We all know how annoying it is to come home and find a card that’s been posted through the letterbox saying you missed your delivery and you’ll need to go to the courier companies depot to pick up your parcel.

Most of us are quite happy for our neighbours to sign for our parcel delivery if we’re not home, but what happens if the parcel they’ve signed for is damaged or even goes missing?

I've recently read about one elderly woman who was threatened with court action after signing for a parcel which was for a neighbour and was then stolen in a burglary from her house. 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 retailers will argue that any goods are their responsibility while they are in transit until signed for by the buyer or their neighbour. When receiving a parcel delivery you should always check to ensure the contents are intact and there’s no visible damage. It's just common sense really, and if you don’t do this, then I’m sorry, but you're just an utter moron, to be honest.

In reality, not many people have the time to check the contents of every package. If the parcel does appear to be damaged in any way, the best thing to do is refuse delivery – DO NOT SIGN FOR IT.

Also don’t sign for a damaged parcel and think that if you write ‘arrived damaged’ on the courier companies delivery note when you accept it, that this covers your back, it doesn’t!

If the courier has left your parcel delivery with a neighbour without your permission – even if signed for, you are well within your rights to argue that by leaving them at a different address, it technically remains undelivered, and therefore is 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, thieving neighbours? 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 neighbour, no matter if they deny ever signing, or claim 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.