a package was delivered to me. right address, wrong name

[fried eggs]

I partially opened it before realizing it wasn't mine (I do a ton of online shopping). Anyway, it was from AT& T, so I called them to ask how to handle it. The rep was rude and sarcastic, saying I should return it at a UPS store. How do they know I have transportation or the time to find a UPS store? Thanks for reminding me of why AT& T is an awful company. It would have taken less than a minute for her to look the woman up in an effort to get her the package!

[tridim]

1. Just throw it in the trash.

[Ian David]

2. Tell AT&T you're calling the bomb squad. n/t

[RagAss]

3. Yup...what you said !

[femmocrat]

4. You have no obligation to do anything with it.

You didn't order it, so you can just keep it or throw it away.

[WonderGrunion]

5. Scammers do this to throw off fraud investigations

Call the police and turn it over to them. Someone could be using your mailbox as a "dead drop".

[nomb]

6. Legally it doesn't work like that. You can't keep things you know are not yours,

[JuniperLea]

8. Yes you can...

If you didn't order it, you can keep it. Look it up. AT&T doesn't have the signature from the household where it should have been delivered... they will have to resend.

[WonderGrunion]

9. Don't assume this was an error by AT&T

Credit card fraud artists send stuff they buy to addresses like this to throw off police and cast guilt onto a third party. She should contact a lawyer, the police or both.

[Ian David]

15. I'm inclined to agree.

However, cops probably won't want to be bothered with that.

They will do anything they can to get out of dealing with it.

The bomb squad, on the other hand, seems to live for any opportunity to blow shit up.

And once they've gone to the time, trouble and expense, I bet they'll have to investigate where it came from, and under what circumstance.

But yeah, call a lawyer first.

But you might not get to watch a cool explosion.

[WonderGrunion]

16. I learned from the Mythbusters

That everything can be explained with a good explosion. :nuke:

[robinlynne]

18. or jsut write return to sender. not at this address and give it ot the mail carrier.

much easier.

[Tesha]

22. It wasn't sent *TO YOU* unsolicited; it was mis-delivered to you.

You don't get to keep it.

Tesha

[msongs]

7. you accepted delivery. be gracious n help solve the problem nt

[suston96]

10. It happened to us......

UPS delivered the package my wife ordered from from Newport News to a number that was close but not correct. It had my wife's name and the UPS guy said their was a man there so he just dropped off the package without asking the man's name.

Months later, Newport News started collection action against us even though they admitted they and UPS made a mistake. They threatened to trash our credit so we paid the 98.00 for merchandise we never received.

UPS said they delivered to the house number and that was it. The threat to trash our perfect credit was enough for me.

[pipi_k]

19. Because my mail lady is an idiot...

She has dropped off mail and packages here addressed to my neighbors, and my mail and packages to my neighbors. Many many times.

So I keep a record of what I order and approximately when it may arrive. If a reasonable length of time goes by and something doesn't arrive, I get in touch with the company/person I bought from to let them know I haven't gotten it.

The sooner this is done, the better.

If the item doesn't arrive at all, it gives my claim legitimacy.

I don't know if this is what you did, or if you waited until Newport News contacted you about the bill. But it's always a good idea to contact people ASAP when something you expect doesn't arrive.

[AtomicKitten]

11. I would call back and ask them when they're going to pick it up.

If they don't show up, tough shit for them and enjoy your new fill-in-the-blank.

You've done your job by calling them.

[JuniperLea]

13. Absolutely!

She should make sure her credit card wasn't used, and tell them she has their stuff... if they are rude again, to hell with them.

[WonderGrunion]

12. Everyone is assuming this was a mistake by AT&T and giving bad info

Credit card scammers will occasionally send product they order with stolen credit card info to random addresses, either hoping to pick up the package from your doorstep before you get to it or to throw police attention towards you. As you order a lot of items delivered to you, you would be a great target for the second scenario. Contact a lawyer and after consulting with them, contact the police. Otherwise you could be in the middle of a credit card theft investigation before you know it.

[Motown_Johnny]

14. I believe that legally it is yours to do with as you wish

If you recognize the name of a neighbor and it was a simple typo somewhere then you might want to deliver it yourself, but other than that don't worry about it. Maybe it is something you would like.

[NightWatcher]

17. if it was att it might be one of those microcells

if so and you have att wireless, install in immediately for excellent coverage in your house. we got ours a few months ago

[Tesha]

23. Too bad AT&T probably knows the electronic serial number of the Microcell they shipped out.

If they're sensible, when you try to register it, they'll
attempt to collect it and if you give them grief, they'll
sensibly call the cops to come and explain the law to
you.

Tesha

[NightWatcher]

24. the microcell's are shipped out FREE to wireless users who request one

I know they got the name wrong, but perhaps they meant to send it to ya

[Tesha]

25. But even though they are shipped free, they remain the property of AT&T.

I know about the microcells; there's one sitting alongside all
the rest of my network gear. Read the user agreement and
especially the part about returning the gear to AT&T or paying
the depreciated value of it upon termination of your agreement
with AT&T.

Tesha

[teamster633]

20. All you need to do is call 1-800-pickups.

Explain the situation and your UPS driver will pick the package up and return it to AT&T at no charge to you.

[JoePhilly]

21. There is a very good chance that their is a phone number on the box.

That number is for either the person who sent it, or the person they were sending it to.

I had this happen recently. I found that number and called it. The sender was the sister of a woman who lived in my neighborhood who had a very similar address but was a few streets away.

I called the number. Told her that the package reached me. I told her my address. She called her sister (my neighbor from a few streets away), and she came for the package.

Took 10 minutes.