How long do I need to hold onto this for?

elsien

Next door neighbour moved and didn’t leave forwarding address. They had a parcel delivered to the old address next to me which I took in because otherwise it would’ve been nicked - delivery people left it in full sight outside the front door
I can’t track them down at all. I’ve tried local Facebook groups, contacting them on LinkedIn, someone on Facebook who’s a friend of theirs but he hasn’t responded - their Facebook looks to be unused and doesn’t allow for messages.

I think it’s come from a Chinese drop shipper so I’m not faffing around trying to get it back to them.
Cost around £20 -25

I’m probably going to sell it or give it to the charity shop at some point. Just wondering how much longer would be a good idea to hold onto before I do that - i’ve had it about a month so far.

MeteredOut

If it wasn't large and taking up space, I'd probably wait a couple of months; unlikely though it is, someone tries come back for it.

But not sure i'd wait that long to check what was in the package :)

Ms_Chocaholic

Ask your postie if they have put a redirection in place with Royal Mail. If so send them a letter.

elsien

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82170662#Comment_82170662

Package already checked, hence knowing the value. I’m a nosy beggar. So if anyone’s in the market for a battery operated car polisher…….

I could send a letter to them at the old address anyway and see what happens I suppose. Mail redirect hadn’t occurred to me, so thanks for that. Although I also think if they were that fussed about it, they might have been round knocking on the door anyway.

Boohoo

Did they rent or own?

Has anyone new moved in as they may know a forwarding address or if they are renting know the agent who could pass on a message.

elsien

they rented - no idea who the agent is, and it’s been empty now for a few months.

MyRealNameToo

Someone is probably checking the property periodically, you'd imagine. As well as posting to see if a redirect is on you can also pop a note through the letter box addressed to the Landlord

MeteredOut

Posted to local the facebook group to see if anyone knows where they've moved to?

elsien

Already tried that.

Grumpy_chap

I think the OP has made a mistake here taking the parcel in to prevent it being stolen.

The OP was clearly not on great friend terms with the former neighbours if no forwarding contact was provided, or no prior mobile number etc. held, and no joint acquaintances.

The former neighbour ordered something that was delivered as per the order instructions. The former neighbour might well have received a delivery notification from the courier with a photo of the delivery to the OP's next door (former neighbour's former house). The former neighbour might well have turned up to collect the delivery and, seeing it gone, simply shrugged off the mistake and assumed the item had been stolen by whoever. Which, in a way, it has been, albeit the "whoever" is actually the OP.

A note through the door won't really work as the former neighbour, presumably, won't still have access to the property.

The only thing the OP can do is to try to make contact via the Letting Agent.

And, in the future, try to restrain themselves from getting involved in matters that don't really concern them.

elsien

I shouldn’t have to explain myself but I will because that’s a tad harsh from someone with very little knowledge of the circumstances.

I didn’t know a lot about the neighbours because they only lived there for a few months, and I’m not in the habit of getting mobile numbers for people who are simply acquaintances.

however I had taken parcels in for them before so I was expecting that if they came back that they would simply knock on my door - that is the norm around here.
I live in an area where parcels left full in view of the street will disappear very quickly. So I will continue to take them in where I have a reasonable expectation that I will be able to hand them over. That’s what I call being a good neighbour. Not a thief.