If the supplier doesn't collect the goods within the recovery period, you can keep them without having to pay anything for them. But you can't keep unsolicited goods if you: knew that the goods were not supposed to be sent to you – for example, if there is another name and address on the parcel.
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.
When you receive a mistaken delivery, call customer service for the delivery company and explain the situation. Give them the tracking number on the package, as well as the name and address on the package if it's different from yours. The company will come and pick up the product within a reasonable time frame.
You should try to give them back. In fact, firms can take you to court to recover these items. It's best to contact the retailer and ask them to collect the goods in this situation – you shouldn't have to pay to send them back.
If an item is delivered to the wrong address, we will ask the postal operator to try to get it back. If the missing item can't be found, we will check the postal operator's terms and conditions to work out what compensation should be paid.
The current advice from Australia Post if you receive mail addressed to your address but it is not for you or anyone who currently uses the address is to: Mark it as 'return to sender - unknown at this address' Place the item in a red street posting box or hand it to staff at any Post Office for return.
Should you receive something that was not ordered by you, the right thing to do is get in touch with the sender and then ask the courier to take the parcel back. Usually, deliveries that you receive but didn't order are labeled by the courier as “unsolicited goods”.
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.
If you receive a package that you did not order and is not a gift, report it immediately. When a customer receives a package they didn't order, it may be a scam called "brushing". "Brushing" scams occur when bad actors send packages to publicly available names and addresses.
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.
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.
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.
Intentionally opening, intercepting or hiding someone else's mail is the felony crime of mail theft. It comes with some heavyweight penalties, including five years' incarceration in a federal prison.”
First off if you can prove they took it is to call the police and let them deal with it. Mail theft is a federal offense. If you have no proof then contact the place the package was sent from to report it stolen. Sometimes they will replace the item.
Under state and federal law, recipients of unordered merchandise may keep the goods and are under no obligation to pay for or return them. The recipient may treat the merchandise as an unconditional gift—and may use or dispose of the merchandise as he or she sees fit.
If picking up mail for someone else, the customer needs written authorization (and their own photo ID).
Just bring some proof of identity for the person it's addressed to (there's a list of what we accept below), and a copy of the tracking ID.
In Australia, it is considered mail tampering or mail fraud if you throw someone else's mail in the rubbish, regardless of the reason. Australia Post, the national postal service, is the only organisation or body that is legally allowed to dispose of mail.
While it may be tempting to shred or throw away this mail, doing so may constitute a felony. Obstruction of correspondence is a federal criminal offense. Upon conviction, you may face up to five years in prison for destroying someone else's mail.
How to stop receiving mail for a company that isn't yours. To stop receiving mail addressed to a company that isn't yours, write 'Return to Sender - company no longer at this address' on the envelope and mail it back to us.
Someone who doesn't live at your address
You can return the mail by putting it back in your mailbox or giving it back to your mail carrier. If it's a letter, you can also find the blue collection boxes around your town and drop it in there. Make sure you've written “Not At This Address” on the mail item.
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.
Tampering with mail is a criminal offence in Australia. Opening mail you are not authorised to can be considered tampering. Division 471 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) is where you will find the law on postal offences. Under section 471.7, it is a federal crime if you open a 'mail-receptacle' that is not yours.
Report your stolen package to the delivery company
If contacting the sender doesn't help resolve your issue, try contacting the company that facilitated the delivery, whether it be Australia Post, Amazon, or a third-party courier service.
No, it's a federal offense to tamper with any mail that's not addressed to you. Opening mail with anyone else's name on it is a federal offense regardless of the address on it.