Is it possible to open and check the parcel before paying cash on delivery?

With the development of e-commerce, we are increasingly making purchases that do not bring us joy. Thoughtless purchases, an item that doesn’t fit, a product that is defective or damaged during shipment – we would happily refuse all of this. But what happens if you don’t pick up the parcel by cash on delivery from the post office? Let's figure it out.

Can I refuse a parcel at the post office if I don’t want to pick it up?

You can. Cases when the recipient was unable/did not want to pick up an incoming shipment have become commonplace today. So the main reasons for refusal are:

Damage: loss of packaging integrity, change in weight, etc.
A different cash on delivery amount than what was stated when placing the order.
An emergency situation when the recipient unexpectedly ended up in the hospital or moved.
Long delivery times, due to which the need for the product no longer exists.

A package has arrived that I don’t want to pick up.

Whatever guides you when deciding not to redeem your order, remember that the law is on your side. The main thing is to do everything in accordance with the established refusal procedure. And then there will be no problems.

How to properly refuse to pick up a shipment

If the parcel arrived cash on delivery, the operator must instruct you on how to refuse it. However, many postal employees are hesitant to share this valuable knowledge. Therefore we will do it. So, there are several options for refusal:

We don’t come to the post office, and after 30 days (in some cases – 15) the parcel is sent back at the seller’s expense. If you do not want to ruin your relationship with the sender, it is better not to choose this method.
We come to the post office and draw up a written refusal indicating the reason (for example, that the actual payment amount was higher than the agreed amount). This will speed up sending the parcel back.

Consequences of failure

Having learned about the recipient’s reluctance to pick up the parcel from the post office, both the seller and the department employees often begin to put psychological pressure on him. They are threatening to sue, to be included in a single list of unreliable buyers, and other tales. According to the law, the only thing the sender has the right to demand is the cost of delivery in both directions (if it is not initially free). However, you shouldn’t refuse what you ordered left and right. There is always a risk that the seller:

It will blacklist the client, making it impossible to make future orders.
He will ruin the buyer’s reputation by writing a devastating review (if the site where the transaction took place provides for this).
Will sell debt to collectors, whose methods of work often run counter to the law.
Will achieve the entry of the recipient's data into the FBNP (Federal Database of Unreliable Buyers). Checking the information in it is a matter of 1 minute.

Although these methods do not pose a direct threat to physical or financial well-being, they can cause a lot of problems. Therefore, if you are not sure about the seller or that the item is really needed, it is better to refuse the purchase.

Instructions for sending parcels by cash on delivery

The process of sending cargo by cash on delivery is similar to the process of sending a regular parcel. However, in our case there are several nuances, which will be discussed below.

To arrange delivery, the sender will need:

recipient data (full name, address, zip code);
package;
money to pay for postal delivery services;
postal transfer form f. 112EP.

How to send by cash on delivery

Purchase packaging (box or plastic envelope) of the required size, fill out the address label and indicate the amount of cash on delivery and the amount of declared value.
Pack the goods. But if you plan to send cargo with a description of the contents, the parcel must be provided to the operator in an open form.
Fill out the form f. 112EP.
If you plan to send attachments with an inventory, then fill out two additional forms f. 107.
Give the postal employee the parcel and the form and state your desire to send the parcel by cash on delivery.
Pay for the services and take a receipt, which will indicate the tracking number.

Filling out forms

Previously, in order to send a parcel by cash on delivery, it was necessary to fill out a document with the accompanying address (f. 116). It has been canceled as of January 1, 2021.

Also, the postal transfer form (f. 113en) was previously used - it was also canceled and replaced with f. 112EP .

In 2021, no other documents except the postal transfer form f. 112EP is not required to be filled out.

F. 112EP can be obtained free of charge at any post office. You can also fill out this document on the official website of the Russian Post (www.pochta.ru/forms-list) and then print it out.

Sample filling (those items that the seller must fill out are filled in in red on the sample):

The recipient of the money transfer is the sender of the parcel! Take this into account when writing data in the lines: “to whom”, “where”.

If it is necessary for the post office to transfer money to a bank account, you must indicate the bank details and account number (namely the account, not the card number). But according to the rules of the Russian Post, such an opportunity is provided only for legal entities! However, we note that some operators violate the rules and transfer money, including to accounts of individuals.

Additional service – inventory of attachments

Inventory of the attachment is a special document (f. 107), in which the sender indicates the contents of the postal item and the declared value of each item. In case of damage to one of the items or the entire shipment, compensation is paid.

In the case of cash on delivery, this service is necessary primarily for the recipient. After all, opening before payment and checking the contents of the box is only possible for postal items sent with an inventory of the contents.

- is additional. The price varies and in different regions of the Russian Federation can range from 44 to 65 rubles.

To compile an inventory, you must fill out two forms f. 107, one of which is sent with the cargo, and the second remains with the sender. The forms can be picked up for free at the post office or filled out on the official website and then printed.

Sample:

The box with the goods must be presented to the postal employee in an open form. The employee must check the attachment for compliance with the inventory.

Package

There are two types of standard packaging in which it is possible to send product attachments: a box and a plastic envelope (package). Both come in different sizes. You can purchase them at post offices.

The address label is filled out in the same way as when sending regular letters: we indicate the address and full name of the recipient and the same data of the sender. In a special “window” on the plastic envelope we indicate: the declared value and the amount of cash on delivery. When filling out the address label on the box, the amount o/c and n/a must be written in the appropriate lines.

You can prepare and pack the goods at home. If you need to send any fragile items that may be damaged during transportation, wrap them in bubble wrap. If the box is large, then the voids can be closed, for example, with crumpled paper or newspaper.

When sending particularly fragile and valuable items, at the time of delivery, you can ask for an o. But for this mark a surcharge of 30% is charged on the amount of payment for the entire mass of the cargo.

Restrictions and rules

The maximum weight of a parcel within Russia cannot exceed 20 kg.
The maximum size based on the sum of three dimensions (length+width+height) is not allowed to exceed 300 cm. Moreover, if the shipment is heavier than 10 kg or its size is more than 53 × 38 × 26.5 cm, a 40% surcharge is added for delivery.
The maximum cash on delivery amount for a parcel is 500,000 rubles.
The amount of cash on delivery cannot be higher than the amount of the declared value, but may be equal to it.
You can send a parcel by cash on delivery throughout Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine. If the shipment is carried out from Russia to another country, then the amount is indicated in rubles. Payment by the recipient will be made in local currency at the current exchange rate.

Is it possible to refuse a parcel after opening it?

If the desire to refuse the parcel arose during the process of receiving it, the algorithm of actions will be as follows:

We pay the goods to the operator.
We open the parcel. If there are visible violations of the packaging (and this happens much more often than with a courier service), opening is mandatory; if not, at the request of the recipient.
If the product does not correspond to what is specified in the inventory, we write a refusal and receive the money back. The opened item will be sent to the seller at his expense.
If the parcel is opened, but there are no violations, the buyer takes it back. In the future, goods of good quality that do not suit you will be returned in accordance with the Civil Code of the Russian Federation.

To whom should I return the parcel with cash on delivery?

The parcel is returned to the sender at the address indicated on it. This happens regardless of the return method - both in the case when the parcel is returned by postal employees, being unclaimed for a month, and in the case when the buyer decides to independently return it to the seller. The parcel is returned regardless of the country of destination - be it to Russia, Belarus, or China.

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If a clear return address is not indicated directly on the parcel, you should contact the resource where the purchase was made. Typically, the site rules indicate the return address to which returns are accepted. Responsible sellers usually include an information sheet with such information directly in the parcel itself. If you have difficulty finding information, contact a store representative or the seller directly.

FAQ

What happens if you don’t pick up a parcel from Aliexpress from the post office?

If you bought a product on Aliexpress and want to refuse it, a reasonable question arises: “what will happen to the payment?” According to the rules of the trading platform, you have the right to refuse the parcel before it is received and within 7 days after. As for getting your money back, you need to follow these steps:

We go to the post office and write a refusal to receive the parcel.
We open a dispute on Aliexpress after it is clear that the shipment has moved back.
We are waiting for a solution from the support team. In the vast majority of cases, the situation is resolved in favor of the buyer.

However, when you are tempted to make a bunch of purchases at once, keep in mind that you will have to pay customs duties in any case.

What to do if the wrong package arrived with cash on delivery?

If you receive a package with different contents, the answer is simple - return it to the seller. The main thing is not to miss the deadlines within which the law allows you to do this. If a discrepancy is discovered in the mail (upon opening), immediately issue a refusal. If it’s later, there are several options:

You can send the item back without explanation within the first 7 days after receipt.
Within 3 months, if you have not received information about the procedure and terms of return in writing.
Within 2 weeks, if the item matches the order, but does not fit in size. True, in this situation you will first have to ask for an exchange for an analogue that is suitable in terms of parameters.

The nuances of refusing a parcel by cash on delivery if the wrong product was sent

The turnover in the online trading market is constantly increasing - more and more buyers prefer to buy goods not in a nearby store, but abroad or in other cities.

Despite the benefits of such a venture, remote transactions often involve risks.

In this article we will tell you how to refuse a cash on delivery parcel at the post office if you receive a product that you are not satisfied with for some reason.

Is it possible to refuse a parcel by cash on delivery at the post office?

Sending goods by cash on delivery is a rather unprofitable delivery method for both the seller and the buyer. Its essence is that the seller sends the goods by mail, and the buyer receives the parcel, paying both the cost of the goods and the cost of shipping. The buyer can pick up the order only by purchasing it from the post office.

For online stores, this method is always fraught with risks, since the turnover of profits in this case slows down, and if the recipient of the goods refuses to buy it, the store will suffer a loss of profit spent on sending the goods. This method is disadvantageous for the recipient in the sense that he spends additional money on delivery costs.

It is possible to refuse to receive goods, and the Civil Code of Russia provides for this possibility in two ways:

The first method is more preferable and protects the recipient in advance from possible problems with the law. To do this, you must come to the post office where the goods were received and issue a written refusal to receive the shipment. It is also necessary to put a special mark in the notice. In this case, the parcel will be returned back to the sender and all legal regulations will be complied with.
The second method also exists, but when using it, the seller may require a refund for shipping the goods. It is implemented simply - the buyer simply does not come to collect the parcel at the post office, ignoring the notifications, and after a month the goods will be forced to be sent back to the seller.

In addition, you can return the received product to the sender after opening the parcel. However, for this you will have to pay for it first. This will be discussed in subsequent paragraphs of the article.

What happens if you don’t pick up the parcel by cash on delivery from the post office?

Most often, if you do not redeem a parcel that arrives in the mail by cash on delivery, the consequences for the buyer are determined by the seller himself.

This is usually stated in the store’s rules, which it is advisable to read before placing an order.

In principle, the sender can go to court for reimbursement of shipping costs, but we are usually talking about such insignificant amounts of return that it is easier for the seller to impose his own sanctions on the unscrupulous client.

For example, a common practice is to add a client to the Black List.

Moreover, this may concern not only the direct store where the order was made, but also the entire trading platform or partner organizations. They simply stop cooperating with such a client.

However, this happens quite rarely, mainly when a similar situation is repeated several times.

A much more common consequence is the limitation of the customer's ability to pay upon receipt of the package. Goods will be sold to him only upon advance payment, which will include shipping.

Thus, it is unlikely that non-purchase of goods from the post office will threaten the client only with internal restrictions imposed by the seller. You can restore your reputation by contacting a representative of the organization and explaining to him the refusal to receive the purchase, and, if necessary, paying the shipping costs.

How to cancel cash on delivery at the post office

Until the parcel has been unpacked and handed over to the addressee, it is the property of the sender, so even those goods that, by law, cannot be exchanged or returned, can be returned in this way.

According to paragraph 45 of the Rules for the provision of postal services, the client may not pick up the parcel at the post office, but write a written refusal with a special note in the notice. In this case, you will not need to make a payment, nor will you need to pay money for sending.

By repeating the method described above, you can do nothing but simply not pick up the delivered goods.

This is fraught with some risks - the seller may not simply demand the return of shipping costs through the court, but sell the client’s debt to a collection agency.

In this case, if you do not pick up the parcel by paying for it by cash on delivery from the post office, you may face threats from “bouncers”. In this case, nothing can be done except contact the police.

Regulatory acts governing the issue

If you try to find out at the post office “can I refuse a parcel from an online store”? In 75% of cases you will hear a categorical refusal. Not wanting to bother with paperwork (or simply out of ignorance), the employees do everything to ensure that you pick up the shipment. For example, they force you to sign a notice, and only then show you the parcel. Or they intimidate with non-existent fines. Fortunately, this quickly stops as soon as the recipient shows that he is familiar with the laws and has rights. Therefore, we recommend taking a pencil:

Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 612, approved on September 27, 2007. The document states that before receiving the goods, the buyer has the right to refuse it, and after receiving it, a return can be issued within a week.
Clauses 10, 11 of Russian Post Order No. 98-p dated 03/07/2019, regulating the procedure for issuing parcels issued by cash on delivery.
Art. 454 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation, which spells out the basic concepts of a purchase and sale transaction, in particular the point that until the moment of receipt, the goods cannot be considered the property of the addressee at all.

If even the mention of laws does not force postal employees to fulfill their duties, call the head of the department and demand that an opening report be drawn up. Refusal again? You turn around, leave and leave a complaint on the Russian Post website with a detailed description of the details and participants in the conflict. It’s better to place an order again than to get a “pig in a poke” for your own money.

What is the penalty for not receiving a parcel?

Penalty for returning a parcel by cash on delivery

Are there sanctions from the Russian Post if the parcel is not picked up on time?

Receiving goods by cash on delivery allows the buyer to be confident that he will receive exactly what he ordered. On the other hand, for the seller this is a certain risk, because the recipient may change his mind and not buy the goods.

To minimize the risks of the parties, many stores practice sending goods with prepayment for postage.

How can you refuse a parcel by cash on delivery? Many citizens who have ordered goods via the Internet are faced with the problem of how to refuse the parcel at the post office in the future? The problem is complicated by the fact that a number of items arrive cash on delivery.

Consumers have every right to refuse such parcels, provided for by the Law “On Protection of Consumer Rights”. It is necessary to take into account some of the subtleties of this situation.

The nuances of refusing a parcel by cash on delivery if the wrong product was sent

This is due to the fact that until the buyer receives the parcel, the purchase and sale transaction is not considered completed and the goods remain the property of the seller. The procedure for refusing a cash on delivery parcel can be carried out in two ways:

The buyer can come to the post office and refuse to receive the parcel in writing or put a corresponding mark in the notice.
The basis for this will be clause 45 of the Rules for the provision of postal services, which were approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 221 of April 15, 2005. In this case, no payment will be required from him, and the goods will be sent back to the seller.
The buyer can simply ignore the notification from the post office and not show up to receive the parcel. After a certain period (about a month), the goods will be sent back.

How can I refuse a parcel by cash on delivery?

This obligation arises for the buyer who has refused the goods. Clause 4 of Article 26.

1 of the Law “On the Protection of Consumer Rights” states that the buyer will be required to reimburse the seller for the return shipping of the returned postal item.

Helpful returns tips and ways to avoid liability The buyer is advised to follow the rules to avoid possible liability:

Quickly notify the online store about the refusal to purchase the product, indicating the reasons. But at the same time he will have to pay his expenses.
Visit the post office and put a note on the notice indicating refusal to purchase the goods.

Is it possible to return a parcel sent by cash on delivery?

I ordered an item via an online store with cash on delivery, i.e. will arrive by mail.

If I don’t pick up the parcel, will there be any fines from the Russian Post? more about bonuses bonus for the best answer (issued): 1 credit tags: Russian Post category: other comment If you do not pick up the parcel within a month (they send at least three notifications during this time), the parcel will be returned safely to the return address.

No one will fine you or even look for you. You can safely not receive it. the author of the question chose this answer as the best. In your case, you will not face any sanctions! Everything is banal and simple.

If the addressee, due to failure to appear, does not receive the postal item addressed to him, even with cash on delivery, then the item will remain in storage at the post office for exactly 30 days.

Then it will be returned to the sender's address as unclaimed.

Refusal to send cash on delivery by Russian Post

The following are also possible responses:

adding the buyer to a blacklist or federal database of unreliable buyers, where other stores can check data about a suspicious buyer;
the store may refuse to further work with him without advance payment and cancel his orders.

It is worth noting: if the package is returned, the seller will incur some unforeseen expenses and may sue to pay for the shipment of the goods. Some sellers may even transfer the buyer’s data to collection services, which will force them to pick up the order, but this is an illegal and little practiced method.