Homeowner Battles Amazon Over Driveway Damage in Indiana

UPDATE: A homeowner in Merrillville, Indiana, is in a heated dispute with Amazon over repeated damage to his driveway caused by delivery trucks. Charles Burns, the frustrated homeowner, has come forward to the ABC7 I-Team, revealing that the large Amazon vans, weighing around 9,000 pounds, are causing significant cracks and stress fractures.

Burns has documented these incidents, capturing videos of Amazon vans repeatedly driving onto his property, despite his clear requests for them to stay off. He claims the heavy vehicles are damaging the driveway, which lacks gravel support on one side. “There’s no support here keeping that in place,” he explained, showcasing the visible cracks that have resulted from the continual traffic.

This ongoing issue has persisted for over five years, with Burns expressing frustration over what he perceives as retaliation. He stated that the delivery drivers often ignore his sign indicating “no delivery trucks beyond this point.” “They drive, or as I’ve mentioned lately, which feels like retaliation,” Burns said, noting that packages are sometimes left at the end of the driveway, making them vulnerable to theft.

While Burns acknowledges that his driveway is long, he points out that other delivery services, such as UPS and FedEx, comply with his requests by parking on the street and walking to the front door. He even shared an incident where an Amazon driver was caught on camera “heckling” his wife when she asked him not to drive on their property. “You know, be professional, you know, take care of your customer,” Burns remarked.

Burns recently submitted a claim to Amazon regarding the driveway damage but was denied. In response, the I-Team reached out to Amazon, who stated, “We’ve reached out to the customer to work directly with them to resolve their issue.” However, Burns reports that his claim remains unapproved, although he has noticed fewer Amazon vehicles on his driveway recently.

As of now, it’s unclear what Amazon’s official policy is regarding the usage of driveways. When questioned, the company mentioned that drivers should adhere to customer requests, emphasizing the importance of communication. They also highlighted their commitment to maintaining high standards and valuing customer feedback.

This situation underscores a growing tension between homeowners and delivery services as online shopping continues to surge. With more packages being delivered than ever before, the impact on local communities and private properties is becoming increasingly evident.

What happens next? Residents and delivery drivers alike will be watching closely for any changes in Amazon’s policies. In the meantime, Burns continues to advocate for his rights as a homeowner, hoping for a resolution that ensures his property is respected.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.