Homeowner Fights Amazon Over Driveway Damage, Claims Retaliation

URGENT UPDATE: A homeowner in Merrillville, Indiana, is locked in a heated battle with Amazon over alleged damage caused by their delivery trucks driving on his property. Local resident Charles Burns has turned to the ABC7 I-Team for assistance, claiming that these heavy vehicles—each weighing around 9,000 pounds—are causing serious cracks in his driveway.

Burns has documented the issue with compelling video evidence, capturing Amazon vans repeatedly driving onto his lawn despite his pleas for them to stay off. “It is because there is no gravel on this side pushing back,” Burns explained. “So because you just have grass here, there’s no support here keeping that in place. Right. So that’s a stress fracture.”

This dispute has escalated over the past five years, with Burns asserting that drivers have ignored his repeated requests and even a posted sign stating, “No delivery trucks beyond this point.” He expressed frustration, stating, “They drive, or as I’ve mentioned lately, which feels like retaliation. They’ve been just leaving the packages down at the end of the driveway… so either us or whoever’s walking by can help themselves to the package.”

Despite a long driveway, Burns noted that other delivery services like UPS and FedEx adhere to his request, parking on the street and walking the packages to the front door. In stark contrast, he recounted a troubling incident where an Amazon driver was caught on video “heckling” his wife when she urged him not to drive on the property. “You know, be professional, you know, take care of your customer,” Burns said, emphasizing the lack of respect he feels from Amazon’s delivery team.

After submitting a claim for the damages, Burns was informed that his request was denied. The ABC7 I-Team reached out to Amazon for a comment, and the retailer responded, “We’ve reached out to the customer to work directly with them to resolve their issue.” However, Burns reports that despite seeing fewer heavy Amazon vehicles on his driveway recently, his claim has not been approved.

As the situation continues to develop, it remains unclear what Amazon’s official policy is regarding delivery vehicles on personal driveways. The company stated that drivers should listen to customers and that concerns should be communicated directly to them. They also emphasized their commitment to maintaining high standards and valuing customer feedback.

This ongoing dispute highlights the challenges faced by homeowners as e-commerce continues to expand and delivery demands increase. Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant about their property rights while navigating the complex landscape of modern deliveries.

Stay tuned for further updates as this story unfolds. Will Charles Burns find a resolution with Amazon, or will this battle continue? Share your thoughts and experiences with delivery services in the comments below!