If you sign for a neighbour’s parcels, you could be signing away your consumer rights or even end up in court!

There’s nothing more frustrating than finding a card saying you missed your delivery and you’ll have to travel to a depot that shuts at mid-day. Most of us are happy for our neighbours to sign for our deliveries. But what happens if that parcel is damaged or goes missing?

I've read about one elderly person who was threatened with prosecution after accepting a parcel for next door which was then stolen in a burglary; and in another case the retailer even tried to get the buyer to call the Police over a neighbour who denied signing for a parcel delivery.

All sellers will argue that goods are their responsibility while they are in transit, until signed for by the buyer or their neighbour. Ideally you should always check parcels before signing to ensure the contents are intact. It's just common sense really, and if you don't you're an utter moron, to be honest. In reality, not many people have the time to check the contents of every package. But, if the package looks in any way damaged, it really is best to refuse acceptance, or at the very least write ‘arrived damaged’ when you accept.

If the courier has left an item with a neighbour without your permission – even if signed for, you could argue that, by leaving them at a different address, they are still undelivered, and still the responsibility of the seller or courier.

The seller or courier will argue they are not responsible if something goes wrong once the item is accepted by a named neighbour – just as if you took delivery yourself.

If your neighbour has signed for an item, they haven’t waved away all your consumer rights. It may make any claim smoother to highlight a damaged package at the time; but it is not an absolute legal necessity.

What about dishonest wankers? What happens if your neighbour denies they ever received and signed for your parcel, even though the courier has a signature?

In this case, providing no permission was given to deliver to this particular neighbour, no matter if they deny ever signing, or claims they later left it on your doormat, the retailer must send you a new item.’

Refusing a delivery. You’re fully within your rights to refuse delivery of any parcel a driver tries to talk you into accepting for next door.

If you do decide to sign for a neighbour, ensure, at the very least, that the package doesn’t look damaged before you sign; that you make a note if it is damaged and that you put the parcel in a safe place until they arrive to collect it.