine · 10/06/2022 14:24

Our neighbour once kept 6 dining chairs for us in their front hall for over a week. We never knew they'd been delivered. Let them know.

BlanketsBanned · 10/06/2022 14:24

They may not know you have it. Just take it round when you see them, film doing it, dont take parcels in for them again. Be the big person, dont let them wind you up.

ZeroFuchsGiven · 10/06/2022 14:24

As someone who runs an online shop I can 100% say the drivers do not always leave a card. They probably don't even know you have it! Why can't you just pop it round? Then again they are probably going to wonder why on earth you have kept it for 3 weeks and not said anything Confused

PAFMO · 10/06/2022 14:25

What happened when you did the normal functioning member of society thing??
Opening your door when you saw them and saying "I've got your parcel"?

Boxowine · 10/06/2022 14:25

I would just bring it over but not accept another. They may or may not have been the ones who left the nite. That would really bother me, so creepy. I personally hate those kinds of compelled gestures. Always leads to accusations of not being supportive or whatever.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 10/06/2022 14:26

Christ almighty. Just take it bloody round!

AlisonDonut · 10/06/2022 14:26

We didn't clap for carers.

What we did is not vote Tory.

How would they even know you have it?

Just take it round and never take one in again.

letsallmeetupinthehyear2000 · 10/06/2022 14:28

I was waiting for a parcel sent as a present to me for my birthday - went away for 5 days came back no note - no email as it wasn’t ordered by me. One set of neighbours are lovely we do anything for each other - other side mean and nasty. I spent a few days wondering if nasty neighbour had it and was pissed with me for not collecting - thinking I knew it was there. In the end it turned up yesterday by delayed delivery. So don’t assume they know you have it. Some notes get lost some drivers or postmen forget to deliver them some get eaten by the dog. One of my neighbours further down appears to throw everything that comes through her door in the recycling before she’s even read it ! When you ask her did she have a note about x y z she says no - then she says oh I might have thrown it away ! If you really dislike them say no next time someone tries to leave their parcel with you ( I swear that’s what mean nasty neighbour did to mine once!)

Justcallmebebes · 10/06/2022 14:29

Anyway, I am pretty sure they were the ones who put a note through my door saying could I come and clap for carers

Seriously? I can't believe anyone would do that. What twats. Not a single person on my street clapped for the NHS.

Chuck the parcel over their fence in the middle of the night when it's raining. That's what I'd do

BeBesideTheSea · 10/06/2022 14:29

Half the time we don’t get a note that a parcel has been left. Sometimes if I am expecting something I pop round to my neighbours and ask if they have it - in case they are in the same position as you, but don’t want to annoy them by doing this too often.

just leave it on their doorstep

Original poster
Petmalex · 10/06/2022 14:29

ZeroFuchsGiven · 10/06/2022 14:24

As someone who runs an online shop I can 100% say the drivers do not always leave a card. They probably don't even know you have it! Why can't you just pop it round? Then again they are probably going to wonder why on earth you have kept it for 3 weeks and not said anything Confused

The driver took a picture of me receiving their parcel and said they have been emailed proof that it has been delivered to my address. Maybe they haven't checked their email for 3 weeks. Possible internet issue. I don't want to pop it round because I don't like them quick frankly lol. I agree with you though, there have been times when I haven't received a note from a driver when my (nice) neighbours have taken something in for me.

OP posts:
YarnHoarder · 10/06/2022 14:30

FlippityFlapperty · 10/06/2022 14:16

Take it round and put it on their step, take a photo, put a note through the door saying you’ve had it for three weeks, can’t accept responsibility for their parcels and will no longer be accepting parcels on their behalf. Then stick to your word.

Honestly, very simply this. If there's no front garden I might consider leaving at a rear door if you can access it but only if it's just as convenient. I think once you've taken it in you should attempt to get to them them at least once (making them aware you have it) before you dispose of it.

I would also try and move past something that happened probably nearly 2 years ago and was honestly pretty minor. I didn't clap for carers either because I was working or because I just forgot until I heard it outside. Thankfully none of my neighbours seem to care however you don't actually have proof it was this family who put the note through the door.

Stop taking in any parcels but I'd definitely try and deliver this one just by leaving it on the doorstep, taking a photo then knocking overly loudly. It's causing you more hassle having it and will likely cause more hassle if they ever found out your just thrown it away rightly or wrongly, but you have to live near these people.

Quincythequince · 10/06/2022 14:30

Throw it on their doorstep and refuse any future deliveries
YWBVU to dump it and if you hate them so much, why did you take it in?

Onlyforcake · 10/06/2022 14:32

Sure. You've no idea if they know and you had to bring religion into a parcel issue.

OrangeBagel · 10/06/2022 14:32

Take it round, knock. If they don’t answer put it on their step, photograph it on the step. Put a note through stating what you’ve done. Never take in another parcel. Job done.

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