Most of us have received an occasional box on our doorstep that wasn’t meant for us. In most cases, it’s not finders keepers. A package delivered to your doorstep by mistake isn’t automatically yours to keep. If it belongs to someone else, don’t treat it as a free gift. Contact the delivery carrier to report the mistake and ask how to get it to the intended recipient.
So before you slice open the box and try on a pair of shoes you didn’t order “just for fun,” read on to learn what the law says about delivery mix-ups and what to do if you receive a misdelivered package.
If the Package Is Addressed To You and In Your Name
According to the Federal Trade Commission, if a company accidentally or intentionally sends a package addressed to you that you did not order, you can legally consider it a gift. By law, they can’t send you an unsolicited package and then demand payment. You do not have to pay for it or return it. You are not on the hook for unordered merchandise.
If the Package Isn’t Addressed To You
If the package has someone else’s name or address, keeping the item can be considered mail or parcel theft under your state’s laws. If a private carrier delivered it, such as Amazon or UPS, it could be a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the value of what’s inside.
If the package was delivered through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), stealing it can be a federal felony under federal mail-theft law. A conviction can carry up to five years in prison and generally up to $250,000 in fines for an individual. The package’s value does not determine whether federal mail theft is a felony.
What To Do if You Receive Someone Else’s Package
It’s good practice to check the label of your deliveries before you open them. If a package has the wrong name or wrong address, don’t open it. Opening someone else’s mail is illegal, but intent matters here. If you opened a package by accident and then immediately take steps to return it, you generally will not face criminal charges. Knowingly taking someone else’s package for yourself can lead to criminal charges.
If the package belongs to a neighbor you know, you can drop off the unopened package directly to them. Even if it's a trusted neighbor, still take a picture of the parcel on their doorstep and keep it for your records. If you text them to let them know, screenshot that as well. This way, you have proof of your intent if they report a crime later.
Always consider your safety before hand-delivering a package.
If you don’t know the recipient, notify the delivery courier (like USPS, FedEx, UPS, or Amazon) to report the misdelivery and arrange a pickup. It’s also smart to keep a record of this contact.
Receiving a Package for a Previous Tenant or Homeowner
If you receive mail or a package from a previous resident at your address, write “not at this address” on the parcel and return it to your mail carrier or a USPS post office. Federal law prohibits destroying, hiding, or opening mail not intended for you. If it’s a private carrier, contact that carrier for return or pickup instructions.
Note that sometimes advertisers will address envelopes to the former occupant but list “or current resident.” If so, you can safely throw it away.
Suspect Your Package Was Misdelivered? How To Track It Down
For USPS packages, first ask your postal worker if you can catch them on their route. Sometimes they can recall where they placed it or confirm whether it was misdelivered. If that doesn’t work, you can submit a Missing Mail Search request online. This triggers an internal review and a physical search at the local facility.
Amazon drivers must take photos as proof of delivery, which is often the fastest way to pinpoint a package delivered to the wrong address. If the item was shipped and delivered by Amazon, contact customer service for a resolution. But just because you ordered an item through Amazon doesn’t necessarily mean Amazon delivered it. Check your tracking information to confirm which carrier delivered the package.
UPS and FedEx geostamp their deliveries. Delivery drivers use handheld devices that record the exact GPS coordinates when they mark a package as “delivered.” If your package was marked as delivered but you don’t have it, contact the carrier with your tracking number. This lets them check the GPS-stamped delivery location and start an investigation into your missing package.
If you know your package was delivered to the wrong address, you may be able to dispute the charge or request a chargeback if you paid with a credit card. This is because the Fair Credit Billing Act applies to charges for goods that were not delivered as agreed.
