Unauthorized packages

[Kim937]

I'm writing this as a warning about allowing guests to receive packages to your listing because of the headache I endured today.

Yesterday, a large, very heavy package was delivered to my home for a guest arriving today.  It was so large that it blocked the stairs leading to my small front porch which resulted in me not being able to use my front door.  I was able to slide it down the steps and pull it into my driveway out of sight.  This guest did not ask to send packages here and certainly not in advance of his reservation.  He then cancelled his reservation this morning because he wanted to add children to the reservation despite my no child policy which I declined.  He made a big stink about getting a full refund with multiple messages back and forth.

I allowed him to pick up his package and thought that was the end of it.  He's now saying that additional packages are here which I'm not aware of.  After consulting a FB host forum, I took their advice and told him that if packages arrive, I will contact the carrier and have them sent back to the originator.  He just now threatened to come onto my property to look around for his packages which involves going into my backyard.  I've called Airbnb to report this as a safety concern. 

I don't want this man wandering around here in the dark uninvited.  I told him he is not welcome here and that if he does come by, I will consider it trespassing and contact the police.  Airbnb did say that they have escalated the issue but that I shouldn't expect to hear back from them for 24 hours.  Lastly, another Airbnb department has sent a message asking me arrange for his packages to be returned to him!  I'm perplexed by this because the large package was picked up earlier today and I'm unaware of other packages other than his claims. 

It's feeling more and more like a scam.

[Huma0]

@Ryan2352 

I know that this comment was not directed at me, but just to mention that we have similar services in the UK. I have tried suggesting guests use those and they say, "Great, okay, will do," and then ignore it all and have the stuff sent directly to my address instead.

This is just one of those tricky situations I think. It's something that a lot of guests seem so entitled to that, even if they follow all your other house rules, they will choose to ignore this one. From what I've read on this forum, hosts either don't mind it all or they mind it very much but can't seem to get guests to stop doing it.

[Ryan2352]

@Huma0That was for you and the OP, I was hoping that would help.

Personally,

My mailboxes lock so the guest has no access to them.  The eliminates the possibility of them sending their mail to the house.  I'm not coming out to open the mailbox for them.  I have allowed guests to order things they needed and have them delivered to the house before.  The most common use-case is grocery, alcohol and food deliveries.  For certain A List or event clients I even offer to be there to put the perishables away for them.  I also have an "A List" customer that works from the house and will often have items Fed-Ex'd for work.  I have no issues with that. 

[Colleen253]

@Huma0 I think the ticket is simply not giving the mail to the guest who ignores your rule. Immediately return to sender with ‘not at this address’ written on it. Make it clear in your rules that this is what will happen if a guest flouts your no mail rule. Also add to your rules that they will be reported if they ignore it. Don’t give them any opening at all. They can figure out an alternative for receiving mail, and it’s not your headache anymore. 

[Huma0]

@Colleen253 

My house rules state:

"Guests may not receive mail or packages at the house, give the address to any companies or in any way communicate that it is their residence. There are many services in London that you can have mail/packages delivered to. Any unauthorised mail will be returned to sender."

Guests then seem surprised when I remind them of this, even guests I know have read the rules. It's like they choose to forget the 'inconvenient' ones. I've never refused/returned anything though, unless the guest is no longer staying here. I think they would freak out if I actually went through with it.

[Huma0]

@Ryan2352 

We don't normally have mailboxes here, but a letter slot through the door (which we call a letter box for some reason, maybe because it has replaced those). But generally speaking, when delivering packages, the postman/woman or other delivery services (and we now have many) will hand them to you in person. The latter often just leave them on the doorstep.

I don't mind guests having food deliveries, especially take aways, as those companies don't tend to send spam. I most object to anything official like guests giving out my address for bank accounts, social security, visas etc. I am quite surprised that they are even able to do some of these things as I have always had to provide two proofs of address (utility bill in my name for example) for those sorts of things but maybe things are more lax now.

Fed Ex and similar I do have an issue with do to customs charges. They often bill for these later, sometimes after the guest has gone, and can be quite aggressive about collecting payment.

[Colleen253]

@Huma0 I can see where having the letter slot further complicates things for you, if a guest can simply walk by the door and pick up their mail from the floor. 

[Huma0]

Yep, that's how it works here with mail, so with packages (especially those that need to be signed for), the guest often tells me it's coming so that they don't miss it, whereas with letters, they usually don't mention it but I often see the letter before they do!

[Priyanka44]

So my understanding is that you can contact your post office and only ask for mail or packages to be delivered that has your name on it. He has to be clever enough to put your name on it. If he does that then it’s addressed to you which means you can keep the package or the post office returns anything that doesn’t have your name on it. I do this, but I don’t listed in my house rules. Maybe I should list it. 

[Lorna170]

@Kim937   and everyone else who reads this:  NEVER, EVER allow or accept packages or first class mail addressed to a guest, the guest of a guest, or any person who is not a resident or owner of the property referenced.  Mail, especially a bill, sent to an address can constitute tenancy in some jurisdictions.  DON'T ALLOW IT.

I have had guests ask to have deliveries made to my cabin; I refuse, and tell the guest to have their package delivered to the local UPS store, the post office in town, or to an Amazon locker.  When packages arrive addressed to someone that is not me, I or my housekeeper return them to the post office.  We periodically place a hold on the address with the post office. 

[Michelle53]

@Lorna170  We've had a lot of "porch pirates" here stealing packages. It's been a long time since anyone asked me if they could have a package delivered, but if anyone does ask, I can honestly say it would be less risky to use a drop-off location for them. 

[Cathie19]

Hi @Kim937 

All suggestions from hosts @Huma0, @Michelle53  @Lorna170  & @Colleen253 are correct. An important reason to not except mail is to avoid getting caught up in scams or illegal activity. You don’t want your address being used to register a business or to open a bank account.

Add a no mail/parcel policy to your house rules or in “other things to note”:

This is my wording which you are welcome to use or edit:

Mail/Parcels:
Sadly, we do not allow any mail/parcels to be delivered using our AIrbnb address. As “Short-term rental guests, any mail/parcels you want to receive, can use the “Poste Restante” in the city, for delivery. Any unexpected mail will be returned to sender.

[Kim937]

I amended my rules immediately after this whole fiasco.

[Mary996]

Totally agree it raises the hackles to have a Guest assume they can receive mail.

A Covid Test kit might be an exception?

We were 'informed' that one was coming however@Kim937 @Huma0 @Colleen253 @Ryan2352 @Helen3 I share your feelings of exception at not being asked. In this instance there might be an obligation on Hosts to accept?

Further cautionary tale to this. Someone I was at Uni with also in the locality asked me to accept a parcel for her coming from abroad. I wasn't actually going to be available on that date (might otherwise have haplessly agreed) so declined. She became quite pushy. As she had her own address I also started to ask why she was asking for a 3rd party address... "whats in this package"... and frankly refused. She then asked someone else with the upshot that the other person, who I also knew and wish I could have alerted, ended up being busted in a Marijuana seizure....!!

Fortunately the innocent party got let off... eventually!! But there was a whole Court process and much time consumed in defending. Apparently after coming under suspicion the principle Defendent had her phone tapped and me asking her "what's in this package" was read out in Court I learnt after the event....!!

So without being too sensationalist there's another good reason for declining packages ....!!!!! xx

[Colleen253]

@Mary996 “In this instance there might be an obligation on Hosts to accept?”

I can’t imagine any circumstance where there would be any obligation.

[Mary996]

Ok. As Hosts can decline guests in any event @Colleen253 ?