It is illegal under federal postal regulations and the Federal Trade Commission Act to send merchandise that has not been expressly ordered by a consumer through the U.S. mail. It is also illegal for a company to bill you for such merchandise. If you receive merchandise you didn't order you may keep it as a gift. It is illegal for the seller to ask you to return unordered merchandise even if the seller offers to pay shipping expenses. If the seller sends you merchandise that differs from your order in brand name quantity type size or quality without your approval you may be able to treat it as unordered merchandise. But first consider whether the seller made an honest mistake. ~~There are only two exceptions to the rule. Free samples that are clearly and conspicuously marked as such and merchandise mailed by a charitable organization asking for contributions.~~If you receive unordered merchandise through the mail it is yours to keep. You do not have to pay for it or return it. Although you do not have to notify the company that you are keeping it either you may want to so as to discourage future shipments or bills or dunning notices. You may want to send your letter by certified mail and keep the return receipt and a copy of the letter. This will help you establish later if necessary that you did not order the merchandise.~~Or you may want to write the company if you think you received the merchandise as the result of an honest error. In this case offer to return it provided the seller pays for postage and handling. Give them a reasonable amount of time--perhaps 30 days--to pick up the merchandise or arrange to have it returned at no expense to you. Tell them that you reserve the right to keep the merchandise or dispose of it after that time. If you write for any of these reasons keep a copy of your letter. You may want to send this correspondence also by certified mail keeping the return receipt.~~If you ever receive bills or dunning notices for unordered merchandise you can use the same approach. Write a letter to the company stating that you never ordered the item and therefore you have a legal right to keep the merchandise for free. Again you may wish to send your letter by certified mail and keep the return receipt and a copy of the letter.