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Original poster

Taking in parcels for neighbours

40 replies

ILCTM · 08/11/2023 11:34

So where I used to live, it's always been the case that if your neighbour takes a parcel in for you, you go and can collect it from them and thank them. We moved to a different area a couple of years ago and have taken numerous parcels in for next door, but they never collect them. They end up being here so long that we'll just go and knock to give it to them to get rid. The first couple of times, I wondered if maybe they hadn't seen the card saying their parcel's been left here, but there's no way it's happened this often.

I've told my husband to tell the couriers we're not taking their parcels in anymore cos it really annoys me that they don't collect them. We're not a storage nor delivery service for their parcels because they never seem to open their front door whether they are home or not.

Does anyone else have this issue with neighbours and their parcels or is it just mine? I've never known anyone to not want to collect their parcels. Surely when you order something, it's because you want it?

OP posts:
Qwertyyui · 08/11/2023 11:38

I always go to get mine (coz I wants my stuff!) But it's hit or miss if they come or I drop them off. Depends if i want it out the house or not. The issue you will have is if you refuse to take theirs they may refuse to take yours?

PinkflowersWhiteBerries · 08/11/2023 11:44

I have one neighbour who seems to think I am part of the delivery service.

I asked her for her mobile number on some pretext , and now I just send her a text. One text. It’s here. I am home X am - Y pm if you want to pick it up.
works a charm. I never send a second text, never offer to drop it round.

I have never had to move it out to the garage but that would be the next stage if it got to the annoying point.

TheJubileePortrait · 08/11/2023 11:46

Neighbours should collect. I wouldn’t take parcels in if they didn’t.

I certainly wouldn’t take them round more than once. Return to sender is your friend here.

Original poster
ILCTM · 08/11/2023 11:47

I doubt they'd take our parcels in anyway as they just never seem to answer the door. When we do take the parcels to them, 9 times out of 10, we knock, no answer, even though I'm convinced someone is home half the time cos I can hear them. Plus I guess they wouldn't know if we refused to take in their parcels, but ours tend to get left with the other side anyway.

I just find it really irritating, especially if they do expect us to take it in and then deliver it. I currently have 2 of their parcels sitting in my hallway waiting to see if they'll bother to collect. I'm being petty I know, but I'm not delivering it to them.

OP posts:
SoddingWeddings · 08/11/2023 11:51

I WFH and often take in parcels for the neighbours. Fine, we're all mates, no big issue, it was maybe once a week or so and nothing enormous in size.

However last Xmas one nominated me for all her deliveries. It wasn't discussed with me and it was 1-5 different deliveries every bloody day. In the end I told all of the couriers one by one that this was the last parcel I'd accept for her and not to knock for her again but I'd take in for others as usual. She had the gall to ask me about it a few days later and I said I wasn't taking in anyone's parcels any more as it was causing issues for me during meetings etc (which it was) and pointed out that most of us have outside boxes for parcels now.

Precipice · 08/11/2023 11:51

Are you sure that they're getting a notification that it's at yours? Sometimes I've had no note and on the 'delivered to a neighbour' online, could only see a picture by which I had to identify the correct place. Have you never asked if they knew about the parcel, since it happened repetitively?

I've never had a problem with neighbours not coming to collect. It's not on for you to have to go to actually deliver them.

DuploTrain · 08/11/2023 11:54

Yes that’s rude, if I have a parcel delivered to a neighbour I go and collect it as soon as I get home.

I’d stop accepting them. I might even be petty and put them outside my front door in the rain…

jc12689 · 08/11/2023 11:56

Simplest way all round is not to take them or answer the door if you know it's not yours. I take in for my immediate neighbour as we know them well. If a courier ask to take it in for someone we don't know I'll refuse.

Original poster
ILCTM · 08/11/2023 11:58

I just never see them to ask, but regardless, I did wonder that initially, but it's a constant thing. Every time we take a parcel in, and we've taken a good few for them now, except one time, we've had to deliver the parcels to them. I wouldn't have taken this parcel in but my husband answered.

I just think it's a bit rude if you know someone's holding your parcel for you. The way I see it, I've done them a favour by taking it in so they don't have to rearrange delivery or go collect from somewhere further than next door. The least they can do is come and collect them. I'll just probably put it over the fence if they haven't collected in a few days.

OP posts:
weaughteaughpeaugh · 08/11/2023 11:59

We have the same with a nearby neighbour who does shift work. I was happy to take in initially but they never came to collect and it drove me mad. Royal Mail and Evri know I won't take for them anymore, and I'm definitely not the only neighbour who's refused. It's just common courtesy.

goldierocks · 08/11/2023 12:01

I hear you and I completely understand!

I've got a very secure Smart Parcel dropbox next to my front door. There are two houses along my road that have clocked this and have put MY address as their 'safe place' without even asking!!!

Evri, DPD and even Royal Mail have now also started dropping multiple neighbours' parcels in my dropbox if they are out. I'm not even sure they are told where they are, so I have to deliver them myself.

I got the dropbox so as not to be interrupted by the door while wfh. That's not the case at the moment as I have to get to the front door every time I hear my gate so that I can refuse delivery.

I've obviously complained to the delivery companies and Royal Mail. I've even had to put a note on saying 'mail for my name only'.

Ggrrrrrr. That rant feels better!

goingtotown · 08/11/2023 12:02

I've had neighbours parcels sitting in my hall for 2-3 days waiting for collection. I've now stopped taking in parcels.

Questionsquestions134 · 08/11/2023 12:04

Yes! Mine told them to deliver to me (without asking) didn't collect.... I kept dropping them around. Parcels got bigger and bigger. The delivery person got them to fill a form in so they could leave in a safe place for them as it was getting ridiculous. Also a bit inconvenient.

I didn't mind at first when they moved in but when it was daily I and they nominated me to deliver to it was a bit much.

Original poster
ILCTM · 08/11/2023 12:05

@goldierocks OMG, what on earth? That's a whole new level of p-sstaking. I'm just not taking their stuff in anymore. I can't understand why they don't collect. They can't surely think we should deliver it to them. I don't care if they get their parcel or not.

OP posts:
Oxo01 · 08/11/2023 12:16

I take a few in occasionally
Last one was last week for neighbour 4 doors away.
I asked delivery person to let them know its here which he did from my door step.via text / email
The parcel remained in my hallway for 3 days . I knew they were home most of time so waited. Next day at 7am they woke me up to collect it.
I also been thinking what if neighbours say they haven't recived parcel from you so it appears you have kept it,
I would not have proof that I gave it to them unless I wrote a receipt or took a picture of them getting it from me 😄
So I don't think I will be taking anyones in now.

sollenwir · 08/11/2023 12:18

I no longer do it or expect others to do it for me. Some of my neighbours are far too nosey plus it's a faff trying to catch them in (to give or collect).

OchonAgusOchonOh · 08/11/2023 12:28

The norm where I live is whoever takes it in drops it round to the owner. I don't think I've ever collected mine from a neighbour and the only time I've contacted a neighbour to collect theirs is if it was too heavy for me to carry round to them. But I'm assuming that's not the way it works in your neighbourhood op?

Although since covid the delivery drivers/postperson tend to just leave them on the doorstops, which are covered so won't get wet, so no collecting/dropping off anymore.

StillWantingADog · 08/11/2023 12:39

We have an issue with our ND neighbours in that they live behind a big fat gate. Which nobody apart from them (with their little remote controle thing) can open. There is a bell that hasn't worked for years. This basically means that they have visitors by prior arrangement only. So we get all kinds of parcels left with us when the courier can't get in, the ridiculous thing is they are actually in 90% of the time.
They do collect promptly tbf. But my DH is quite clear that we are not taking them in anymore because it's several a week, there's no way they can ever return the favour and it's ridiculous that they arrange deliveries yet cant be bothered to fix the bell on their gate.
(we only moved in last year and the previous occupiers were apparently happy to take in all the parcels)
YANBU at all to refuse to take them in, the regular delivery drivers will soon learn. I'd just be slightly cautious if you are hoping they will take parcels in for you.

deveronvalley · 08/11/2023 12:40

I stopped taking parcels for a neighbour who never came for them. Days would pass, I’d hear her in and go round, often wouldn’t answer to me either! I’d be back and forth with the bloody packages. Multiple times delivery guys came to mine and I could hear her in her house so knew she was in, just not answering. The first time I spotted a delivery guy just stop at my house with her parcels and not even try her door was when I started refusing. Then a postie knocked once and asked was I still refusing parcels for the neighbour? He looked confused, I said that’s correct, I still don’t take them. He told me she had that day put a notice on her door telling couriers to take parcels to mine! She wasn’t reclusive, just arrogant.

rockingbird · 08/11/2023 12:45

I had a similar issue with a neighbour a couple of doors down who runs a home beauty salon. The boxes arriving got bigger and bigger - no doubt stock for her business. Turns out she was actually working and not wanting to be distracted so the courier had been instructed to drop all parcels to my address.. I'd then have to knock and help her move them all. I got pissed off in the end and refused to take them. She never spoke to me again.. hey ho.

BetiYeti · 08/11/2023 12:47

Yep - took parcels in for both neighbours last week, both took ages to come and get them. They both claim they didn’t know we had it. Rubbish as I watched the delivery drivers put cards through their doors and I expect they had emails/tracking info too. One neighbour was in when the parcel was delivered and he claims the delivery driver couldn’t be bothered to knock - how come they knocked on my door then to find someone to take in the parcel? I don’t mind taking parcels in, but it’s annoying when the neighbours take so long to collect.

purplecorkheart · 08/11/2023 12:48

Here it is normal to collect from neighbour also some will drop around if they see you pulling into your driveway. However since Covid couriers mainly just leave at door.

Passerillage · 08/11/2023 12:53

On my small street it's always been a case of taking in neighbours' parcels and collecting asap, but one new neighbour has form for ordering things in enormous boxes from Amazon, seeing my whatsapp saying I have it, and then NOT COLLECTING BECAUSE THEY'RE AWAY. So my husband has been forbidden to take any more in.

Neighbour has a sweet housemate who hasn't a word of English to her name and was so bewildered when I turned up at her front door one morning completely hidden behind the three giant boxes I'd had for days. I presume she pieced it together after I handed them over to her with a cheery wave and stomped back across the road.

I do always send a whatsapp when I get a parcel for someone though, lest they haven't got a card, and people do the same for me.

twoshedsjackson · 08/11/2023 13:01

I stopped taking in parcels for one neighbour for this very reason. Other neighbours would take stuff in for me, I would collect promptly with thanks, and I would return the favour.
But one has form for regarding my hallway as his storage depot; when I finally caught him heading for his car, and reminded him that I had been keeping something for a while, and knocked to let him know, he replied nonchalantly "Oh yes, I heard the door, but I was busy."
So I now refuse to play that game, and tell couriers why.

SkiingIsHeaven · 08/11/2023 13:01

I took a box in for my grumpy neighbour. He didn't collect it. After 2 weeks of tripping over it I took it round. He shouted at me for not bringing it earlier because he had been in dispute with the company who had sent it and had had to order it again.

Stupid man.