Auspost Delivered Parcel to Neighbour - How Do I Get It Back?

mrhanky71 on 05/11/2021 - 11:38
Last edited 05/11/2021 - 11:52 by 1 other user

Hi All,

Hope you guys can help me come up with some ideas on getting a parcel back which was delivered to the wrong address on my street.

I had ordered a parcel from China and have been waiting for it for 3 months. On Monday, I got a notification from Auspost to say that the parcel had been delivered but I definately haven't received it. After being on the phone with Auspost for 3 days I have finally got them to admit that the parcel was delivered to the wrong address but the thing is I do not want to wait 3 months again for these items. I would much prefer if I could just have my parcel.

The lady at Auspost accidentally let slip the address it was delivered to.

I am thinking of knocking on their door and asking for it back
or
having a look in their recycle bin to see if the packaging for my parcel is in there.

If I do happen to get the owner to admit they have taken it or if I found evidence of my items in their bin, can I get the police involved to get my items back?

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Comments

  • the Unforgiven on 06/11/2021 - 11:05
    +2

    and when you go to your neighbour, have your mobile in your pocket recording the sound, so it will be proof later on if need be

    • MontyMacaw on 07/11/2021 - 06:53
      +2

      Which of course is illegal

      • the Unforgiven on 07/11/2021 - 13:07
        -2

        I did that when the cops came to my place to arrest me, and no-one said it was illegal later; I didn't tell the cops thou, but I bet the back-stabbing legal aid lady would have

      • phcyso on 09/11/2021 - 14:28
        +1

        Depends on the state
        Its perfectly legal in Victoria and Queensland to record a conversation that you are a part of without informing the other person.

        source

  • MontyMacaw on 06/11/2021 - 12:09
    +4

    Do they have a Smoker?

    • McFly on 06/11/2021 - 22:30
      +2

      No, but in a years time (assuming OP gets package from neighbour) OP will open the package and complain it's not exactly what they ordered.

    • quikchip on 09/11/2021 - 22:23
      +1

      Check smoker for evidence.

  • kaleidoscope on 06/11/2021 - 21:01
    +1

    If I do happen to get the owner to admit they have taken it or if I found evidence of my items in their bin, can I get the police involved to get my items back?

    Sigh… What kind of a society do we live in nowadays :-/

    ——

    It has happened to me few times and some times i did get them back from neighbours and couple times they went missing. On both of missing occasions sellers did re shipment without any issue. Most of the parcels mis delivered were during the times where couriers were using temp staff…

    OP: Life’s too short to hold grudges like these and live in anger. Talk to your neighbour and move on.

  • savagethree on 06/11/2021 - 21:09
    +3

    OP? What's the outcome?

    • GrueHunter on 06/11/2021 - 22:16
      +14

      Neighbour fired up their smoker as punishment for OP's insolence

    • Subza on 07/11/2021 - 00:09

      knocked on the door and his neighbour was bill cosby

  • BoomTetrisForJeff on 06/11/2021 - 21:41
    +9

    i received a wrongly delivered package and returned it to the person who lived a few streets away, the person had the audacity to ask where the second package is, wow really i went out of my way to return it to you and you think i stole your other package, ungrateful people…

    • MontyMacaw on 06/11/2021 - 22:54

      Reminds me of that time Frasier found a wallet and gave it back to the guy then got accused of taking the $7 that was in it. Frasier quipped he might have gone to a movie and spent it - I wasn’t buying THAT.

  • Vote for Pedro on 06/11/2021 - 23:00
    +3

    Had a parcel delivered to my address for someone else (addressed as my address). Held it assuming it was for a neighbour and the address was wrong. Sure enough few days later knock on door from person matching name on parcel. Handed over.

    Had one of my parcels delivered incorrectly to a neighbour down the road because of senders poor handwriting. I can see how postie made mistake. People were nice and worked out it was for my address and dropped it off.

    Luckily they did as auspost was of no help.

  • deliriousdave on 07/11/2021 - 02:08
    +4

    do the reasonable thing and sort through your neighbour's trash

    • Quantumcat on 07/11/2021 - 02:35
      -2

      Username checks out

  • mrvaluepack on 07/11/2021 - 07:13

    Depends on your suburb, I door knocked and they were friendly about it. Another time, a neighbour drove up the road to inform me about the wrong delivery (it was a big package and he couldnt deliver it to me).

  • Cluster on 07/11/2021 - 08:06
    +2

    On the rare occasion I get the wrong package delivered to me I just take it next door and deliver it myself. What sort of scumbag would keep a package not addressed to them?

  • john_conner on 07/11/2021 - 09:20

    “I have finally got <auspost> to admit that the parcel was delivered to the wrong address”

    What.. Auspost would knowingly deliver to the wrong address AND keep a record of it?

    Surely such a valuable parcel would be insured or at least be signature on receipt..

    Odd

    • Antikythera on 07/11/2021 - 10:38

      signature on receipt..

      COVID measures means even signature on receipt items are just thrown at my door.

  • grr1701 on 07/11/2021 - 09:26
    +1

    Go and knock on the door and ask POLITELY if your package was accidentally delivered to them by mistake. Surely that should be the first step, not all the subterfuge?

  • OzzyOzbourne on 07/11/2021 - 09:52
    +9

    "Auspost Delivered Parcel to Neighbour - How Do I Get It Back?"

    Ask your neighbour for the parcel

  • payless69 on 07/11/2021 - 10:18

    Bikies!

  • [Deactivated] on 07/11/2021 - 10:38

    Do AusPost refund?

    I had alot of products damaged, to the point I couldn't sell them and all I got was $100. I had shipped it platinum express.

    I tried to get a refund for a long time, and they wouldn't.

  • Zapwap on 07/11/2021 - 10:41

    I am on the verge of loosing my parcel ordered locally with AP. Almost over 2 months now only getting notifications for next dates

  • centrelink on 07/11/2021 - 10:57

    China, what will they come up with next?

  • kungfupanda on 07/11/2021 - 11:31
    +5

    If you prefer minimal confrontation, I suggest you drop a note in front of your neighbour door with your contact info.
    That’s how my neighbour did to me when their friend “accidentally” put my address as the destination for their girl’s birthday gift. It took them 3 months to realise it. I did return the package.

  • runamuck on 07/11/2021 - 12:14

    Why do you even need to post here whether you should knock on the door and ask the neighbour? If you got their address, just go and ask. Permission granted.

    • funnysht on 07/11/2021 - 18:58

      It sometimes is a flex reaction

  • Twodogs on 07/11/2021 - 12:40
    +5

    I call B.S you said " The lady at Auspost accidentally let slip the address it was delivered to." how could she possibly know the address it was delivered to , her imformation would show only your address . no one would know that address as it was mistakenly delivered to the wrong one ? .
    Hmm now if you received a wrongly delivered parcel and wondering what your chances are for keeping it i'd say your good.

    • gromit on 07/11/2021 - 14:03
      +3

      This is what I am wondering too, If they accidentally delivered to wrong address they won't be recording that it went to wrong address, just that it was successfully delivered to the right address. Anyone in AP beyond the delivery person would have no clue where it was delivered beyond what was written as the address in the system.

    • [Deactivated] on 07/11/2021 - 14:21
      +4

      AP must check their driver's GPS route. AP delivered my package to the wrong address. I received a delivery notification but no package was found so I phoned them. At first they said they don't contact drivers until they return to the depot at end of shift and log their handset in. They told me not to, but I drove to the depot hoping to catch the guy having lunch because I didn't want to wait that long in case the wrong address decided to keep it. They said they don't normally do it, but if I wait around he might come in - he didn't. So the next day when I'd heard nothing I phoned again, was told she "can now see it was delivered to the wrong address", and "the driver is going back today to try to get your parcel back and if successful you'll probably have it by tomorrow afternoon." So their handheld units that either we or they sign on our behalf must track the GPS position a package is delivered to.

    • So Was Red on 07/11/2021 - 15:58

      Address likely from GPS location recorded when parcel was 'delivered'.
      They use this as proof that it was delivered to the (hopefully) correct address so they don't have to reimburse every liar/fraudster …like USER DC

      • gromit on 08/11/2021 - 08:37
        +3

        Then why the hell doesn't it sound an alarm on their handset when they are delivering to the wrong address if the system is aware of it.

        • So Was Red on 08/11/2021 - 13:27
          +1

          Good idea, other companies probably have that.
          Probably 'too hard' for AP and they don't have to worry much about competition/providing a good service :(

        • [Deactivated] on 09/11/2021 - 00:06

          AP could pay to code it that way if they wanted to, but right now it's only a record to "prove" they've been there. It doesn't always provide the proof they wanted though, LOL.

    • USER DC on 07/11/2021 - 18:15

      Auspost takes a photo of parcel delivered and that photo may have house/unit number on street of his neighbor.

      • gromit on 08/11/2021 - 13:15

        They never have when delivering to my house. dogs alert us to them pulling up in driveway and not once have I ever seen AP take a photo, in fact in the current pandemic delivery it is literally a drop and run, lucky if he is there for 2 seconds.

        • USER DC on 08/11/2021 - 13:18

          With AUSPOST you only get to see Photo, and signature (as its an evidence) if you say something is wrong with delivery like didnt arrive or something.

          • gromit on 08/11/2021 - 13:20

            @USER DC: must be only for signature required or something then as literally we have parcels arriving 2 or 3 times a week and they have never taken a photo.

  • Htu08 on 07/11/2021 - 14:27

    Update?

  • BinnyC on 07/11/2021 - 14:32

    Just mention it to AusPost and let them know of the address it got delivered too.

    I had a situation kind of like this and they normally ask their driver to gps track it and get it back.

  • CalmLemons on 07/11/2021 - 20:41
    +1

    Why not just ask your neighbour?

    Every time I have approached a neighbour, including about poisoning my dog, they were always very helpful.

    I have a rather uneasy way of looking at people though….

  • dhljac on 07/11/2021 - 21:53

    I have been in similar situation but I had a parcel from UK delivered to my house in error by AusPost. People should not get excited as everyone do make mistakes, even AusPost……

    In my case, I looked up the correct address and felt it would be intruding to drive to their house and hand to a stranger a parcel. We simply handed to the AusPost delivery guy the next time he delivered a parcel to our house and informed him that it was delivered to the wrong address. With CoVID lockdown(x6) there were regular deliveries to our house. This allowed the delivery person to correct the error and sort out the problem without rubbing anyone's nose in the ground.

    You really have two reasonable options:
    1. Ask AusPost if the delivery person kindly ask the owner of the property where the parcel was delivered in error, if they still have that parcel so he/she could deliver it to the correct address.
    2. Politely knock on the door and explain the situation. Be nice and accept that if they say no, it is the end of it. Your only relief is AusPost after that.

    Good luck in getting your parcel back.

  • mychips on 07/11/2021 - 23:45

    Knock on their door and ask. I imagine that would be a good place to start. If they deny it, then perhaps try go through insurance or do a chargeback.

  • Shwayne on 08/11/2021 - 00:57
    +2

    The lady at Auspost accidentally let slip the address it was delivered to.

    Wait, so they have ON RECORD that they misdelivered the parcel?

    It sounds like to me the parcel had the wrong address on it, but since you had access to the tracking number they told you more than they should have.

  • spoonmugen on 08/11/2021 - 09:30

    recently my neighbour knocked on my door handed me my parcel that auspost delivered wrongly… i'd do the same for others but maybe your neighbour would because you've avoided eyecontact/saying hello in the past?

    seriously the suggestions you've given yourself vs just knocking on the door saying that you spoke to aus post and they think your parcel has been delivered here - can you please check??

    this is why we have society issues - ppl are affraid to talk to their neigbhours?? even just in passing…

  • OzBrogains on 08/11/2021 - 09:40

    I assume if your neighbour hasn't returned it, and it was easy to do so (i.e. you're a few houses away), they intend to keep it.

  • Ryxxi on 08/11/2021 - 11:09

    well normally if i recieve someone else's parcel, i call aus post and get the recipients phone and call them to pick it up.

    • kaleidoscope on 08/11/2021 - 20:35

      How is this even possible? So Auspost just hand you over the contact details of recipient from their records? Isnt that breaching privacy

  • baker bob on 08/11/2021 - 11:56

    Aus Post knowing your neighbours address as delivery address, first thing that comes to my mind is that the address on the parcel was wrong in which case the neighbour isn't to blame if they don't know who you are. Happened to me last week, my address on parcel but not my name on parcel, was my neighbours.

  • Hangryuman on 08/11/2021 - 12:13

    OP last response here was Fri 5/11 - at work ?

    so wonder if he - OMG - actually knocked on the door of the neighbours and asked if they had his parcel, and they went 'sure - here it is' and gave it to him

  • ProlapsedHeinous on 08/11/2021 - 12:53

    I had something happen recently, received the POD, it was a picture of someone else's front door.. I lodged an issue with Auspost, then an hour or two later the person who incorrectly received my package called me. auspost had accidentally sent to wrong street but right number. Luckily the sender put my mobile on the delivery address label.

  • Vita85 on 08/11/2021 - 14:00
    +1

    When Couriers Please delivered my package to the wrong number on my street (wouldn't tell me where), they went and picked it up the next day and delivered it correctly, which is how it should be done. Although it was surprising the person that signed for it didn't bother to dump it at my house…

    • smartazz104 on 08/11/2021 - 14:56

      That's happened to me twice, both times with Courier's Please. First time they accepted a crooked line as a signature, second time they helpfully provided a photo of someone else's letterbox.

  • savagethree on 08/11/2021 - 15:08
    +4

    Can only assume by the lack of comments from OP, that he did indeed go through their recycle bin and was caught by their cannibal neighbour and eaten.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 09/11/2021 - 17:31

      If he'd checked the normal bin he would have seen the bones of the last neighbour to ask for their parcel back…. Oh well, too late now 🤣

  • mrhanky71 on 08/11/2021 - 15:18
    +12

    update:
    knocked on neighbours door and they said they didnt have my parcel.
    The neighbour told me that the delivery driver had gone back and tried to get my parcel back as well but they didn't have it. They even welcomed me inside to have a look at a stack of empty parcel packages they had stacked inside but no sign of my parcel.

    Looks like will have to claim value of items back through Auspost.

    Thanks to those who provided constructive advice!

    • Sidog on 08/11/2021 - 16:05
      +6

      The stack of empty parcel packages was just a ruse mate.

      You really need to investigate more, get a torch and go through their bins tonight and find some evidence.

      Auspost won’t give you any compo mate. You need to crack the case yourself.

    • tikei on 08/11/2021 - 16:22
      +5

      Them welcoming you inside sounds fishy as if it's a preemptive move.
      Unfortunately auspost can only reimburse up to $100.

      • SpendLess on 09/11/2021 - 07:16

        If OP bought items from a shop the reimbursement should come from them and auspost would reimburse the vendor?

        • mrhanky71 on 09/11/2021 - 11:53
          +4

          thats what auspost told me over the phone. hopefully I can claim the full amount I paid for it.
          Now I've got to buy them again. Hopefully it doesnt take 3 months and hope Auspost don't lose it again.
          It's dissapointing how a package can travel halfway across the world to Wantirna then Auspost can't even make the delivery from Wantirna to Bayswater.

          • SpendLess on 09/11/2021 - 13:20
            +1

            @mrhanky71: im in wantirna as well. Had the same issue couple years back but lucky they found my item after 3 weeks and harrassing Auspost.
            Item was from a supplier from China as well so no help from them at all to chase auspost
            Maybe we got the same dodgy delivery driver lol

    • cuteseal on 09/11/2021 - 15:24
      +2

      Might be worth checking again at your local post office.
      I've had one occasion where it said my parcel was delivered and it wasn't and I asked at the post office and it was there in the back.
      Maybe the postie accidentally scanned/"delivered" it but found the parcel in the back of the truck at the end of his run and brought it back to the post office.

  • butter on 08/11/2021 - 15:22
    +1

    this exact same situation happened to me a couple weeks ago.i got a random package from China. The auspost lady came back and picked it up a couple days later. I live in number 80, the adressee was number 60.

  • Littlevu on 08/11/2021 - 17:37
    +2

    I had Uber Eats or Deliveroo leave two bags of food at the door of my mum’s when visiting. An hour later neighbour asked if we picked up their food. Luckily I was waiting for mum to get home to eat together otherwise that would’ve been embarrassing.

  • oceanlink on 08/11/2021 - 18:14
    +1

    This happened to me before, after calling Auspost, they got the driver to go back to the other house and retrieve it, and delivered to me, though it was already opened by the tenant.

  • deneb on 08/11/2021 - 18:55
    +4

    Happened to me before, just knocked and ask to see if they have it. 90% people are honest and probably dont want your parcel.

  • eddyah on 08/11/2021 - 23:09

    WTF is wrong with half you idiots? Just knock on their house and say they have your parcel and see what happens…

    • quikchip on 09/11/2021 - 22:35

      That'd be too easy.

  • Manazuru on 09/11/2021 - 06:35
    +1

    Last week Toll delivered a parcel to me that was meant to go to someone else in the same suburb. Toll muddled up the street name during delivery (sort of similar to mine). I dropped off the parcel to the correct recipient on the way to shops, easier than dealing with Toll to do it. Rather stupid mistake on Toll's part. Just hope someone would do the same to me in similar circumstances…

  • 100KK on 09/11/2021 - 09:32
    +1

    In true ozbargain.com.au style I'm going to give you only feel good or stupid reply:

    It was never meant to be yours to begin with, it was meant to happen; it's Gods will. You committed a sin and earnt your money swindling others. The other people need it more. Go without. Just move on mate.

  • MikeKulls on 09/11/2021 - 11:04

    Why do you need to ask our permission to talk to your neighbour? Just go ask them

  • [Deactivated] on 09/11/2021 - 12:07
    +5

    OK OP I was in the same boat, rang AP and lady told me item was delivered to white house, I explained my house was red and this was delivered on a Sunday.
    I had already lodged a "item not received" to eBay and they refunded my money on Friday. It was far past due date for deliver and was only coming 20 kms away from me.
    The seller got upset with me and claimed that I had received it, this is when I rang AP and got info. So I went to knock on my neighbors door next day and low and behold there was my package that my neighbor was oblivious to.
    eBay had already explained that if the package turned up that I get to keep it, mind you I was never at fault here and somehow I got the refund and the item and the seller got their money too.
    The driver had stuffed up monumentally and next time he saw me he apologized.

    Regardless of what you do, be honest with your intentions is my advice.

    • jv on 09/11/2021 - 22:33
      -1

      User name checks out…

  • plasmoske on 09/11/2021 - 18:34
    +2

    Once had some big (had Lorna Jane logos and stuff all over the parcel) parcel dropped off at my door step. Seems like it like a bunch of clothes. Probably expensive as well.

    Was addressed to someone else and address was basically 10 Kloughs St, while I lived on 10 Ploughs Rd lol (I changed the word around so I don't get stalkers lol).

    Had a mob number on the label so I called it up. Some girl picked up and was like… sigh… can you come over and drop it off for me? I was like no I'm busy but you're free to come over and collect it anytime at my <insert address>. Seems like it's only a 5mins drive from your address. She basically paused for a bit and then said fine… I'll come over at 4.

    4 o'clock rolls around and yeah I get a knock at the door. I open up and I see a girl (with a pissed off look) and she says "I'm here for my parcel.". I reply "Here you go. I think this is yours.". She just gave me a fed up look and took the parcel off my hands and went off. I closed the door and then said to myself. "F*** that c***. No thanks or anything at all." She was acting like as if I stole the parcel off her, was caught red handed and she just came to get it back lol. Like I did her a massive favour but got no appreciation/thanks for it.

    • Yola on 10/11/2021 - 18:56
      +1

      You should have hung up when she asked you to drop it off to her. Some people do not deserve kindness.

  • quikchip on 09/11/2021 - 22:30

    Invite neighbours over for a fun night with pizza and game of Mafia, then start asking the hard questions.

  • Soldier on 10/11/2021 - 10:00

    just knock and ask

  • mrhanky71 on 19/11/2021 - 09:21
    +4

    Update: I got a call from Auspost. Turns out my neighbour did have my parcel. She runs a business from home and she has so many parcels that she can’t keep track of them. She had stored mine in an odd place and when she finally went to open it she realised the address was wrong.

    Faith in humanity restored!

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