When senders organise a package to be delivered, they can set the package as having an authority to leave, or ATL. This provides the carrier with permission to leave your delivery in a safe location, even if you aren't at home to sign for the package.
Packages with an authority to leave are almost always delivered on the first attempt, and reduce the burden on you to make sure you are at home when the delivery is due. It also prevents you from having to organise a redelivery, or to go out to a carrier depot or collection point to collect your package. However, not all packages are eligible for ATL. Oversized or overweight parcels, for example, might need to be collected from a depot instead.
Usually, authority to leave is turned off by default, unless you or the merchant you have purchased from has turned it on. You should always check the security and accessibility of your delivery location before choosing to turn ATL on.
You can provide ATL instructions for your delivery when you place an order with your merchant, by specifying a location for the parcel to be left, such as at your front door, or at the side of the building. Be as specific as possible.
When you have ATL turned on, the carrier leaves the package at the specified location, but this comes with certain conditions:
The carrier and the delivery company can't be held responsible if the package is lost or stolen after delivery.
It is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that the chosen ATL location is secure and suitable for unattended delivery.
Safe places for packages with ATL
When delivering a package with ATL, if there is no one at the address to receive it, the driver looks for a safe place to leave the package.
Packages can only be left in places that are:
Out of wet weather
Out of the reach of an animal that a driver can see
Out of direct sight from the road
This could mean that your package is left behind a pole or door, or around a corner of the building.
If the driver can't find a place that they consider safe, they return your package to a depot or collection point, and the carrier notifies you of next steps. Follow the information from the carrier to arrange a redelivery or pickup.
If ATL is not enabled and you are not at home, the courier will usually make a second delivery attempt. If delivery fails again, the package is returned to the depot, and you need to arrange redelivery or collection. Parcels left at depots can sometimes attract additional fees if they not collected promptly.