Most people deal with DPD as parcel recipients, not senders. A parcel arrives at the door, a notification comes through on the phone, and the MyDPD app is used to redirect a delivery or find the nearest Pickup point. That is the reality for most households – and it shapes what needs to happen after a bereavement.
Unlike a bank or insurance company, DPD does not hold money on behalf of consumer recipients. There is no balance to release, no probate threshold to clear for a typical account. The practical tasks after a death are more immediate: dealing with parcels that were already in transit, closing or deleting the MyDPD account, and – if the deceased was a business sender – reviewing any outstanding invoices or credits on a DPD Local account.
This guide covers all three scenarios.
What happens to parcels in transit
This is usually the most time-sensitive aspect of dealing with DPD after a death. Parcels already in the network will continue moving through it regardless. The key question is where they are in the process.
Inbound deliveries (parcels on their way to the deceased)
If the deceased had parcels being delivered to their address, DPD’s standard process continues – the driver will attempt delivery, leave a notification card, and offer options for re-delivery or collection.
If you have access to the delivery notification email (usually sent to the deceased’s inbox), it will contain a tracking number. You can use this to manage the delivery at track.dpd.co.uk, where you can:
- Divert the parcel to a DPD Pickup point
- Request delivery to a neighbour
- Redirect to a different address
- Specify a safe place
If you cannot access the notification email, contact the original sender (a retailer, for example) and ask them to update the delivery instructions or arrange a return and refund.
Parcels waiting at a DPD Pickup point
If the deceased had a parcel directed to a DPD Pickup point and it has not yet been collected, the window to act is limited. DPD holds parcels at Pickup points for seven days from the day of delivery to the shop. After that, the parcel is returned to sender automatically.
If you cannot collect the parcel in time, contact the original sender to arrange a re-delivery or refund once it has been returned. DPD’s Pickup network has around 7,000 collection points across the UK – petrol stations, convenience stores, and newsagents – so collection options are usually nearby. You can find the nearest point at pickup.dpd.co.uk.
(Source: DPD UK – DPD Pickup, last verified May 2026)
Outbound parcels the deceased had already sent
If the deceased had booked a parcel delivery that has already been collected or dropped off, it will continue to the recipient as normal. There is nothing to cancel at this stage.
If a booking was made but the parcel had not yet been collected or dropped off, you can cancel it:
- Log into their MyDPD or DPD Online account (or access it via the booking confirmation email)
- Go to order history
- Find the relevant shipment and cancel it
Refunds for cancelled pre-collection bookings are typically processed within 3–5 working days.
Subscription boxes and recurring deliveries
Some subscription box services schedule deliveries through DPD as their carrier. If the deceased received regular subscription deliveries – from a wine club, meal kit service, or similar – these will continue until the subscription itself is cancelled. The fix is at the subscription source, not with DPD: contact the retailer or subscription company to cancel the account. DPD has no visibility of subscription arrangements; they simply fulfil the delivery instruction when it arrives.
How to close a MyDPD consumer account
Most people who interact with DPD as recipients will have a MyDPD account – registered via the MyDPD app or the DPD website – used to manage deliveries, set delivery preferences, and receive notifications.
DPD does not have a dedicated bereavement team or a specific deceased customer notification route. There is no bereavement form on their website as of May 2026. You will need to contact general customer services and explain the situation.
Contact options
Phone: 0121 275 0500 – Monday to Friday 8am–6:30pm, Saturday 8am–4pm, Sunday 9am–3pm. This is the most direct route for discussing any active deliveries or urgent matters.
Web chat: Available 24/7 at dpd.co.uk. A digital assistant handles initial queries and can connect to an advisor.
WhatsApp: Message +44 121 275 0500 with the parcel number and postcode ready if you are dealing with an active delivery.
(Source: DPD UK – Contact Us, last verified May 2026)
Account deletion
For a formal closure of the MyDPD account and deletion of the deceased’s personal data, DPD offers two routes:
Via the app: If you have access to the deceased’s phone and the MyDPD app is installed and signed in, you can delete the profile by going to Settings within the app and selecting the account deletion option. This is the quickest method for a straightforward consumer account.
Via a data erasure request: For a formal written request under GDPR’s right to erasure, email DPD’s Data Subject Rights team at dsrr@dpdgroup.co.uk. DPD is required to respond within one calendar month, with a possible two-month extension for complex cases.
You can also contact the Data Protection Officer directly:
Donna McMullan, Data Protection Officer DPD UK, Roebuck Lane, Smethwick, B66 1BY Email: dpo@dpdgroup.co.uk
(Source: DPD UK Privacy Policy, last verified May 2026)
What to provide: Include the deceased’s name, registered email address, date of death, and a brief explanation that you are acting on behalf of the estate. A copy of the death certificate is advisable. DPD will process the erasure request and confirm when the account has been deleted.
DPD business accounts
If the deceased ran a small business or sold goods online and used DPD to send parcels, the situation is more involved. Business accounts sit under either DPD (for higher-volume shippers) or DPD Local (formerly Interlink Express, for smaller businesses) – and there may be financial matters to resolve as part of the estate.
| Account type | Typical user | Key concern for the estate |
|---|---|---|
| DPD consumer (MyDPD) | Private individuals receiving parcels | No financial balance – close account and delete data |
| DPD Online (send.dpd.co.uk) | Individuals and small businesses sending parcels on a pay-as-you-go basis | Any prepaid credits or pending refunds |
| DPD Local business account | Small-to-medium businesses with a formal account | Unpaid invoices, outstanding credits, final billing |
What the estate may be owed or owe
Outstanding credits or prepayment: If the deceased had prepaid credits on a DPD Online account, these may be recoverable as part of the estate. Contact DPD customer services to enquire.
Unpaid invoices: DPD Local business accounts are typically billed monthly by Direct Debit or BACS. If the account was active at the time of death, there may be an outstanding invoice for the final month’s shipments. These invoices become a debt of the estate. The executor should contact DPD Local’s accounts team to get a final statement and arrange payment.
For DPD accounts (higher-volume business accounts): The remittance contact is DPD’s accounts team; written enquiries can go to their Bristol office: 15th Floor, Castlemead, Lower Castle Street, Bristol, BS1 3AG. Phone: 01179 105 010.
Closing a DPD Local business account
Contact DPD Local customer services and explain the situation. You will need:
- The account number (shown on invoices)
- The deceased’s name and company trading name
- Date of death
- Your authority to act (executor of the estate)
For DPD Local data erasure requests, the Data Protection Officer address is: DPDgroup UK Ltd, Broadwell Road, Oldbury, West Midlands, B69 4DA Email: dpo@dpdgroup.co.uk
(Source: DPD Local Privacy Policy, last verified May 2026)
If the account was used in conjunction with an online marketplace (eBay, Etsy, Amazon Marketplace, Shopify), disconnect the DPD integration from the marketplace account first. Otherwise, new orders may continue generating shipment requests against an account you are trying to close. See our guides to eBay and Amazon for next steps on those platforms.
What documents you’ll need
| Document | When needed |
|---|---|
| Death certificate | Always – confirms the death and the date |
| Your photo ID (passport or driving licence) | If requesting account data or formal closure in writing |
| Proof of authority (grant of probate or letters of administration) | If the estate is owed money, or if DPD’s accounts team requires confirmation before releasing financial information |
For a straightforward MyDPD account deletion, a death certificate and brief written explanation is likely to be sufficient. DPD holds no money on behalf of consumer recipients – there is no balance to recover and no formal probate process required.
The higher the financial complexity (business account, disputed invoice, credit balance), the more likely DPD will ask for formal proof of authority before discussing account details.
Things to watch out for
Ongoing subscription box deliveries. Subscription boxes are booked at source by the retailer, not by DPD. If boxes keep arriving after the death, the subscription has not been cancelled – contact the company that runs the subscription, not DPD.
Marketplace seller accounts with DPD integrated. If the deceased sold items on eBay, Etsy, or similar platforms with DPD as their default carrier, new orders may continue generating DPD shipments as long as the seller account is active and listing products. Pause or close the marketplace accounts first. DPD cannot cancel shipments that have already been booked by an integrated platform.
The DPD Local and DPD brand split. Consumer recipients use DPD. Business senders typically use DPD Local. The two brands share the DPD name but have separate account portals (MyDPD for consumer; MyDPD Local for business) and separate billing. If you are dealing with a business estate, check which brand the deceased used – their invoices or account emails will confirm.
No Royal Mail redirection for DPD. Royal Mail’s Special Circumstances Redirection service redirects letters and parcels sent via Royal Mail. It does not cover DPD deliveries. If the deceased regularly received parcels via DPD, you will need to contact senders directly to update the delivery address or cancel orders. See our Royal Mail bereavement guide for help with post and letters.
Delivery notifications after death. The deceased’s email or phone may continue to receive DPD delivery notifications for parcels ordered before the death. Check for these – they flag inbound deliveries that may need redirecting to your address or cancelling at source.
Summary
For most bereaved families, dealing with DPD is straightforward. There is no dedicated bereavement route, but general customer services can handle active deliveries, and a data erasure request closes the account formally.
Key contacts:
- DPD customer services: 0121 275 0500 (Mon–Fri 8am–6:30pm, Sat 8am–4pm, Sun 9am–3pm)
- Web chat and WhatsApp: via dpd.co.uk
- Data erasure requests: dsrr@dpdgroup.co.uk
- DPO: Donna McMullan – dpo@dpdgroup.co.uk
Checklist:
- Track and redirect any active inbound deliveries using the tracking number at track.dpd.co.uk.
- If a parcel is at a DPD Pickup point, collect it within seven days or contact the sender for a return.
- Cancel any unshipped outbound bookings via order history in the DPD account.
- Close the MyDPD account via the app Settings, or send a data erasure request to dsrr@dpdgroup.co.uk.
- If the deceased had a DPD Local business account, contact DPD Local to get a final statement and settle any outstanding invoices.
- Cancel any subscription services that use DPD as their carrier – at the subscription source, not with DPD.
For a full list of organisations to notify after a death, see our complete notification guide. If the deceased also received deliveries via other parcel carriers, see our guides to Evri and Royal Mail.