Even though it is not a common practice unless requested, the courier driver may leave the parcel with the neighbours without permission. If this has happened to you, continue reading as we will consider more scenarios and how to proceed.
What can happen when a parcel is left with neighbours without permission
It can be unpleasant if the courier driver left the parcel with the neighbours without your permission and you were not notified about it.
In general, contact the seller directly if you cannot retrieve your shipment when the parcel left with the neighbours was an online order. They may be able to send you another item of what you ordered or give you a refund.
In case the seller cannot do much, there are a few scenarios as to what can happen after the courier leaves the parcel with the neighbours without permission, and we will see each one in more detail.
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1. The neighbour gives you back the parcel
This is definitely the best scenario when you have not permitted the courier to leave the parcel at your neighbour’s place. Check the neighbour’s home if the tracking status says that the package is delivered but does not see it at your doorstep. As said, in the best possible scenario, they will give it to you with no issue, but it can also happen that they refuse to hand in the parcel.
2. The neighbour refuses to give you the parcel back
This can be a rather frustrating situation, but it is not much you can do about it. If you can prove that the parcel was delivered to your neighbour’s place without your permission, you can ask the authorities to intervene.
3. The neighbour denies having the parcel
This is a rather tricky situation as the neighbours may be telling the truth. One thing you can do is report the situation to the authorities. Notify your neighbours that you are about to go to the authorities, and if they hid the package from you, they might be willing to give it back to you. If they still deny having the parcel, you can report it as a stolen package.
4. The parcel left at the neighbour’s place was stolen
The chances that you can get a refund from the courier for stolen packages that were left and signed by the neighbours, whether with or without your permission, are very few. What you can do in this case, is call the authorities. If the package was not of great value, however, it may happen that they will not be able to do much.
To get around and avoid such situations, you will have to ask the courier company not to leave the parcel with your neighbours or to use a more expensive service.
Are you entitled to receive a refund on damaged goods if the neighbour signed for it?
Signing for a parcel acts like a declaration of the recipient that the box was accepted and it was delivered in a good state. This is why you should instruct the neighbour to open the package and check it thoroughly before signing for it.
However, a parcel left with the neighbour without your permission could be considered as a breach of contract. In other words, the arguments are in your favour if you didn’t name the neighbour as a delivery option at the outset. If your package arrives damaged, you can still pursue a complaint and ask for a refund, even if your neighbour had signed for it.
How to avoid parcels left at neighbour’s place
If the courier doesn’t leave the parcel at your neighbours or in a safe place around the house, the parcel is usually stored in the courier’s local depot. You will then have to pick it up yourself from their local depot or organize a new delivery at an extra cost.
Should you ask your neighbour to receive the parcel on your behalf?
Granted, in case you will not be at home, designating a neighbour to receive your parcel will save you the hassle of retrieving the parcel from the courier’s depot.
However, this poses a few problems. For instance, since your neighbour won’t open the package, they might not notice any signs of damage. So, they might not report it to the courier driver immediately as they should. Once it is signed for, the courier firm might not take any further responsibility. Signing for a parcel means that it was received in good condition.
The receiver should not sign for a parcel with evident signs of damage. If the courier driver refuses to wait to fill in a damage report, a good practice is to take photos and also write on the delivery note “received damaged”. This will ensure you don’t diminish your chances of getting a refund, and your neighbour cannot be made responsible for the state of the parcels while in their care.
If you don’t want your parcel to be left with the neighbour:
- Check with the courier company if this is part of their procedures. Some logistics companies, such as DHL, have clearly stated on their website that they leave your parcel to the neighbours if necessary.
- Ask for the package not to be left to your neighbours.
Still have questions?
Check our articles that answer the most common questions about shipping.