Receiving parcels addressed to someone else at my address - should I be concerned?

Bunty_Bagshaw

A few days ago I received a parcel with a strange name on it via Parcelforce. My husband recieves quite a lot of parcels and has one friend in particular who has a habit of putting "hilarious" joke names on them (e.g. Mr Ivor Biggun etc.) so when I saw Wendy followed by an odd looking foreign name I thought it was one of those and took it in. Only my husband wasn't expecting any parcels and when we opened it it was a child's coat which looks as though it has come from Ebay. I thought maybe the seller had got their addresses mixed up but then we haven't bought anything on Ebay that recently.

Today I got a knock at the door and there was a Home Delivery network lady there with a parcel, same name, my address. I refused it so don't know exactly where it has come from. But this can't be just a mix up now, surely - once could be a mix up but two parcels from different places, coincidence?

I am very suspicious. What kind of scam could be going on here? It seems like someone is trying to establish a link to my address and it's quite worrying. But further to that, well, my mind is not wired this way so I can't figure out what is going on. Any ideas?

It's definitely not a previous occupant btw because we moved straight into the house when it was brand new.

shaun_from_Africa

Was there any sort of paperwork in the package that you opened such as an invoice or receipt?
If there was, you could contact the sender and see what they say.

If you get any more deliveries from HDNL, ask the delivery agent if they could let you have details of who sent the package (If they have this info available and are allowed to give it to you), and if you are worried, write to the sender asking where they obtained your address from.

Squire_Fulwood

A parcel arrived at my gate for someone else once and I refused to take it when the delivery man said it was towels from a bid up/down or sideways site. He knew because he had delivered others. After some time I got a snotty letter from the same company telling me exactly what they were going to do to me if I didn't pay up soon.

I remembered the name they were supposed to be delivered to so I got the local telephone directory and went through it. There was someone in the village of that name and when I looked closely I found that our post codes were very similar. Someone had substituted a P for a T.

I phoned the other people and asked if they were expecting towels and they were so I asked them to get in touch with the supplier and head him off. It took some doing. They sent a couple more threatening letters to me before they went away.

What I think must have happened is that the buyer gave their post code over the phone and were mis-heard. The seller then searched for the address automatically and my address was recorded in error. I know they are supposed to check with the buyer that the correct address is returned but something obviously went wrong with that process.

ju1i3_2

I think some of these have someone in the sorting office who intercepts the letters/parcels *before* they are delivered.

arcon5

ju1i3 wrote: »

I think some of these have someone in the sorting office who intercepts the letters/parcels *before* they are delivered.

I highly doubt it. They will deal with thousands of parcels so if they are pulling off any scam this would be the hardest and most unviable ever.

arcon5

To answer yoru question op:

Should you be concerned? no

But you do have a duty of care and must reasonably allow the company to collect the parcel at their expense.

Send the company an email, store the parcel and wait for them to run around after you:)

nikki1520

Actually, should you be concerned - yes. This is getting to be a common scam on ebay. A parcel is delivered to your house, you realise it's not for you and so don't open it. Shortly afterwards, someone knocks on your door and asks for it - apparently "the sender got the address wrong" etc. You hand it over.

When the sender has lost their money, the only address they have to come back to is yours. Now of course, you're not liable for the money owing, but depending on the amount, it may take some time to convince the sender/debt collector of that fact.

Unless it's addressed to someone you know, refuse parcels that are not for you. I'm not by any stretch saying don't take in a parcel for a neighbour though - that's the sort of thing that makes the world carry on spinning

steven504

Any letters or parcels with your address and the wrong name should be rejected. I would never keep mail for someone else. When I was a student one of my housemates kept mail for the previous tenant until I found out they were claiming benefit at the address.

MeanParent

Could be some scum sending drugs or worse to your house as a cover and wanting to pick it up later?

ju1i3_2

arcon5 wrote: »

I highly doubt it. They will deal with thousands of parcels so if they are pulling off any scam this would be the hardest and most unviable ever.

The post is *sorted* so it would be quite easy to check what's going out for a certain address.

btw, where I lived at a previous address we were actually notified by the PO that our post was stolen - slightly different issue

Riversong

MeanParent wrote: »

Could be some scum sending drugs or worse to your house as a cover and wanting to pick it up later?

Would a drugs gang take the risk of losing their merch though? I hope this isn't the case but anythings possible.