Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

So annoyed with my neighbours what should I do when I see them?

281 replies

geekygardener · 27/10/2025 13:36

Every week I’m taking in parcels for a neighbour. I don’t mind the occasional one, but it can fluctuate between a couple a week to a few daily. They order a lot of stuff and are never in to receive it. I don’t know why they don’t order it to their family who live on the next street or to one of their work places. This has been going on for a number of years.
I wouldn’t mind if I’m in just pottering at home, but I often work from home and my office is next to my front door. This means delivery drivers can see I’m in sat at my desk. They will continue to knock and wait even if I don’t initially answer because I’m in a meeting or call. People on the other end of my calls can clearly hear the knocking and dog barking, so I have to cut off. It’s unprofessional, especially because I take calls from people in distress. It’s unfair to cut them off.

I have told multiple delivery drivers that I am working and can no longer take in parcels for neighbours but that seems to have made little difference.
I work nights too and I’m woken up at least three times a week by deliveries for the same neighbours and it really affects my mood.

Today I was resting after a night shift and knocking woke me. Teen dd opened the door but then came running up telling me it was a large delivery for the neighbours and the delivery driver said he needed an adult to take it. Plus it was too large and heavy for dd to take in alone. This is not the first time we have taken in packages that have been large and heavy. I had one neighbour’s wardrobe and bedside table blocking my hallway for over a week while they were on holiday.
I just lost my temper because of being woken and I gabbed the parcel said “fine” and slammed the door. The delivery driver looked shocked, I do feel guilty about that but I was just fed up. I then just sat back down and no more than 2 minutes later another delivery driver knocked with another parcel for neighbours. Dd answered again and shouted out to me that he required an adult again, I couldn’t believe it. It was a different delivery company and driver but I shouted back for her to tell them no. They handed it to her anyway and she brought it to the hallway.

I can honestly say if it was the odd occasion that’s fine and I’d be a good neighbour and take them in happily. But this is multiple times a week, often multiple times a day and is disturbing my work and rest,

I did mention it to neighbour, who is the main culprit, he just laughs and says he understands it’s annoying, but it keeps happening.

Im now left with a large heavy box in my tiny hallway. I also feel like I can’t relax because soon neighbour will come knocking on my door to collect it. So if I wanted to go back to sleep I would be woken again. I looked across and the neighbour is actually in ! Both cars are there and I can see the son playing outside. They just couldn’t be bothered to answer the door.

I have told dd not to answer the door again because she can’t deal with deliveries, which upset her a bit.

Anyway, I hate confrontation but I feel like this is taking the mick.

OP posts:
MidnightPatrol · 27/10/2025 13:37

I’d put up a sign on your door saying you will not take parcels for other houses.

Then I would knock and say what you’ve said here - it’s too much, you work nights and it’s distributing your sleep
etc.

52isjustanumber · 27/10/2025 13:39

I'd put the parcels on their doorstep and when they ask why tell them that you will not be taking in any parcels ever again. It's their problem not yours.

FuzzyWolf · 27/10/2025 13:41

Agree about the sign. Just say “please do not disturb as I work from home and am unable to take in any parcels for my neighbours”.

TheBeaTgoeson1 · 27/10/2025 13:41

Hello,

Due to remote working demands I am no longer able to take in any parcels that are not for this address.

Thanks.

Geeky Gardener.

TheBeaTgoeson1 · 27/10/2025 13:41

It’s that simple. Then ignore. Ignore. Ignore.

GardenGaff · 27/10/2025 13:41

Amazon sell door stickers that say “we do not accept parcels for the neighbours”.

As for the parcels you’ve currently got in your house, leave them outside your door. Raining? Aww too bad, they’ll just have to get wet.

Wishiwasatailor · 27/10/2025 13:41

52isjustanumber · 27/10/2025 13:39

I'd put the parcels on their doorstep and when they ask why tell them that you will not be taking in any parcels ever again. It's their problem not yours.

Or tell the delivery drivers to leave it on the doorstep

tigger1001 · 27/10/2025 13:41

You are going to have to learn to say no to the delivery drivers. And mean it. Get a sign that says no parcels unless for your address.

a video doorbell might be your friend - can answer it and say no (as long as not on a teams call etc.

just say to your neighbours
(if they say anything) sorry cant take parcels in when I'm working and I'm not answering the door if in bed after working nights.

ThirdStorm · 27/10/2025 13:42

What @MidnightPatrol said, stop being a doormat and take control of the situation!

Hotflushesandchilblains · 27/10/2025 13:42

Put up a sign - We do not accept parcels for other addresses. DO NOT KNOCK.

Mischance · 27/10/2025 13:43

Yup - a sign saying "I am unable to take in parcels for neighbours. Please do not knock or ring. I am working."

isitmytime · 27/10/2025 13:43

Put a note on the door that you only accept mail/parcels for your own address
when your neighbours come for their parcels tell them you won’t be accepting anymore parcels and to make other arrangements if they’re not going to be in.
then be strict about it. Just refuse them all.

Glittertwins · 27/10/2025 13:44

You are being unreasonable for being a doormat!

Wordsmithery · 27/10/2025 13:44

You sound like a delivery depot!
Your neighbours are shamelessly taking the piss but I'm afraid you've rather let it happen if it's been going on for years. It's not too late, though, to set some boundaries. Tell all your neighbours you won't be able to take parcels for them any more (if you must give a reason, say it's interrupting your work plus you don't have room to store items for people). Put a large notice on your door saying you can't be interrupted. Take the doorbell batteries out if you have to. And ignore the knocking. You might need to be persistent to start with but it'll pay off in the end.

StormInaDcup99 · 27/10/2025 13:45

I said you're bring unreasonable but only because youve set no concrete boundaries

This is a very simple and easy fix as others have said.

Put note on door

Tell neighbours your new stance

Honestly...this is so easy to fix x

TodayIWillChooseJoy · 27/10/2025 13:46

Hey neighbour, what are you playing at, you are taking the piss with your large and frequent deliveries, you have used up my good will now, how are you going to stop your deliveries affecting my employment, my customers, my sleep after working nights and my mental health. I'm really upset about this.'

TheatricalLife · 27/10/2025 13:47

TodayIWillChooseJoy · 27/10/2025 13:46

Hey neighbour, what are you playing at, you are taking the piss with your large and frequent deliveries, you have used up my good will now, how are you going to stop your deliveries affecting my employment, my customers, my sleep after working nights and my mental health. I'm really upset about this.'

Agree with everyone else. Big sign in the middle of the door "only parcels for house number, night shift worker, do not knock".
Then don't answer unless you are expecting something. Refuse to accept anything if they do catch you.

B1anche · 27/10/2025 13:47

Simple...just stop accepting the parcels.

IsFearrCuplaFocalNaCuplaFuckAll · 27/10/2025 13:47

Are they actually listing you as an alternative address or is it the delivery company chancing it?

As they’re in today, I’d be knocking and saying that as they aren’t treating you with respect, you will not be taking in any more parcels and that they have disturbed your sleep for the last time. If he laughs again, say no I’m serious. You’ve taken it too far! I’d then put a note on the door saying no deliveries unless they’re to this address.

additionally, I’d be moving the parcel to outside their house whether they answer or not.

the delivery drivers seem ti knock quietly on the door it’s for and loudly on all others.

JadziaD · 27/10/2025 13:47

I agree with the sign on the door.

But you nee to speak to your neighbour b because in ou rarea, drivers do NOT go to the neighbours routinely. Instead, they live on the doorstep. UNLESS you have specified that you want parcels to go to a neighbour. Wihch m eans your neighbour is using your address as their back up.

So I would politely butfirmly tell them (do it via text if you like), that the never ending parcels are disturbing both your work and your sleep and from now on you will not be taking them in and that any drivers knocking will be refused entry. If the driver insists, you will simply have to refuse to let them or the parcel into your house and it will be left outside your front door.

Whaleandsnail6 · 27/10/2025 13:48

Put a sign on the door saying "Does not accept neighbours parcels...do not knock" and ignore any knocks.

Huntrix · 27/10/2025 13:50

I voted YABU but only because you need to just be firm. Delivery drivers can be almost intimidating when they need to complete their rounds but they should be able to accept a no. I had some drivers that would not listen when I said I am no longer taking parcels for neighbours, so I got annoyed and asked one if I'm allowed to say no or not because he was not hearing me. He got annoyed and started huffing and puffing but took the parcels away and I've not seen him since. I've just started putting my foot down because I'm not a post office. It's got a bit easier and I'm not worried about coming across as rude anymore.

A note on the door is a good idea.

Itsseweasy · 27/10/2025 13:50

Just say no and don’t take their parcels? It really is that simple?

Elephantsarenottheonlyfruit · 27/10/2025 13:52

I’d be leaving the parcels you have now on your own doorstep outside in open view. Don’t bother carrying them over. Let them come, especially if they’re large.
I’d get a sign , or even better a ring doorbell. With the door bell you can leave a recorded message. You could have something like, Hi, sorry I can’t come to the door right now. We don’t accept parcels for any other address. Parcels for this address only may be left (wherever you want: doorstep/by the bins/ etc). Then you can answer the door and retrieve your own parcels in your own time.

CoucouCat · 27/10/2025 13:52

I would tell your neighbours exactly how you feel and ask them to put a note on every delivery that parcels MUST not be left at number x.

Say you won’t be taking in any more parcels for them, and if any are left you will simply leave them at their front doorstep at their own risk.