Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
FAQs · 10/06/2022 14:36

The email might be in their spam box, I agree with the poster who said when you spot them just shout out you have their parcel, they might not know, it might be a gift and not something they have ordered.

ifonly4 · 10/06/2022 14:40

They might not know, so on this occasion take it around. If not in, take a photo to prove you left it on their premises. Next time, refuse to take anything in for them.

carefullycourageous · 10/06/2022 14:40

Don't make a drama out of a small issue.

Take it over, and never take their parcels again.

Original poster
Petmalex · 10/06/2022 14:41

Onlyforcake · 10/06/2022 14:32

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

It was just an example. Similarly, I wouldn't think less of someone who didn't wear a poppy.

OP posts:
Merryoldgoat · 10/06/2022 14:42

Why are people so weird? Just put it on their doorstep and put it out of your mind.

FreyaStorm · 10/06/2022 14:43

I’d bin it. They sound awful.

Original poster
Petmalex · 10/06/2022 14:44

A various range of responses, thank you. A few more details - There is an old lady who lives to their other side and in my defense, I thought I was taking it in for her. If I'd known it was for this particular neighbour, I would have refused. The driver came back a few days later for a delivery for me and confirmed that he had sent a notification email. However, we don't know for sure if they know I have it. Likewise, I don't know for sure it was them who posted the note re clapping for carers.

OP posts:
BlanketsBanned · 10/06/2022 14:46

Just take it round, you could have done rhat in the time you have been posting about them.

Fink · 10/06/2022 14:48

Twice now two separate sets of neighbours have had my parcels for ages when bloody Hermes didn't tell me they'd been delivered, and they were a recurring order so I hadn't been on the look out expecting them. When I finally checked in with Hermes on one of the occasions, they couldn't tell me which house it had been left at, just a photo of the street. I had to go knocking at every door!

mout · 10/06/2022 14:48

you could have dropped it on their doorstep 10 times over in the time it took you to write this. Do that and refuse any further parcels for them, don’t be so petty

10HailMarys · 10/06/2022 14:50

Oh for god's sake, just knock on their bloody door and stop being so petty. Jeez. Leave it on the doorstep if you must.

HoneyFlowers · 10/06/2022 14:51

Seriously taken more effort to write this than to walk ten feet and plonk parcel on their doorstep.

People in this country are odd!!!

Megapint · 10/06/2022 14:56

Dear me In the time your thread has been up you could have walked to their doorstep & left the parcel there. It's a simple solution to a non problem.

sunshinesupermum · 10/06/2022 14:57

Why have you waited three weeks? Just do as pp have suggested: take round, leave on the doorstep if they are out, take a photo, never accept parcels for them again. Job done.

TunaSalad · 10/06/2022 14:59

Mountain and molehill come to mind. Just take it round next time you see they are in.

CornishGem1975 · 10/06/2022 15:00

I took a parcel in for my neighbours once and the driver said he'd let them know but never did. I don't really understand why you wouldn't just go knock the door and take it to them? Bizarre.

BorsetshireBanality · 10/06/2022 15:02

Why not stick a note through their door - "please collect your parcel from no. 9"

GreenCard · 10/06/2022 15:02

Take it round, it just says delivered to their address and a photo of a noghbojrl it doesn’t say which neighbour usually. On our local new build Facebook group there are several hundred identical doors and someone usually posting a picture of their delivered parcel asking who’s got it. Take it round, if no answer just leave it on their doorstep and don’t take in again.
that is shitty though about the not clapping, for whatever reason you decided not to do it people got weird about it.

Megapint · 10/06/2022 15:02

Just out of interest. Have you ever had a friend leave a wallet at your house after a toddlers birthday party?

Choopi · 10/06/2022 15:03

It's really weird to take in a parcel then just sit on it for three weeks. Stick a note in their door, leave it on their doorstep, put it in their bin and a note in their door. It seems absurd to leap straight to disposing it without actually trying to give it to them. The email might have gone straight to spam, who knows but they never asked you to take it in so you should at least try and make sure they get it.

reesewithoutaspoon · 10/06/2022 15:05

Just knock , give them the parcel and refuse to accept any future parcels. Job done.

coffeecupsandfairylights · 10/06/2022 15:05

I can't believe you haven't just gone and knocked on their door! Just go and take it round - no need for all this drama and weirdness.

SystemOverloadedNameChange · 10/06/2022 15:05

I can beat you length wise....previous owners of the house we bought had three parcels delivered here in October 2020 and haven't picked them up yet 😳. I've messaged them and they said they would come, I've asked if they want me to return stuff. No response. Last heard from them in early 2021. Now is all binned. I'm not a bloody storage depot. So weird.
Like others have said, put dropkick it on their doorstep, take a photo and never take anything for them again.

Octomore · 10/06/2022 15:06

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"?

Yes, or knocked on their door / put a note through to let them know you had it

You know, like a grown adult normally would!

Fitbachick · 10/06/2022 15:06

I would take it round to them and just would not accept any other deliveries for them. If they dont answer i would find a safe place and take pic and leave it and put a note through there door and photograph the note also. Just to cover yourself.
ask the delivery person in future who the parcel is for and if it is for them just say sorry no. Thats what we do.
i would not dispose of it as not sure of the situation legally if you do this. As in if they notified the police you had the parcel and had not gave them it.