To dispose of neighbour's parcel

[Petmalex]

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)?

Oh i have neighbours who don't come for parcels either. I don't take them in any more but last time I had one for weeks after they were on holiday and had knocked a couple of times but they never answered the door (they were in unless they go out and leave the TV on) so I just waited until I saw them go out and left it on the doorstep for when they got back.

Next time they're in just knock and door and leave it on the doorstep. Doesn't matter if you like them or not, you don't want the parcel and this will take you no time at all. In future don't take parcels in, no need to make it a whole big drama.

Just drop it round - they may not know you've got it! Happened to me before. Thankfully my neighbours have good relations and we do this regularly for each other. Sometimes notes are not left by couriers!

Drip feed alert. So now you've decided you thought it was a package for a 'little old lady' who lives the other side of you. 🙄

As a few posters have said, just take the parcel around for fuck's sake. And when you do, tell them you will no longer be taking their parcels in, as it's not something you are comfortable doing, as you don't like the responsibility, and find it intrusive/time consuming etc...

You're responsible for their parcel. The driver would have taken a photo of your door. I would not dispose of it. Take it over and knock on their door. If they don't answer then post a note. Don't take in anymore parcels for them. FYI I once had neighbours who did the same thing, I stopped taking in their parcels. Although one courier did tell them, that I refused to take it because, " I don't like them?!" Anyway don't care and glad I stopped. I still take them in for a couple other neighbours and they do the same for me.

Accepting a parcel and then disposing it of it without communication with your neighbours is theft. Either go round and give it to them and refuse to accept any more parcels, or get the firm to collect the parcel. You can not just throw away something that does not belong to you.

Let me guess op

you cook and clean for free for this little old lady?

According to your OP

this is the SECOND time this has happened

fgs op, get some perspective

I use a specific account for business email and only check it if I have a reason. So if I knew I was expecting a package and it hadn’t shown up. I would log into the email and look for an update. However, so many companies are shipping very slowly these days and I order almost everything. Some of the things we order literally don’t arrive for months.

tldr: they really may not know you have it. Send them a messge

As others have said the reasonable response is to take it around and give it to the, / leave on doorstep.

The lazy response would be to put it out of the way and wait for them to come.

Either way let it go; dont worry about it!

I don't want to pop it round because I don't like them quick frankly lol.

YABbatshit, just drop it round.

Were you maniacally laughing out loud while you wrote that comment or do you just add 'lol' to random sentences?

I agree with the PP who said to take it over and take the photo leaving it on the step.

I no longer take in parcels for my immediate neighbour (small, terraced houses). She works from home so is always there and has a doorbell with a camera. So she chooses not to answer her door and the presumably watches me take in HER parcels. Now i just tell the drivers no because she never answers her door.

Just take it around and then don't take any more in.

Good advice I agree.

I had this issue in a previous home. The neighbours never bothered to collect and weren't at all thankful and never bothered to collect - I always had to go round and give it to them. It was very rude I thought. Anyway, after a few times of this I just refused to accept a parcel for them. A delivery driver tried once but I explained they never bothered to collect so wouldn't take it. The driver looked a bit miffed but never tried again.

Just take this one over then refuse to accept any more deliveries for them.

^^This

Clap for carers was two years ago. I think you need to move on!

Wow, didn't expect so many responses. Didn't know there was such a thing as 'drip feeding' on MN. It doesn't ruin my day fretting about something so petty. I asked here for advice. No I don't cook and clean for said little old lady. I won't dispose of it.

Awful, really? They may not even know that the Op has their parcel. For someone who claims that they do not even like their neighbours, one wonders why the Op even bothered accepting the parcel. No it is not the neighbours who sounds awful to myself.

You took this parcel in, so hand it over. Never take in another. Done.

Open it. It might be something good. If not, leave it in the road - unless it's really big and would cause a hazard to traffic.

Because I thought it was for another neighbour.

Return to sender. Certainly no favours for people who put a note through your door ordering you to to clap ‘for carers’. They can clap for their parcel. Obviously refuse any more offers to store their parcels for them.

If you dislike them that much why did you even accept delivery?