A UK woman has declared she is willing to keep a neighbour's parcel 'forever' in an escalating row over who should be responsible for collecting misdirected deliveries. The festive season has intensified the long-running issue, sparking a major debate on neighbourly boundaries.
The Breaking Point Over Parcels
The frustrated householder took to the popular forum Mumsnet's 'Am I Being Unreasonable' board on 7th December 2025 to vent. She explained that over the previous fortnight, several parcels for her neighbour had been left at her home. The final straw came when a courier handed a large box to her daughter without proper consent.
"She said the postman just passed it to her whilst half asking and telling and walked off, so it took her by surprise," the woman wrote. This left a "huge box in the hall" and a firm resolve not to act as an unpaid delivery service any longer.
Is It Unreasonable to Refuse?
The core of the dispute lies in the neighbour's apparent lack of effort. The woman confirmed with a postman that the neighbour does receive notification when parcels are delivered to her address. Despite this, and despite seeing him "coming and going" frequently, he never knocks to collect them.
"If he wants it, he can bloody well walk a couple of steps to get it!" she raged. Her husband suggested taking it over at the weekend, but she refused, fearing it would set a permanent precedent. "I’m willing to keep it forever at this point just to prove a point because, yes, I am that petty," she admitted.
Public Reaction: Petty or Perfectly Reasonable?
The online community was divided. Some suggested firm tactics, like posting a note giving him 24 hours to collect before returning the item to sender. Another recommended leaving the parcel outside his own door, leaving its fate to the elements.
However, others urged perspective, noting the neighbour might be unaware of the inconvenience. One commenter wrote: "I think it's really odd, the things that make people cross... Hold onto it or take it around, but don't waste so much energy on it."
The standoff highlights the delicate social contract between neighbours, especially during the busy Christmas period when online deliveries surge. It poses a simple question: when does a friendly favour become an unreasonable imposition?
