Collecting a parcel for my address but not in my name?

[Second Best]

Hopefully a quick question. A colleague of mine wants to order a few bits and bobs for his shed (garden, not car), but has asked if he can deliver them to mine as I have some storage space while he's rebuilding a new shed. I said I'm happy to hang on to them for a few weeks if need be, but on my way home I was wondering what would happen if they were delivered while I was away.

Can I go and get the parcels from my local sorting office if they're addressed to him, at my address? Obviously my ID confirms my name and my address, do I need to take a photocopy of his ID too?

It'd be far easier to simply have them delivered straight to my house rather than him having to lug them into work in his car, transfer them over to my car, put them in the garage, and vice versa when he's finished - but I thought it worth double-checking. There's probably some massive security issue about parcels being sent to other people's houses that I'm not aware of.

[SantaBarbara]

Is it TNT

[Buzz84]

I collect parcels addressed to my wife from the post office all the time, I just take her passport along, they check that and I get the parcel.

though not sure what the various courier companies allow

[Paul Dishman]

Get your colleague to put your name on the parcels

[Second Best]

Sadly it's not TNT, I'm expecting some timber, building supports, maybe an old TV etc. Putting my name on the delivery is probably easiest although I'm not sure if eBay will let you?

As it happens I've just found a "Sorry we missed you" card in today's post so I'll ask at the PO tomorrow and report back for closure.

[ging84]

just put care of or c/o your name as the first line of the address
problem solved

[SantaBarbara]

Why do some people make things so complicated?

[Nickyboy]

When i've collected stuff from the sorting office for my other half etc they check the ID for the address, they're not bothered by the actual name

[Swampy1982]

Paul Dishman said:

Get your colleague to put your name on the parcels

This...

[Second Best]

For closure - PO advised I would have to bring my friend, his ID, or one of the above.

Friend has decided to order in to work and then borrow one of the vans to drive it over to mine at lunchtime.