Navigating Equipment Returns: My Experience Post-Big4

It has been nearly ten months since I left my position at one of the Big Four Accounting firms, and I find myself in a peculiar situation involving two company laptops—one of which is unfortunately non-functional.

Upon my departure, I completed a survey indicating the equipment that needed to be returned. I clearly requested shipping labels and packing materials for the two laptops, as my role had been largely remote. Traveling 40 minutes to the office, coupled with parking fees, wasn’t a feasible option for me to return the items.

After patiently waiting for a few weeks, I hadn’t received any shipping materials. In an effort to resolve the issue, I called the office, only to be redirected to another office where I spoke with a representative. He noted my contact details and promised that someone would reach out to me—but, predictably, I never heard back.

Now, several months later, I am faced with the inconvenience of needing my home office space back for my current job. The two laptops are taking up valuable space that I require for my work.

While I am aware that my next step is to reach out to them again, I can’t help but feel that returning their equipment should not be this complicated. It illustrates a common frustration many of us experience when dealing with corporate processes, especially when it comes to returning property.

Have you experienced similar challenges when trying to return company equipment? I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments.