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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:
AnxietySloth · 28/10/2025 00:45

I'm always bemused by people who don't seem to be able to say simple things. I'm very shy and quiet but even I could have said today, 'I'm sorry I can't accept parcels for the neighbours you'll have to try somewhere else' and shut the door! Don't be a mug. And yes - a sign up of course.

Namechangerage · 28/10/2025 01:26

A simple “no, please leave” would suffice. Every time.

Melonjuice · 28/10/2025 01:46

Don’t get the long post on mumsnet . Just don’t answer the door . Take door bell battery out . Sorted .

Sugargliderwombat · 28/10/2025 02:23

Laminate the sign so they know you mean business.

MolvolioPortesque · 28/10/2025 02:24

I haven’t RTFT. Has anyone suggested you just say no and add a no deliveries for neighbours sign yet?

thankgoditssaturday · 28/10/2025 02:38

I’ve said you are being unreasonable because you can just say ‘no’. Also I ask my neighbours beforehand if they can take a parcel so they are unreasonable too.

elprup · 28/10/2025 03:29

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

I bought some of these once - I wasn’t in so the delivery guy left them with the neighbours.

nimmi34 · 28/10/2025 04:14

If you keep taking they will keep ordering. Send a couple back, they will soon get the message.

Noodles1234 · 28/10/2025 04:25

I had something very similar and I snapped, I put a sign up on my front door and the many different companies soon switched on to it. Again I wouldn’t mind if the odd one but I had a section of my street every day filling up my small house - and they started to wait for me to deliver every night!

Fatiguedwithlife · 28/10/2025 04:36

OP must be too busy taking in parcels to respond.
Anyway, just stop.

PruthePrune · 28/10/2025 04:41

You actually took delivery of someone's wardrobe?

99bottlesofkombucha · 28/10/2025 04:51

Have you got a ring camera? If not open the door videoing on your phone and say I do not take deliveries for x neighbour. If you leave it here anyway I will bin it, and provide your company with this footage. They will get the message if they get billed for lost destroyed items.
neighbour is a shit but easier to cancel the deliveries than have a big fight with them.

99bottlesofkombucha · 28/10/2025 04:52

Oh and shove their big parcel back out your door to the street. Now.

Catsknowbest · 28/10/2025 05:28

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.

Exactly this. Big sign, no quibble. Only taking in parcels for THIS address in OUR name. Note through neighbours door telling them you are not a depot. Just because you are WFH does not make you available for their convenience! You are working, end of, and when you're not you are still not their parcel receiving and storage service! I would be livid. This happened with a neighbour of mine, got out of hand when I had family house sitting for a week when I was on holiday, got my stepdaughter out of bed one morning after 3 days of parcels, enough was enough.

Shakeyourwammyfannyfunkysong · 28/10/2025 05:49

How do people get by in life creating such unnecessary drama?! Just refuse the deliveries. They can't force you to accept them. Get a ring doorbell and tell them on the intercom no deliveries and put a sign up. It's that simple. Why are you continuing to take deliveries and then create a drama triangle with your neighbours?

I have to say as well I'm really surprised it's as bad as you say it is. I've had tonnes delivered to my house as I've just moved from amazon/evri/yodel and it all just gets left round the side of my house. Is it one particular company who've just learned that you're a soft touch?

TheBlueHotel · 28/10/2025 05:51

Stop accepting the parcels!! You don't have to take them!

Mummamap · 28/10/2025 05:53

I’m sure this has been said but just put a sign on your door saying we don’t take parcels for the neighbours. If they keep knocking open the door and point blank refuse. You don t need to take parcels for others.
This used to happen to us a lot and it is annoying. If parcels are big I never accept them as I have a bad back and can’t take them. They can’t make you accept a parcel

fufulina · 28/10/2025 06:04

You seem to think you have to accept the parcels? Just say no thank you, and close the door. I had a CF neighbour who did this and when I got to the end of my patience with it and said no, the DPD driver told me my address was down as the alternative delivery address! Neighbour had never asked. I said that to the driver, apologised (!!), and closed the door and never had any more parcels. Just say no. They’ll soon get the message.

Bananaandmangosmoothie · 28/10/2025 06:05

He sent a wardrobe to your home while he was away on holiday? That’s so unreasonable. He should have come home and found it on his drive.

Scottie1310 · 28/10/2025 06:05

id be wondering if they’re actually putting your address as the delivery address instead of their own? Does it have their address on it or yours?
also, is it the door or window they can see in that you’re at home, what about a small covering or blind for this so they can’t see you’re home? Def tell those CF’s to do one though! Have done nights as well and it makes you feel crap being woken up for your own deliveries, never mind other lazy f’ers next door!

JustMyView13 · 28/10/2025 06:17

Just refuse the parcels. It will take a while but he’ll get the hint.

Ibizaonmymind · 28/10/2025 06:22

Stop taking them in.
Note on the door that you’re working:resting and only to knock if the delivery is for your household.
Refuse anything that’s not for you.

As there’s more than one neighbour you could put a friendly note around everyone or on the street WhatsApp saying you can’t take in parcels at all as it’s disturbing WFH and resting after shifts.

It doesn’t need a big confrontation but it does need you to be firm and consistent.

TakeMe2Insanity · 28/10/2025 06:25

Hotflushesandchilblains · 27/10/2025 13:42

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

This.

PurpleReindeer2 · 28/10/2025 06:39

Wishiwasatailor · 27/10/2025 13:41

Or tell the delivery drivers to leave it on the doorstep

Agree. Tell them you won't accept parcels for other people and to leave them on neighbours doorstep.

Carodebalo · 28/10/2025 06:48

I have voted you are being unreasonable for accepting this for all this time and for not just saying no! Honestly you even accepted a whole wardrobe?? Just say no! Tell your neighbours. Put up a sign. And then say ‘No’!

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