This is how you adjust your ‘not-home preference’ via the PostNL app

If you want to be sure that your package will be delivered to the agreed place, you can adjust your delivery preferences. That’s how you do that.

Customize delivery preferences

PostNL has stopped using paper non-home notes on 1 July. This will be replaced by the digital non-home note. You will also receive this non-home note if you missed the delivery person, but not in your letterbox. You can find the digital version in the PostNL app.

If you received such a non-home note in the app, then you were not at home to accept the package. It is better to adjust your delivery preferences in advance so that the PostNL parcel deliverer knows where to deliver the package. You do that as follows:

1. Open the PostNL app
2. Tap on Account and then on My delivery preferences
3. You will now be redirected to the page where you can adjust your delivery preferences
4. Where is the parcel deliverer allowed to deliver as standard? Choose My address or PostNL point nearby
5. Where can the parcel deliverer deliver when you are not at home? Choose Neighbors or PostNL point nearby or Appointed place

The last option refers to a place around the house where the package is safe and dry and where the deliverer can easily reach. Like a dry spot in the garden. Or, for example, a shed or a garage that is accessible. The recipient of the package gives permission in the PostNL account that the deliverer can leave the package at this agreed place if no one is at home.

Have you chosen your neighbors and are they not at home at the time of the delivery? Then PostNL will bring your package to a PostNL point in your area. Has your package been delivered according to track & trace at the ‘appointed place’, but it is not there? Then this is at your own risk, according to PostNL: “By giving permission in advance for the use of the agreed place, you confirm that PostNL is not liable in the event of damage, loss or theft. As bad as we think this is for you, unfortunately we can’t do anything for you.”

According to a PostNL spokesperson, the functionality will also be available in the PostNL app. PostNL could not say when that is. What are your experiences with PostNL’s delivery preferences? Let us know in the comments.

Would you like to know more about the PostNL app? Do you want to know how to use the handy PostNL widget? Or how to buy a shipping label in the PostNL app? You can read all about it on our PostNL page.