Does UPS pay for your Dental expenses?

UPS left a package for someone with the same name but wrong address... and I already spent it!?

• A few weeks ago I came home to find a UPS envelope in my front door. It had my name and address on it. The return address on the packing slip was a company that I researched on the internet with no results, and no name or phone number. The envelope contained 4 American Express gift cards, totaling$1300. There was no letter, receipt, card, etc telling me who it was from or anything. I had recently told my family members that I just found out I was pregnant, and my mom had said she would send me "something to help out, with Christmas coming". I assumed it was from her. A week later a UPS guy came to my door and asked if I got a package for a wrong address, I said "no" because I hadn't received anything for someone else (had just woke up and didn't think of "my" package). A few days later he came by again with a form to sign, stating that I received a package to my name and address, which I did sign, as I did receive a package to me at my address. Well, now I keep getting calls from people higher and higher up the chain of command at UPS asking about this situation. I hold to the facts, that I got a package to me at my address, from an anonymous sender, and I used it. They said it was actually for someone with the same name at a different address, and wasn't supposed to be for me. I told her there was no way I could have known this; she suggested I should have called UPS and asked them (well, I asked the delivery guy and he confirmed, it was my address on the package) or tried to track down the sender more aggressively. I said that I was just thankful for the gift that I so desperately needed. So she threatened to call the police and contact their security department. I said that I didn't see where I had done anything criminal, having received and used something that came to me. Without giving me options to work things out, she just basically called me a thief and threatened to call the cops. So now here I am, waiting for the police or UPS men in black or something, and what am I supposed to do? Apparently the cards weren't meant for me, but I didn't know that, and now I've already spent the money on my baby's funeral expenses (no longer pregnant) and have to deal with this stress on top of my emotional trauma. She didn't ask me to pay it back, just started making threats and hung up on me. Where do I stand legally? Am I a criminal or was this an honest mistake? Is UPS responsible for reimbursing the "other" person with my name, or am I? Really upset and confused, getting worried they're going to throw me in the hoosegow. Please help!

• Answer:

  in most states, from the facts stated, you're innocent. you received a package addressed to you at your address. it looked like a gift and you treated it as a gift. you were even expecting a gift from your mother. the person who addressed the package to someone else with the same name and your address is the one who is liable, not you. find a local attorney. If UPS, etc. don't give this up soon, start referring them to the attorney. [i'd not actually hire an attorney at this point -- why spend money you don't have and can't afford.]