I recently moved into a new apartment and am have some mail problems. I am still receiving the old tenant’s mail, ups, and fedex packages. Because I am working all day I am not there to refuse them, so they are just left on my doorstep. At first I was like “whatever” and just brought them back to the apartment leasing office, but now after two months of this it has become a little annoying. I have left notes with the packages for the previous tenant to pick up asking him to ship his packages to his new address, or notify these shippers of his new address, but I am still getting them.
What would happen if I just started throwing these packages away with my trash? Would I be responsible if these packages ended up in the wrong hands? If the previous tenant didn’t receive an item would the shipper come to me asking where it is? Am I obligated to try and forward them to the right place, or return them if I can’t?
Usually with his USPS mail (bank statements, etc…) I just right RTS on them and drop them back into the outgoing mail, no big deal, but the packages are kind of a pain. I leave for work before the leasing office opens, and don’t get home until after it closes.
Any ideas on how to handle this and what I’m obligated (by law) to do?
On preview: I may be wrong, but I am writing all this under the assumption that I have to at least make some effort to redirect the mail to the intended recipient.
IANAL, but why would you have any responsibility whatsoever? You’ve made a good faith effort to notify him, and the third party in the mix (the leasing office) and it’s his problem entirely.
I say as long as you’re not keeping them, don’t worry about it. Tell the leasing office about it, in writing, and notify the local Fedex branch that all deliveries need to go the the leasing office for a signature. Problem solved.
It would be obnoxious not to make some effort, but there are limits to what’s reasonable.
How about a letter to the former tenant telling him to notify shippers of his new address, and a note on the door saying: “Packages for Former Tenant must be left at the leasing office or sent to New Address; any left here are unlikely to be delivered.” After that, your legal responsibility should be nil.
I’ve been in my home for 6 years and I still get mail for the old resident.
If it looks important (rarely) I will put RTS on it and leave it in the mailbox. Most of it goes directly in the trash though.
In an apartment I rented a package was delivered with a high-end electric toothbrush. I just left it in my front closet for about a year. No one ever asked about it or came to claim it so I took it with me when I moved. It works great.
How often does this happen and how safe is your building? Maybe you could just leave it at the door until the next delivery and the the FedEx guy would put 2 and 2 together.
You’ve left notes for the former tenant? You know their new address then? I’d take a package to them in person after work and explain that they need to update their address, as you can’t continue to get their packages. Then tape a note to your door saying something like “packages for John Q. Public are not accepted at this address, please return them to sender or leave with the leasing office at 123 main street…”.
That notifies the sender and shippers that his mail’s not being delivered correctly. If anything’s left on your door afterwards I’d just leave it there.
I have been just taking them to the leasing office, and leaving a note taped to the box for when he comes to pick them up. The last one went something like
*Old Tenant,
These packages came to my apartment addressed to you, again. Please change your address. I can no longer guarantee your packages will be brought to the office or forwarded to you properly.
Thanks,
New Tenant (Picard Kills Kirk)*
Although I can’t be sure that the people in the office aren’t just ripping it off and throwing it away, but I have no reason to believe they would be.
The complex is a gated community, so I was actually a little surprised when these packages showed up at my door. It is a pretty safe area I think, and I considered leaving them outside but I am afraid maintenance would pick them up and charge my apartment for leaving trash outside.
I’ve been receiving packages for him 1-2 times a week since I moved in February. Another thing that surprises me is most of them have upgraded shipping on them like 2nd day air. Why would he have something sent to him, upgrade the shipping, and mail it to the wrong address?
I think I’m going to contact the local branches here and see if what they can do for me, in addition to the note on door, but I would prefer to avoid doing that as a permanent solution if possible.
If the packages are coming from the same source, your ultimate solution would be to call the vendor and tell them that their packages are being shipped to an invalid address for the recipient. Tell them where you have left the packages so that they can arrange to reclaim their merchandise and ask them not to ship anything else to your address.
Do this in writing and specifically state that if the merchandise isn’t reclaimed within 90 days, you will dispose of the packages still in your direct possession. If it’s good stuff, then keep it!
Don’t worry, Capt. The OP hasn’t been active since May. You *may *be safe.
Also - **arttowngifts **- Capt Kirk reported your message because you gave a link to your business, something that is frowned upon here. The details you gave were good, although a little late, since this thread in several years old.
Still being relatively new around here, I wasn’t sure how much I am supposed to say. Hence the reference to the rules. I noticed PKK doesn’t seem active but darn skippy I am going to pull rank. I was an Admiral before he was an Ensign
