Missing /stolen signed for parcel

Fire_Fox

Nurse_Liz wrote: »

Woops not sure if I just posted a reply or not. If I'm repeating myself then sorry..

I asked the last responder if it is the latter then what would they do in my position please?

Also re duty of care, I wanted to make the point that the flats on the 3rd floor are at least in theory less accessible; ie. in comparison I live on the ground floor where everyone has to pass through to get to their own flat. Plus everyone coming in has to pass a communal post box which currently has 2 parcels and 2 large letters that don't fit into the boxes, sitting on top. So it's common to leave things out for people, I wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary and by going up to the 3rd floor I did at least make an effort not to leave the parcel on show to all.

Also, I presume that when my neighbour bought the boots she signed an order/completed a delivery details form with terms and conditions etc on. When I took receipt of the parcel I didn't have any terms and conditions to read and no-one gave me express instructions on how to deliver the parcel. Not that I am trying to excuse things, just also don't think I acted completely irresponsibly either.

What everyone else does or would do is irrelevant, you signed for the parcel so it was in your care and then you left it in an unsecured place. There is no way it can be claimed for on contents insurance because it was unattended on the doorstep not in the flat. Buildings insurance only covers the fabric of building and some fixtures and fittings - even if it didn't you have no right to pass the buck to the other leaseholders in the form of the excess.

I'm not having a pop at you for saying this, simply a heads up. I live in a small block secured by a buzzer entry system but the weak link in the security is the residents. Once we found drunken vagrants sleeping in the corridor, apparently they had been here for weeks (!) coming in and out through the fire escape or just buzzing flats. Another time someone homeless was trying all the flat door handles and claimed to be 'lost' when challenged. :eek:

Other times I have found bailiffs, council employees and meter readers wandering the corridors - all genuine, all buzzed in by residents who had not bothered to check their ID. Many times residents go out the back way and leaves the fire escape door open, the most regular offender does it on purpose because he is a lazy git. These are the ones I know about, very sure there have been many other breaches of security in my six years here.

Gordon_Hose

Ouch. I live in a similar set up. 9 flats in block, 3 on each floor, secure entry, each flat has it's own separate landing.

I still wouldn't leave someone elses parcel on their doorstep. I'll either wait for them to come get it or try knocking their door at irregular intervals.

ThumbRemote

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

But the contract between the sender and the courier may have allowed the package to be left with a someone other than the adressee, and if this was the case then the courier has fulfilled their obligations.

Point taken - in that case the courier may have fulfilled their obligations to the retailer.

However, it doesn't change the fact that the retailer hasn't fulfilled their obligation to the neighbour, and the neighbour still needs to claim from the retailer.

terra_ferma

someone I know was witness to a burglary, he saw some dodgy looking types buzzing a block of flat, after a few attempts they were let in, and next thing they were removing stuff from a flat through a window...
(needless to say they were caught by the police).

Blocks of flats are not safe, there's always someone letting in a 'postman' or courier/meter reading people etc etc.

Nurse_Liz

Thanks for all the replies. And I'm fine with the "heads up" stuff. It was silly, I just didn't think it through or expect a problem, so a lesson learned.

The block is a nice one, there is only one communal entrance with no fire escape and visitors are very few during the week. There is outside cctv on 3 different cameras and I suggested a while back that my neighbour contact the Management Company to have the film checked and contact the Police (I don't think either has been done). I don't suppose that anyone will walk out with a parcel stuck blatantly under their arm but on the other hand it will at least show all people entering and leaving the building.

So on balance should I pay up the money, or noting ThumbRemote's comments ask my neighbour to seek their own advice and pursue official channels, fully accepting the eventual outcome?

wealdroam

Nurse_Liz wrote: »

So on balance should I pay up the money, or noting ThumbRemote's comments ask my neighbour to seek their own advice and pursue official channels, fully accepting the eventual outcome?

I would follow ThumbRemote's advice in post #4, for the reasons already given.

dalesrider

Nurse_Liz wrote: »

There is outside cctv on 3 different cameras and I suggested a while back that my neighbour contact the Management Company to have the film checked and contact the Police (I don't think either has been done). I don't suppose that anyone will walk out with a parcel stuck blatantly under their arm but on the other hand it will at least show all people entering and leaving the building.

So on balance should I pay up the money, or noting ThumbRemote's comments ask my neighbour to seek their own advice and pursue official channels, fully accepting the eventual outcome?

Contact police/management co yourself... The more the other party does nothing. The less chance of finding out what has happened.
And I know if my £360 boots have gone walkies on their own. I would be kicking up all sorts of fuss.....
The fact they are doing nothing would have alarm bells ringing with me.

This begs the question on the person the goods were intended for.
Have they got the goods and are trying to pull a fast one on you.
Are they lieing about the value. Certainly DO NOT hand over any cash untill you have confirmed with the retailer the value of the goods.

TBH. Walking out with it out in the open will not raise any suspisions. Where as if you saw someone walking out with a bulge under their jacket you would think it was odd....

Nurse_Liz

Can I just thank everyone that commented, I'm very grateful for all the advice.

Meadows

Nurse_Liz wrote: »

Hi, Help please!
I would be very grateful for advice regarding a missel parcel. I live in a flat (1 of 11) and a while ago I had a day off at home to study. During that day the communal door bell rang and I answered - it was a delivery guy asking me to take in and sign for a parcel for a resident on the 3 floor who didn't appear to be in. I agreed and did so. Early evening I was going out and so on my way I went up to that floor and put the parcel on the residents doormat ready for when they returned from work.
Several weeks later that resident knocked and asked me about the parcel and told me that they never received it. They also said it contained a pair of boots that cost £360.
Now I feel really bad about the situation because with hindsight I should probably have kept the parcel until I saw the resident in person. I obviously didn't think that the parcel would go missing, I also didn't know it was such a high value item, and I took it in with good intentions. It's certainly not a nice thought now to imagine that someone in the block might have taken the parcel.
The resident said that they bought the boots in a local shop and paid in cash. I suggested that they consider contacting the Police, and also the Management Company for our block to check to see if the Buildings Insurance might cover something like this albeit I know that the policy has an excess of £200. I also mentioned that they should check their own Home Contents Insurance; but from their response I suspect that they don't have any. I'm not sure if they delivery was with Royal Mail or another delivery firm.
What is the legal standing on this please - I am liable for it's loss? Should I offer to pay something to them? I don't have a lot of spare cash but I feel very guilty. And is there any other practical step that should be suggested or any other way that they can get a replacement or compensation?
I would appreciate any advice at all. Thanks..................

Why on earth would you accept responsibility of taking the parcel and signing for it only to leave it at someones door, unattended, unprotected!
You could have just as easily put a note through the door saying you have a parcel for them.

Are you liable? I would have though that you were as you signed for and accepted responsibility of the parcel.
The seller provided the goods, the courier delivered (you did not have to accept responsibility of the delivery) and the buyer has no goods (their word against yours).
I can not see the seller or the delivery driver accepting responsibility so that leaves it down to you if the seller decides they want to pursue you for the loss of the item.

ThumbRemote

Meadows wrote: »

Why on earth would you accept responsibility of taking the parcel and signing for it only to leave it at someones door, unattended, unprotected!
You could have just as easily put a note through the door saying you have a parcel for them.

Are you liable? I would have though that you were as you signed for and accepted responsibility of the parcel.
The seller provided the goods, the courier delivered (you did not have to accept responsibility of the delivery) and the buyer has no goods (their word against yours).
I can not see the seller or the delivery driver accepting responsibility so that leaves it down to you if the seller decides they want to pursue you for the loss of the item.

Have you read the whole thread? These issue have all been discussed.