Residents fury as Amazon drivers 'let themselves into people's homes'

11 March 2023 , 12:03

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Kathakoli Dasgupta says that an Amazon driver has been letting themselves in to her home by just opening her door (Image: James Maloney/Lancs Live)

Amazon is investigating after several residents in the same village said delivery drivers were letting themselves into people’s houses without permission.

Several people said that Amazon drivers let themselves into homes in order to drop off parcels, rather than waiting for residents to come to the door.

The couriers were being looked into by the online retail giant after residents of Freckleton, in Lancashire, took to social media to complain.

Living in a small village, something like that would be the "last thing you'd expect," said resident Kathakoli Dasgupt.

“I moved from India seven or eight years ago and I've had to do some cultural adaptation,” she added.

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Delivery drivers are accused of letting themselves in due to time constraints (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

"In India, there's no real sense of space, but I can't remember a time anyone ever opened my door there," Lancs Live reports.

Kathakoli does stress that Amazon usually has "fantastic service" and was working to tight deadlines, presumably the reason why drivers see if people's doors are already open.

She said: "When they ring your doorbell, they often don't wait for you to get there before leaving. But I guess it's eating into the handling time. I'm often almost running to the door once when the doorbell goes off."

Kathakoli Dasgupta is among the residents who say couriers have tried front doors rather than waiting for residents to answer (James Maloney/Lancs Live)

On the day a driver opened her door, Kathakoli's husband, who works from home, was indoors and asked his wife what happened. She said: "By the time I reached the door, the driver was already in the van, so I couldn't say 'What did you do?'. I would have said something."

Taking to social media and after discussing with neighbours, Kathakoli found out it was an issue that was happening in the village for other people, not just her.

One other resident told reporters they'd heard delivery drivers try their front door, but fortunately it was always locked. They assumed that the drivers try this method, as their home looks occupied with a lamp on in the front room, but didn't believe there was any ill intention.

An Amazon spokesperson said: "We have very high standards for the delivery service providers we work with and how they serve customers. We’re looking into this matter."

It is understood delivery drivers are self-employed contractors, engaged by third-party courier companies on behalf of Amazon.

Susan Newton