What do I do if I got someone else’s FedEx package? – Garden Center Care (2023)

FAQs

What do I do if I received someone else's FedEx package? ›

Visit our contact us page and submit the query "I received a package that is not mine" in the 'Your Virtual Support Assistant' box on the top center of the page. Follow the steps to open a case with customer service to investigate your delivery.

Cross out the barcode and write “Not at this Address: Return to Sender.” You can also just cross out the barcode and write “Return to Sender.” What do I do if I keep getting someone else's mail? If returning the mail to sender doesn't take care of the problem, notify your local post office directly.

Open the package and call the sender and let them know what happened. Tell them you suspect identify theft and ask them to investigate. If the sender wants the merchandise back, they will send you a call tag for return shipping - at no cost to you. At best, it's just a mislabeled package.

Legally, you're allowed to keep a mistaken delivery. Surprising, right? The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has rules that allow you to keep merchandise that's wrongly delivered — even if you didn't pay for it. The logic is that sellers can't just send you goods and demand money for them.

If you're not sure what to do with mail that isn't yours, it's probably easier than you think to get rid of it legally. All you need to do is write “RETURN TO SENDER” on the front of the envelope and put it back in your mailbox. Your postal worker will take care of it for you from there.

You have the legal right to keep it as a free gift, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Sellers aren't permitted to ask for payment for unordered items, either, and the FTC says consumers are under no obligation to even tell the seller about the wrongly delivered merchandise.

Is it a federal crime to open someone else's mail? The short answer is “yes.” Opening or destroying mail that is addressed to someone else is a crime called “Obstruction of Correspondence.” It is a serious felony that could lead to prison time.

First mistake - don't take packages off your neighbor's porch. You trespassed.

Can you open a package that has your address but not your name? No, you cannot. If it is addressed to somebody else with the wrong address (yours) but the correct name (theirs), it would be theft by conversion.

Give it a few days while the driver tries to recover the package. If the package is unrecoverable FedEx may ask you to file a police report for the theft of your property. Check with FedEx as to how much they may reimburse you for the package they 'lost' because of a delivery mistake.

Can I pick up a FedEx package Not in my name? ›

Anyone with the tracking number who lives at the recipient address can pick up the package on your behalf. They should bring government-issued photo identification that matches the recipient address (mobile phone screen-shots are not accepted).

If you need someone else to collect your package on your behalf, they'll need to bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Additionally s/he needs to present proof of connection to the address on the UPS label or to the named person (named person's valid ID or photocopy).

Under this view, whether an unintended recipient receives misdelivered or misaddressed mail, it is unlawful to remove any such item from the mail and possess it with the intent of preventing the item from reaching its intended recipient. Such mail is considered stolen and is protected by § 1708.

Your shipment will be redirected to the original sender or held at the local Post Office for pickup.

Contact the destination local post office before the shipment arrives. They can help you intercept the item and return it to the sender.

The short answer is “yes.” Opening or destroying mail that is addressed to someone else is a crime called “Obstruction of Correspondence.” It is a serious felony that could lead to prison time.

Short answer: yes. But, there are a few reasons for returning mail to sender and a different way for each. What does it mean to return to sender? It's a common policy used by the United States Postal Service (USPS), UPS, FedEx, DHL, and other carriers to handle mail items that are misdelivered or rejected.

The federal statute 18 USC Section 1702 states that it is illegal for individuals to open correspondence that is addressed to other individuals. However, if you accidentally open someone else's mail, you have not committed a crime.

It is a federal crime to open or destroy mail that is not intended for you. The law provides that you can not "destroy, hide, open, or embezzle" mail that is not addressed to you. If you intentionally open or destroy someone else's mail, you are committing obstruction of correspondence, which is a felony.

If picking up mail for someone else, the customer needs written authorization (and their own photo ID).

What happens if someone steals a package from your porch? ›

If you encounter this scenario, you might want to file a claim with the shipping company as well. UPS, FedEx, USPS, and DHL all provide an online claims process to report your missing item, and you can also contact them by phone.

To request your delivery be cancelled and your package returned to the original shipment address, log in to your FedEx account, go to our tracking page, and follow these steps: Enter your tracking number. Select Manage Delivery, then Return to Shipper.

If you have insurance that comes along with the package that you are receiving, then FedEx will cover up to a certain amount that is based on the value of the package. Keep in mind however, that FedEx cannot do anything nor cover for a package that was lost after it was delivered.

When a misdelivery is discovered, the following procedure is used to retrieve the shipment: Contact Customer Service to open a case for retrieval at the wrong address. The driver will pick up the shipment. The driver will reattempt the delivery the same day if possible.

Who can pick up my FedEx package? Anyone who lives at the same address as you can pick up your package. They'll need the tracking number and a government-issued photo ID that proves they live at the same address as the one on the package label.

Delivery attempts

If no signature is required, the shipment will be left at the recipient's door. If a signature is required, the driver will typically try to deliver the package up to three times.

The return address is not required on postal mail. However, lack of a return address prevents the postal service from being able to return the item if it proves undeliverable; such as from damage, postage due, or invalid destination. Such mail may otherwise become dead letter mail.

The United States Postal Service requires an ID to send certified mail, Priority Mail Express, insured mail and other package services. You will likely be asked for an ID based on the list of services that require one. Keep in mind that not all forms of ID are accepted for every USPS service.

Contact the Shipping Company

If the retailer won't cooperate, contact the shipper as soon as possible. You have a limited number of days to file a claim. In our survey, 40 percent of Americans who had a package stolen notified the shipping company; 25 percent requested a full reimbursement.

Can I keep an Amazon package that was delivered to me by mistake? ›

It's not illegal to keep a package that you didn't order. The Federal Trade Commission states that you don't need to pay or return a package that was accidentally sent to you.

If your neighbor stole your package, you should first call the police and report the crime. Next, you should contact your insurance company to file a claim. Finally, you should talk to your neighbors to see if they saw anything or have any information about who may have stolen the package.

Tell them that you understand their frustration or tell them that you had that happen once yourself and you found it frustrating. This shows that you care about their satisfaction. Next, let the buyer know that as a seller you can only ship to the address that was provided to you by the marketplace.

You can drop off your package at one of 56,000+ retail and contactless FedEx^® Drop Box locations. I have a QR code return label from a retailer working with FedEx. You don't need to print anything.

Yes. Federal law forbids the tampering opening or destruction of parcels or post by anyone it was not addressed to.

To request your delivery be cancelled and your package returned to the original shipment address, log in to your FedEx account, go to our tracking page, and follow these steps: Enter your tracking number. Select Manage Delivery, then Return to Shipper.

A return label surcharge will only be applied once FedEx receives the return shipment. The cost is USD$0.50 per shipment* for a print return label or USD$1.00 for an email return label. If the return label isn't used, no surcharge is applied. Who pays for the print or email return label shipment?

Contacting FedEx for your stolen package

FedEx provides a clear claim process for stolen packages. As such, if you placed an order and shipped any items through FedEx, you can easily claim the lost package online. Once you have placed the claim, the courier resolves the claim within five to seven days.

Contact Customer Service to open a case for retrieval at the wrong address. The driver will pick up the shipment. The driver will reattempt the delivery the same day if possible. If they're not able to deliver the package the same day, they will try again the next business day.

The short answer is “yes.” Opening or destroying mail that is addressed to someone else is a crime called “Obstruction of Correspondence.” It is a serious felony that could lead to prison time.

Is it illegal to open someone else's parcel? ›

84 Interfering with the mail: general.

(3)A person commits an offence if, intending to act to a person's detriment and without reasonable excuse, he opens a postal packet which he knows or reasonably suspects has been incorrectly delivered to him.