I appear to have inherited a parcel.

@Asylum (47893)

Manchester, England

January 10, 2016 10:03am CST

As I was leaving the house on Thursday I encountered a delivery man who asked if I could take in a parcel for a neighbour. Naturally I agreed because it saves the driver returning and also saves the neighbour having to wait longer for the parcel. Nobody came to collect it on Thursday evening, so around 9 o’clock I went to deliver it myself. Unfortunately nobody was home so I brought the parcel back. It has been 3 days now, so it seems very strange that nobody has bothered to collect this, especially since the driver placed a card through the door informing them of where he left it. It seemed a good time to try again today because most people tend to be home on Sunday, but once again the house was empty. Oddly the car is still parked in the drive, which is where it has been all the time. I am now becoming a little concerned and even considering contacting the local police in case something drastic has occurred.

15 people like this

15 responses

@jaboUK (64346)

• United Kingdom

10 Jan 16

I do take parcels in for our neighbours, but I'm never too happy about it. You have to keep watching for them to come home. I hope there is nothing amiss with your neighbour.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Jan 16

I will be happy when I finally manage to get rid of it.

1 person likes this

@boiboing (13147)

• Northampton, England

10 Jan 16

I would ring them and just register your concern. It's not an 'immediate call out' issue but maybe they'll pop by and check.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Jan 16

Now that sounds like a good idea. I am certainly reluctant to involve the Police if it turns out that they are simply on holiday.

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Jan 16

@boiboing If they are rotting then I should be able to smell them in a few more days.

@boiboing (13147)

• Northampton, England

10 Jan 16

@Asylum And they wouldn't thank you if they returned to find their door kicked in. Maybe ask the neighbours either side if they've seen them - maybe somebody is feeding their cat or switching lights on and off for them. Or maybe their corpses are rotting under the patio (no, probably not - too much watching Brookside and East Enders)

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@kaka135 (14994)

• Malaysia

14 Jan 16

Glad that you have finally got rid of the parcel now. It seems like adding a responsibility to you with the parcel. The postman here does not seem to do that. He will just leave a card and ask us to collect the parcel from the post office ourselves.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

14 Jan 16

This was not the Royal Mail, it was a private delivery service. If they had tried again while he was away then they would likely send the parcel back to the sender.

1 person likes this

@kaka135 (14994)

• Malaysia

15 Jan 16

@Asylum I guess the private delivery service is better.

1 person likes this

@mysdianait (66005)

• Italy

12 Jan 16

This has everything that it takes for a suspense thriller story for a book or a film. Is the parcel still with you now? The neighbours have reappeared? i am so curious

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

12 Jan 16

He knocked on my door an hour ago, it seems he has been to London.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

12 Jan 16

@mysdianait Oh yes he was very happy.

1 person likes this

@mysdianait (66005)

• Italy

12 Jan 16

@Asylum Oh what a disappointment as that is not a good ending for a book or a film

He was at least grateful to you for caring for his parcel I trust.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@topffer (42155)

• France

10 Jan 16

Do not lose faith : I have heard of letters delivered years after they were sent

.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Jan 16

So have I, but not left with a neighbour for years.

1 person likes this

@topffer (42155)

• France

10 Jan 16

@Asylum In a year or two you will be able to ask for a compensation as an auxiliary of the post-office. Especially if you have 20 or 30 parcels at home for your neighbor

.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Jan 16

@topffer I certainly have no intention of allowing the amount to become so large.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12069)

• United States

10 Jan 16

Yikes. Sounds like a "wellness check" is in order. Sometimes bad things happen without anyone knowing. I would call the local police.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

11 Jan 16

The biggest problem is that it may turn out that they are on holiday, so I need to check with other neighbours first.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

11 Jan 16

@ElizabethWallace This is not my next door neighbour, it is someone who lives a few doors away from me.

1 person likes this

ElizabethWallace

@ElizabethWallace (12069)

• United States

11 Jan 16

@Asylum Your neighborhood sure likes going on holidays.

1 person likes this

Show more comments

@allknowing (153544)

• India

12 Jan 16

If the car is still there then surely all is not well.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

12 Jan 16

That is just the point, if they are visiting friends or on holiday then the car would remain at home.

@allknowing (153544)

• India

12 Jan 16

@Asylum You have a point there. Dump that parcel somewhere and forget about the incident. When they see that slip about where the parcel is they will come for it.

1 person likes this

Peter B. Giblett

@pgiblett (6524)

• Canada

10 Jan 16

That sounds serious I would contact the police.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Jan 16

I will enquire among other neighbours first.

1 person likes this

Peter B. Giblett

@pgiblett (6524)

• Canada

10 Jan 16

@Asylum Sounds a wise course. I suppose they may have gone away.

1 person likes this

Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61463)

• United States

12 Jan 16

Oh dear, they could be on holiday. Or yes the alternative is not so pleasant.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

12 Jan 16

If I do not see anyone around today then I shall ask if anybody has their telephone number.

1 person likes this

@Inlemay (17712)

• South Africa

17 Jan 16

Curiouser and curiouser! . . .

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

17 Jan 16

It turned out of to be a simple case of him visiting friends in London for a few weeks.

@Marilynda1225 (91013)

• United States

11 Jan 16

I'm curious...did you get to deliver that package?

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

11 Jan 16

Not yet. I have spoken to one neighbour, but still have a few more to speak to before deciding how to proceed.

@garymarsh6 (23978)

• United Kingdom

16 Jan 16

OH dear I hope all is well.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

16 Jan 16

It turned out fine in the end Gary and he had been in London with friends for a week.

@TheHorse (238275)

• Walnut Creek, California

11 Jan 16

You didn't notice a strange odor coming from the house, did you?

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

11 Jan 16

Not yet, but maybe when the weather warms up a little.

@JudyEv (381837)

• Rockingham, Australia

11 Jan 16

That does seem strange. I hope everything is okay with your neighbour. Can you ring him/her?

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

12 Jan 16

A very good point, I have not checked if they have a telephone number.

1 person likes this

@marlina (154103)

• Canada

10 Jan 16

Now, you have me worried that something is wrong. I would call the police.

1 person likes this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Jan 16

I am reluctant to involve them too early because they may be on holiday or staying with friends.