Money Moral Dilemma: Should I ask my neighbour to pay for the meat they spoiled?

melvynjs

The clue is in the question. You were at home when it was due to be delivered. But it wasnt delivered then.

Delivery company got it wrong, pity your neighbours were home. They didnt ask to be put in that position..

Chase up delivery people.

NBLondon

lemonreptile said:

NBLondon said:

Difficult - did you expect the neighbour to keep it in the fridge for you?  Assuming they had room.
If you didn't previously agree that the item could be left with a neighbour - report it to the supplier.as arrived damaged.  They should replace or refund and then claim from the courier.

But that’s dishonest. Actually, fraudulent. Poor advice.

Was the meat in good condition when it arrived at the OPs address?  No it wasn't.  Therefore it arrived damaged.  Not dishonest. It's the seller's responsibility to get it there in agreed condition and they (and their courier) failed.  Requesting a replacement or refund is not fraudulent - it's a basic consumer right being exercised.

Davebingham1979 said:

> Slack of your neighbour to do the right thing (and accept the package) but then stitch you up by going out all day without bothering to check with you FIRST before going (isn't it logical?)

Huh?  The neighbour already thinks OP is out (because of the courier arriving).  They were possibly in the middle of getting ready to go out themselves.  Maybe they are now running late.  It's maybe logical for them to check when they come home and see that OP appears to be at home but no way is it a stitch-up.

ireallycantyodel said:

 "Perishable" without context ALWAYS means it needs to go in the fridge. There is no other context. 

Plants can arrive marked "PERISHABLE" - do you keep them in your fridge?  If the neighbour was getting ready to go out, they may well have not looked at the parcel at all and just placed on the nearest handy spot. 

Mike_from_Croydon

It's obviously the fault of the supplier (or their agent the courier).  The supplier should reimburse you.

NaughtiusMaximus

ireallycantyodel said:

"Perishable" without context ALWAYS means it needs to go in the fridge. 

What? No it doesn't.

Perishable means it has a very short shelf life and could equally apply to live plants, cut flowers and fresh foodstuffs which don't need to be refrigerated.

Maggie1946

The delivery company is clearly at fault if you were at home, within the sound of the door bell.

orangerose1

   Definitely not. It's unfortunate but not your neighbour's responsibility. Maintaining good relationships with neighbours is important.  

maisie_cat

lemonreptile said:

NBLondon said:

Difficult - did you expect the neighbour to keep it in the fridge for you?  Assuming they had room.
If you didn't previously agree that the item could be left with a neighbour - report it to the supplier.as arrived damaged.  They should replace or refund and then claim from the courier.

But that’s dishonest. Actually, fraudulent. Poor advice.

It's not dishonest, the seller must deliver to the customer unless the customer agrees to a safe place or person alternative.

TBagpuss

No. 
You can complain to the supplier / courier company about the fact that they didn't deliver to you even though your were at home.

Your neighbour did you a favour by taking in your parcel.
(Also - I'm really surprised it was 'spoiled' - I've ordered meat etc online and the packaging is really good - at most I would have thought it may have thawed, in which case your solution would have been to cook it and freeze the cooked meals - maybe not ideal but certainly better than binning it. 

driver01

As a courier. If the parcel said leave safe or with neighbour. Then the courier is absolved from blame. Likewise the company who sent the parcel. However. If it didn't say either. Call the company and the courier. You might get your money back with either. as the terms of the contract were broken. But and here's the rub. Most couriers are allowed to leave with neighbours unless specifically noted on the parcel. So,as far as the courier is concerned its left safe and signed for. Their contract has ended. You might get more sympathy and a better result from the company itself.
Your neighbour will give you stick and basically say. aint my problem. You should be in. And this is why I am loathed to use neighbours as delivery points  unless asked to use a specific neighbour. The hassle aint worth your parcel.

onesixfive

Don't fall out with your neighbour. They were kind enough to take your parcel.
Take it up with the delivery company. They should have delivered to you if you were at home, not your neighbour.
You say I was at home "when it was DUE TO BE delivered" but were you home when it was ACTUALLY delivered? Was there a delivery delay? If not, why did they take it next door? Was it correctly addressed?