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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:
SeaShellsSanctuary1 · 27/10/2025 13:52

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.

Very very poor advice. Once accepted theOP has some responsibility for the parcel. Not accepting them in the first place removes any responsibility

tripleginandtonic · 27/10/2025 13:53

You need to work from an office, that would be more professional. Houses are homes and have tge associated noises.

Bearbookagainandagain · 27/10/2025 13:55

Don't take them in. It's that simple.

Owly11 · 27/10/2025 13:56

This is the easiest problem in the world to solve. Sign on the door 'I don't take deliveries for number x.'

themerchentofvenus · 27/10/2025 13:56

@geekygardener YABU.

Sign on door: "Nightshift worker/Working from home. Do NOT disturb unless the parcel is for geekygardener".

Or just ignore the door/disable the doorbell.

Or just refuse to take the parcel.

MissMoneyFairy · 27/10/2025 13:56

If you can see there are in go over and tell them to come now and puck up the parcel, say you cannot take any more in again, put a note on your front door and no more answering the door to delivery drivers. If he laughs just tell him you work shifts and this is disturbing your sleep.

SingleSexSpacesInSchools · 27/10/2025 13:57

You are being unreasonable by not taking control of the situation.
Stop answering the door, or, when you do answer and they say "can you take this"

you say:

wait for it:

NO.

FuzzyWolf · 27/10/2025 13:57

tripleginandtonic · 27/10/2025 13:53

You need to work from an office, that would be more professional. Houses are homes and have tge associated noises.

Offices are usually much noisier.

Owly11 · 27/10/2025 13:58

Also it doesn't matter how long someone knocks for i don't answer the door if i am in a meeting. You can get net curtains if you feel that self conscious about not answering.

ScrewyouJonathon · 27/10/2025 13:59

I voted YABU to not stop doing something that pisses you off so much. Come on OP just say no more!

thestudio · 27/10/2025 14:01

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.

This. You just have to make a decision and tell people about it.

I really wish more women understood this.

Wontbackdown · 27/10/2025 14:01

Update your Amazon account instructions to say that you will not accept anything addressed to a different property.
Put an identical sign in your office window.
Then wait.
If drivers continue to knock with neighbours' parcels, refuse, close the door, then complain to Amazon.
If neighbours come looking for their deliveries, tell them you don't take parcels for any of the neighbours, point out your sign.
If neighbours find their parcels dumped somewhere by the Amazon drivers, tough.
You can't negotiate with these people.

Lavender14 · 27/10/2025 14:01

Put a sign on your door saying no cold callers etc.

Speak to your neighbours and say you will no longer accept parcels as its disrupting your work.

Do not answer the door and train your dog not to bark and use headphones in the interim.

WinWhenTheyreSinging · 27/10/2025 14:01

Put a sign on your door saying you won't take parcels for other people. When drivers ignore it and knock anyway, point to the sign and smile and DO NOT take the parcels. Make sure all other family members do the same.

If parcels are left without someone taking them, just leave them where they have been put.

Eventually it will stop.

thesugarbumfairy · 27/10/2025 14:02

Sign on your door (a big one, preferably laminated - which points out that even if you are present you will not accept parcels for anyone other than the address that you are located in) and a note through their letterbox telling them that due to extreme inconvenience to yourself you will no longer be accepting their post.

Livpool · 27/10/2025 14:02

We had neighbours like this - I wfh too. I didn’t mind too much until one delivery driver said they have put on their delivery instructions to leave with me! They never even used to speak to me - weird!

I started no to the delivery drivers and they eventually stopped knocking

chunkyBoo · 27/10/2025 14:03

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.

Absolutely this. Talk to the neighbours too, explain you can’t constantly because as it’s affecting your work and patients

Luna6 · 27/10/2025 14:04

Stop being a doormat. Put a note on the door saying 'only deliveries accepted for this address' and refuse any if they persist. Stop worrying about offending the neighbours because they don't worry about pissing you off!

GetOffTheRoof · 27/10/2025 14:05

Go over today, tell them that you will not accept another parcel for them and they need to get a storage box or divert them.

Then put a sign on your door that says you are not accepting any parcels for address of CF neighbours and not to ask.

I had to get very stern with both a neighbour and several delivery drivera after she asked me to cover parcels arriving on one day as she needed to go out (fine happy to help) only for her to direct everything to me for her kids Xmas for the next week. I was up and down like a yoyo for days. Cheeky cow.

ShesNeverSeenAShadeOfGray · 27/10/2025 14:07

Why on earth haven't you put a sign on your door saying you won't be accepting parcels for any address other than your own. If you do answer one, refuse to accept it. It really is that simple.

SunnyViper · 27/10/2025 14:09

Just say no. Boundaries, simples

muddyford · 27/10/2025 14:11

I had this problem at my last house. A neighbour across the road who otherwise hardly spoke to me. Final straw was four huge boxes in my porch, which he deigned to collect after five days, even though he knew they were there. Sign on door plus steadfast refusal to take his parcels in worked quite quickly. I told each delivery driver why, which helped.

Sez1990 · 27/10/2025 14:12

Luna6 · 27/10/2025 14:04

Stop being a doormat. Put a note on the door saying 'only deliveries accepted for this address' and refuse any if they persist. Stop worrying about offending the neighbours because they don't worry about pissing you off!

Agree with the above ^ and if the drivers knock more than once just open the door and tell them no you won’t take it. If they leave the parcel on your doorstep just leave it there, most companies take a photo now so it’s clear it’s not been handed to you and not your responsibility

amber763 · 27/10/2025 14:12

I had to do this recently as I was getting constant parcels for a neighbour. I felt like a bitch telling her I wouldn't be able to take them in and she has kind of ignored me since but who cares! No more parcels!

You just need to bite the bullet and tell her when she comes to get them. Also get one of those stickers and just "sorry I dont take in parcels/I dont know my neighbours" if anyone does knock.

JohnBullshit · 27/10/2025 14:14

Hope you've got the message by now. It's okay to stop being a mug, and getting wound up by other people taking the piss. Buy or make that sign today, as soon as you have a minute. No need to explain yourself to cheeky fuckers.
Round here we're lucky if they even knock the door. It's dump and run, and if you're not in for your delivery, tough shit.
There are plenty of other options these days. Absolutely no need for you to feel obliged to remain the neighbourhood drop-off point.