Signed for a neighbour's parcel but they have moved out.

mrbrightside842

The fault is the customer's, they didn't change their address. The company have sent it to the requested address and done their bit, so they have no reason to refund or replace it, so it's your old neighbour who will be out of pocket. I'm sure when they look into it, they'll find a neighbour has signed for it and they'll either write it off or come knocking for it. To return it to the sender won't cost you anything and would take a few minutes, so I can't see why you'd be bothered about that.

Mrs_Arcanum

The opposite situation is discussed here With conflicting advice over who the owner of the goods now is.

PZH

teh_catt wrote: »

My question is more about what the legal position is if I dont.

You signed for the parcel on the clear assumption that you would pass it on to the rightful owner. (Not realising at the time that they had moved). So, either deliver it or arrrange to return it.

teh_catt wrote: »

I could go to the trouble of finding out which large catalogue chain sent the parcel and get it back to them (at my own time and expense).

A simple look at the delivery note and a quick call to arrange for them to collect it from you. What time and expense is that ?? 10p on a phone call ?

You never know - they might even give you permission to keep it ?

teh_catt wrote: »

I dont intend to sell the item or even use it as I dont particularly need it. I'm pretty sure the large corporate catalogue chain wouldnt miss it though and I seriously doubt they would go to the trouble of trying to track down what happened to the original delivery either on behalf of their customer or for their own reasons.

So what ARE you going to do with it then ?

And remember - someone, somewhere IS losing out. Whether it be the seller, the delivery company, or the poor sole who can't prove that they don't have the item because it was signed for !!

teh_catt wrote: »

...eventually open it and see what it was. Would I be commiting a crime by doing that?

Not if you use the information to try and honestly return the item to the seller.

It only becomes a crime if you use the information for your own gain.

geri1965_2

Would this come under the definition of "theft by finding"?

Zandoni

I know someone who moved house and some nasty piece of work opened a very.co.uk account in my friends name at the old empty address. They got away with £800.00 of goods and caused my friend problems getting his credit record restored.

I wonder if the same thing happened here but the goods were delivered to the OP's house before the crook got his hands on them.

teh_catt

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

The opposite situation is discussed With conflicting advice over who the owner of the goods now is.

yes i read that before posting. I agree that situation is horrible and if the owner comes I will of course give him the item. As I said, this often happens in our flats and because I work from home, I often end up with them.

I probably will contact the supplier and ask them if they want to collect it. I cant see how the purchaser will come and claim it as without getting in to the old property they would never find the card saying where it was delivered...

visidigi

teh_catt wrote: »

I dont intend to sell the item or even use it as I dont particularly need it.

That would imply you've opened it already and know what it is....

mandragora_2

It's a simple enough choice, isn't it. A quick phone call to the company to tell them you've got it, what do they want to do about it, or sit still, keep stchum and hope you get away with it. You know that those are the choices, it's clear in your original post that what you're basically saying is that if you take the second option and they come looking for it, will you get into trouble?

Probably not, and if the worst comes to the worst and someone comes looking for it you'll probably get away with an -oh yes, here it is, I'd forgotten all about it/wondered if someone was going to come back and pick it up. Embarrassing, possibly; risky, yes, because they may not be polite about the fact that you intended to profit by the windfall, and who knows if there's something they might do as a recourse if they're cross enough. Legal would be one route, and probably one that a company would use. However if the original purchaser comes looking for you he might not want to talk to a lawyer though, but instead sort it out for himself and let you know his opinion of you and what will look like theft to him with six of his closest rugby-playing chums.

So at the end of the day it's up to you. Try to return it to the original owner or have a punt. You're going to do what you want anyway, and my guess is you'll probably go down the 'sit tight, say nothing' route. I think you want others to re-assure you that that would be ok to do. I wouldn't hold your breath. It is stealing, isn't it, really, when all's said and done?

PZH

teh_catt wrote: »

I cant see how the purchaser will come and claim it as without getting in to the old property they would never find the card saying where it was delivered...

Unless they contact the delivery company and they recognise your name and signature (or the driver confirms where they left it).

WillyVWade

I can't be the only person that REALLY wants to know what's in the parcel? It's probably super boring, I just want to know.