# POST /parcels/v1/shipment/activatereturn stops working

Calls to POST /parcels/v1/shipment/activatereturn on PostNL API stopped working on August 1, 2026.

On August 1, 2026, PostNL API removed POST /parcels/v1/shipment/activatereturn. Requests sent to this endpoint are no longer accepted and fail with an error response.

## What to use instead

Stop creating Shipment and Return labels using Characteristic 152 or Option 026 and remove the handover blockade. Because the service is withdrawn without a direct replacement, redesign returns to manifest each return as a new return shipment with a new barcode using Returns API v4 or a return label.

The Shipment and Return label service is withdrawn with no direct replacement; returns must be redesigned as separate return shipments.

- API: PostNL API (api.postnl.nl)
- Kind: Endpoint removal
- Announced: April 3, 2026
- Takes effect: August 1, 2026
- Calls after that day: fail
- Calls it hits: `POST /parcels/v1/shipment/activatereturn`
- Source: [Announcement](https://developer.postnl.nl/operational-status/changelog)
- Verified: November 6, 2026, against PostNL API's own pages
- Page: https://www.okapi.bot/providers/postnl-api/breaking-changes/post-parcels-v1-shipment-activatereturn-stops-working/

## PostNL API's words

> Effective 1 August 2026, calls to this endpoint will no longer be accepted. Requests will result in an error response.

Okapi finds the calls this change hits in your repo and opens the pull request with the fix: https://github.com/apps/okapi-agent