Neighbour has my parcels - what can I do??

AdaF

Hello!

A family member has accidentally had 4 parcels sent to a neighbours address instead of mine (they got my house number the wrong way round) - all 4 were addressed in my name.

I have asked the neighbour if they have them and they are saying they don't - I'm finding it hard to believe that 4 parcels (most of which contain Christmas presents and alcohol!) can all go missing, the courier websites all say that they have been delivered to that address.

I put a letter through their letter box with my number asking for them to get in contact as I am sure they have my parcels but are not handing them over. So far they have ignored that note.

What are my next steps? 

Thanks. 


EDIT: Sorry should have been clearer! Yes all 4 parcels are from different couriers and were delivered on different days.
I had read before that some couriers only get involved once you log it with the police as they have technically done their job by delivering the parcel.

I have proof from the couriers that they were delivered there - I just don't know what else I can do now.

MalMonroe

I would definitely try contacting the couriers again - not by any website but by phone so I could speak to a proper person. I'd ask their name, for future reference and then explain the situation and ask them to supply me with some proper proof of delivery. Which they should have, whether it's via a barcode or a photo of the items on the doorstep, or something similar. 

If you can prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that the parcels were actually delivered to the wrong address, you can try approaching the neighbours again, politely and not in an accusatory manner, with that proof. And asking them nicely about the parcels. IF they have them. You don't have any proof right now, only the couriers' (website) word.

Whatever you are thinking of doing, you will need some proof. At the moment, it's just your word against the neighbours'. You posted a note to them without having any proof that they'd received the parcels. They're probably ignoring you because they feel the matter was closed when they told you in person that they didn't have them and they want you to go away.

If you go to the police, you will need to be able to provide some proof that the neighbours took delivery of the parcels that were meant for you. It's just word against word - at the moment you don't have any concrete proof and you need to get some. 

user1977

AdaF said:

What are my next steps? Would I have to contact the police to get a crime number? 

What would you be planning to do with the crime number? Are the couriers saying they might deal with a claim once you have a crime number? (even though the couriers have presumably done nothing wrong?)

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Without starting a long winded debate on passing of risk, ask your neighbours to check again mentioning if they don't have them they must have been stolen and you'll need to contact the police.

Beforehand you may wish to obtain the tracking details from the family member and check with the couriers to ensure any accusations are founded.

Sandtree

AdaF said:

Hello!

A family member has accidentally had 4 parcels sent to a neighbours address instead of mine (they got my house number the wrong way round) - all 4 were addressed in my name.

I have asked the neighbour if they have them and they are saying they don't - I'm finding it hard to believe that 4 parcels (most of which contain Christmas presents and alcohol!) can all go missing, the courier websites all say that they have been delivered to that address.

I put a letter through their letter box with my number asking for them to get in contact as I am sure they have my parcels but are not handing them over. So far they have ignored that note.

What are my next steps? Would I have to contact the police to get a crime number?
Thanks. 

Were they all sent at the same time by the same courier (and therefore effectively are one consignment split into 4 packages)? If they were the 4 are almost certainly all together and it then becomes more likely that they have been left with a neighbour, in the bins or some other random place the courier decided to put them when there was no answer at the door. 

If they were sent on different dates etc then the chances of the neighbour being out every time possibly goes down but the chances of them being dotted about the place certainly goes up.

What do you hope to do with a crime reference number? Have your neighbour arrested?

Carrot007

The other repluies seem to miss the impoprtant point here IMO.

They were delivered to the correct address, the name does not form part of the address, you are allowed to open any mail delivered to your address (just not use it to harm the intended recipient).

As such the delivery comapnies are unlikely to do anything even with a police report, which may not be issued given the circumstances of someone freely sending stuff to their address. (Someone else may know more on that than me).

So I see it a a civil case against the neigbour by the sender.

Though to be honest with neighbours like that I would be just forgetting about it and planning to move.

user1977

Carrot007 said:

The other repluies seem to miss the impoprtant point here IMO.

They were delivered to the correct address, the name does not form part of the address, you are allowed to open any mail delivered to your address

It's not an offence to open the items, but that doesn't mean you're allowed to steal the contents!

Spies

I think bluff that the courier took pictures of the front door and if he doesn't return the parcels immediately, you'll be informing the police. 

Aylesbury_Duck

MalMonroe said:

I would definitely try contacting the couriers again - not by any website but by phone so I could speak to a proper person. I'd ask their name, for future reference and then explain the situation and ask them to supply me with some proper proof of delivery. Which they should have, whether it's via a barcode or a photo of the items on the doorstep, or something similar. 

If you can prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that the parcels were actually delivered to the wrong address, you can try approaching the neighbours again, politely and not in an accusatory manner, with that proof. And asking them nicely about the parcels. IF they have them. You don't have any proof right now, only the couriers' (website) word.

Whatever you are thinking of doing, you will need some proof. At the moment, it's just your word against the neighbours'. You posted a note to them without having any proof that they'd received the parcels. They're probably ignoring you because they feel the matter was closed when they told you in person that they didn't have them and they want you to go away.

If you go to the police, you will need to be able to provide some proof that the neighbours took delivery of the parcels that were meant for you. It's just word against word - at the moment you don't have any concrete proof and you need to get some. 

All very well, but OP has no contract with the couriers, and the couriers have delivered the parcels to the address they were instructed to deliver them to.

This is for OP's relative to sort out.

Carrot007

user1977 said:

Carrot007 said:

The other repluies seem to miss the impoprtant point here IMO.

They were delivered to the correct address, the name does not form part of the address, you are allowed to open any mail delivered to your address

It's not an offence to open the items, but that doesn't mean you're allowed to steal the contents!

I think that was covered in the harm/detriment point.

However the main point was the copuriers have done their job 100% as booked and it is a civil matter between the sender and the unintended recipients.

You could not even argue the wrong person point as strongy as a misdelivery as they never lived there.

HeinzVarieties

Carrot007 said:

user1977 said:

Carrot007 said:

The other repluies seem to miss the impoprtant point here IMO.

They were delivered to the correct address, the name does not form part of the address, you are allowed to open any mail delivered to your address

It's not an offence to open the items, but that doesn't mean you're allowed to steal the contents!

I think that was covered in the harm/detriment point.

However the main point was the copuriers have done their job 100% as booked and it is a civil matter between the sender and the unintended recipients.

You could not even argue the wrong person point as strongy as a misdelivery as they never lived there.

No, it's theft. I don't see any way this cannot be considered "dishonestly appropriating property belonging to another", which is the cornerstone of theft.

That being said I doubt the Police will do anything as they appear to have no desire to deal with, what they consider to be, petty crimes.

Perhaps if the neighbour drank a coffee outside with a friend a few months ago they'd get a drone out, but if you have something nicked it's "claim on your insurance."