Friend posting things to my parents house

[HattenO]

Hi all. I'm British but we now live in north of France (my DP is french).

I have a friend here who is Canadian but also lives here in France. She is aware we are going over to the UK to visit and stay with my parents over Easter. She asked me a couple of weeks ago if she could order something online from the UK which can only be delivered to a UK address and if she could get it posted to my parents house and I could collect it for her when we are all over at easter. No worries I said, I'll let my parents know and I'm sure that's fine. I gave her the address to use.

She replied later that day to say thank you and she had ordered 3 things which would be delivered separately. Okay that fine I said (although she hadn't told me it was 3 things beforehand). My parents let me know when each of the packages had been delivered - then messaged me to day a 4th had come.Before I got round to messaging my friend about this - she messaged me saying I hope you don't mind but I ordered just one more thing. I said yes I know it's already arrived you have all 4 things at my parents already. Today my dad messaged me to inform me that yesterday a 5th parcel arrived for her and today a 6th parcel. I knew absolutely nothing about it. My dad is pretty unhappy. He feels like his house is being used as a parcel delivery Depot for someone he doesn't even know so now he's narky with me.

How unreasonable am I being to be feeling bloody annoyed with this friend and how would you handle it. Truth be told I'm not very good at asserting myself in situations like this and I don't want to be impolite.

Thanks in advance

Yes, you can't answer the security questions at the airport if you don't know. I've probably watched too many Border Force programmes but don't carry stuff for others!

nope. Tell her that she can arrange shipping from your parents for the things that she had sent there. If there are 3 small, light things, that you can carry, you might agree to bring them.

Tell your parents to RTS / Not known at this address for anything else that comes.

I'm a bit surprised so many replies are suggesting long messages of explanation and compromise from OP to friend. The friend has taken advantage. I can assure everyone here this is not cultural. The only message should be:
Hey, about the parcels. You originally said, "something." That turned into multiple deliveries. You need to sort something out now for everything as I'm not prepared to deal with it now and neither are my parents.

@HattenO please don't take any further responsibility. You no longer have an obligation because she took the piss. She knows it.

Send the other THREE back and any others that arrive!

CF of the highest order OP!

No words!

On second thoughts OP I would send them ALL back as she really has taken this CF behaviour to another level!

I would be livid!

So lie, and then when the luggage gets scanned/checked have to continue to lie if the woman has ordered items that are restricted? Sounds great 😄

You also need to find out what’s in the parcels before you take them through customs. She could be getting you to courier pretty much anything!

Definitely

Well obviously you should check beforehand if there are restricted items rather than telling the border staff you are carrying something for someone 🤣 but overall it is a massive piss take and I’d be sending some of the items back to sender!

Feel free to leave them if you have no room to take them back. What a bloody cheek.

She could drop them off at a charity shop on the way to the airport if she so chose.

Because she's a piss taker you might as well list everything she sent to keep us entertained, once opened. I'm curious what was so important that turned her into an almighty CF

“Hey Sarah, I agreed for you to send something” to my parents and I would bring it through, I assumed this meant one parcel not SIX. My parents have had enough and I won’t have much space when we fly back, so sadly any further parcels will have to be refused. Of the six parcels received, I’ll have to see how many things I can fit in my case, unless you want to pay for excess baggage? I’ll also have to open the parcels to fit them in and check there aren’t any restricted items. I’m really disappointed that you have taken this so far above what I agreed.”

This 🤣

If the OP want’s to be really picky they need to establish the value of the goods (verses their personal allowance) and TBH consider whether customs would consider it legit to use that allowance in the manner being suggested by the friend.

My suggestion is that you re-address them to her home address when you are at your parents' house, and have them weighed at the post office. Tell her how much she needs to pay you so that you can post them to her. Tell her there isn't enough capacity in your luggage within the airline's limit for you to have them with you on the flight, so youll either haveto returnthem all or post them directly to her (once she's paid of course). You also need to tell her before you go, ie now, that your Dad has gone mad about how many items there are and she must stop. Do not worry about the possibility of losing this friendship over responding assertively, it doesn't sound like they are worth keeping! Cf.

Just be honest and say it's starting to piss your parents off so they've said no mas.
Phrase it lightheartedly and that it's out of your control. She won't continue doing it once that's been said surely? And can't be pissed off with you as it's not your house!

WTF?!?! I thought she was a cheeky fucker before I got to the bit that you're flying not driving!! Tell her you won't have room for all of it

“I only have room in my luggage for the agreed 3 parcels, please make arrangements to courier the remainder’,

You have a CCF (Canadian cheeky fucker)
Can I suggest you don't bring any of their stuff via your luggage but instead box it/bag it and post it to her, on her money obviously.
Get her to give you the money before you leave France or her stuff goes to the charity shop/bin.
I definitely wouldn't be bringing back stuff. Not like a few packs of baccy from your hols!!
'Please quit with your parcels to my parents house. They are not your personal PO address' should do it

You only agreed to one thing. She expanded that first order into three things without asking, and has now separately added three more, ditto. I'd be inclined to tell her you'll bring the first item that you agreed to and the rest will be returned.

Tell her that you can only fit the original 3 in your luggage so you'll return the rest.

Friend of mine kept doing this when I flew to the uk, my parents are lovely people who would help anyone but even they were pissed by the end 😂

The last time she did it I told her to let me know the order if importance of the items because I had only planned space for the 1 item and didn’t know if I could bring back all 5. She told me the order but said she desperately needed them all. I left 2 behind to teach her a lesson and she had to wait 3m til I went back for the rest. Didn’t ask again

this is like Benji on the ‘three words’ advert, currently on Youtube

Or five pieces of jewellery, tech or designer clothes. Not too big but liable for import duty and, potentially, tax. There's got to be a reason the 'friend' couldn't have the things delivered to France, and it's going to be that she wouldn't pay charges.

Please note that my previous post stated there instead of their and it may have been due to the rage I felt on the OP's behalf! 😂