It happens. You're 90 stops in, you're moving fast, and you deliver 14 Smith Street's parcel to 16 Smith Street. Or you misread the suburb and leave it three kilometres away at the right number on the wrong road. Maybe you don't realise until 20 stops later when you pull out a parcel for an address you've already scanned. That sinking feeling is universal. But how you handle the next 30 minutes determines whether this is a minor hiccup or a serious problem.
Step 1: Stop and Confirm
Before you do anything, confirm that you've actually made an error. Check your scan history — what address did you scan the parcel to, and what address should it have gone to? Check your delivery photo if you took one. Sometimes what feels like a mistake isn't — you might have delivered to the right place and simply confused yourself with the next parcel.
If you confirm it was delivered incorrectly, note the time, the wrong address, and the correct address. You'll need these details for your report.
Step 2: Go Back Immediately
If you're still nearby, go back to the wrong address straight away. The sooner you get there, the more likely the parcel is still where you left it. Knock on the door and explain: "Sorry, I accidentally left a parcel here that belongs to your neighbour. Can I grab it?" Most people are understanding — it's obviously an honest mistake.
If someone has already taken the parcel inside, ask politely for it back. They're not entitled to keep someone else's delivery, and most people will hand it over without issue. If they refuse — rare, but it happens — don't argue. Note their response and escalate to your supervisor. Under privacy law guidelines from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, delivering someone's parcel to the wrong address can constitute a privacy issue if the contents or recipient details are exposed.
Step 3: Report It
Call your supervisor. Don't wait until end of day. Report it immediately. Explain what happened, what you've done to fix it, and whether you've recovered the parcel. Supervisors would much rather hear about a mistake that's been fixed than discover it through a customer complaint.
Update the scan. If your system allows it, update the delivery status. Some systems have a "misdelivered — recovered" code. If not, your supervisor can update it from the depot end.
Deliver to the correct address. Once you've recovered the parcel, deliver it to the right address. Take a photo, scan it properly, and move on. If you can't recover it, let your supervisor handle the customer communication.
Preventing It Next Time
Most misdeliveries happen because of speed and autopilot. You're moving fast, you glance at the label, and your brain fills in the address it expects rather than the one that's actually there. Slow down for the scan step. Read the house number out loud if you need to. Check the street name, not just the number — especially in areas with similar street names.
One misdelivery won't end your career. A pattern of them will. If you find yourself making the same mistake repeatedly, something in your process needs to change — whether that's loading order, scanning habits, or simply taking an extra two seconds to verify each address.