I have received (signed for mail) a parcel which was addressed to my home but the name was different to mine. The package contains a fairly valuable item but there is no invoice, return address or contact details. How long do I have to keep it before it becomes mine and where do I stand legally with this item?
2006-11-10 04:23:22 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Other - Home & Garden
I'd like to add that I was waiting on several things being delivered to my home so didn't check name on it (it has my address on it and the Postman knows me). Had I realised that it wasn't addressed to me I wouldn't have opened it at all - I know you're not legally able to!
2006-11-11 08:39:44 · update #1
If you signed for it, then it can be tracked and traced. Royal Mail have a track and trace system. It is illegal to open other people's mail, with a possible prosecution. Ideally you need to take it to your nearest sorting office, where they can trace the sender. If you are not near a sorting office, then a post office will be ok.
Because the name on the package is different to yours, it does not belong to you. Usually if you find something and no one has claimed it after 6 months, you can take over ownership; providing you have taken all steps to find the original owner. But in this case, the onus is on you to return it.
2006-11-10 05:08:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't belong to you. You are expected to take reasonable steps to find the owner. What is regarded as "reasonable" depends on how valuable it is.
The chances are that someone will make a claim against the parcel delivery firm and they will ask for it back. They will have kept the slip where you signed for it.
It never becomes legally yours, but if no-one has claimed it after 6 months you won't be regarded as having stolen it.
2006-11-10 04:30:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it was a signed for package, the post office will have the details of the sender. It is in the UK, illegal to open mail addressed to another person without their permission. Best suggestion... get in touch with the post office via your postperson and ask them to return to sender (FOC!)
2006-11-10 04:27:16 · answer #3 · answered by Boring Old Fart 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should not have opened it if you were not the named person on the address.... dont think your legally allowed to do that.... imagine if something for you was sent to the wrong address and someone else opened it. wrap it back up and take back to the post office. whats in the package is not yours to keep.
2006-11-11 06:46:22 · answer #4 · answered by theoriginalsource 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋