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What to do if you get a package delivered with an old resident’s name?
TLDR — Tell the company the mistake and they will come pick it it up. If you do this, with evidence, and they don’t get it, keep the package.
We recently moved and we are still getting packages for the person we bought the house from.
Legally, if something is delivered to you, that you didn’t ask for, you own it. You don’t have to pay for it, and you don’t have to return it. This is to prevent companies from shipping you something, then sending you a bill later as a way to force a sale.
But I wasn’t sure if that applied to a package sent to my address, for someone who used to live there.
So I googled around and what I found was since all the private couriers and US Mail have ‘return-to-sender options free of charge’ you should try to send it back. Here is how to send it back with the big 3. Read to the end for what you can do if they don’t pick it up.
FedEx
Call them and tell them the resident no longer lives there. They will open a case and have someone call you about picking it back up. You can leave the package on your doorstep and they will come get it.
