Challenge the USPS on My MIssing PCGS Claim?

chiefbob

A couple of coins I sent to PCGS became MIA during the same period that the postal thefts occured in Newport Beach, CA (circa March of this year). In my claim, I included a copy of the PCGS value sheet and my postal insurance. I filed it about 6 weeks ago, and now I get a check from them for $48.59! The value I indicated was for $125, and I had insuree the package for $150.

It states "maximum amount allowed without invoice"! I searched the forum for the previous posts but couldn't find the outcomes anyone else experienced. Any ideas on how to protest/appeal the claim disbursement? The local postmaster doesn't have a clue on this (or anything else postally related), so he's a write-off. Has anyone else successfully challenged their ridiculous reimbursements?

It's outrageous that they will gladly accept my payment for insurance, but then question afterwards how much I paid for them originally and not reimburse up to the insured amount. Especially when they know they have internal thievery in their own system.

Any ideas, short of going Postal?

Bob

Coulport

Go with your last idea if you want immediate satisfaction.
Otherwise, I expect it to be a long drawn out process.

airplanenut

Sounds like what happened to my mom... item broke in shipment ($7 just for shipping) and they wouldn't give her any of the shipping cost in the refund...

DHeath

ChiefBob,

The adjuster is in St.Louis, and there is an appeal process. I was one of the victims in Dec.01 and was paid the $1500 I claimed. I explained in my claim that I have no receipts for the coins as they had been in my collection a long time, and that getting an appraisal of missing coins would be difficult. I also explained that I didn't seek grading from PCGS, just validation of my grade opinion. They paid the full amount without protest. The USPS claims page is here! Search the page for coin, and you'll find the right passage. Good luck.

clackamas

Since the USPS is being such a pain just open MS word and create your own invoice. If they are not going to play fair you should not have to either. BTW use FedEx to ship its just as cheap as insured registered and they can actually track it and fire someone who steals.

LucyBop

I wouldn't even use Fed X to ship coins to PCGs, they request on their submission forms to use registered mail, I just sent out a package yesterday to them, the postal worker stamped my package several times and told me this is done so they can tell if the package gets tampered with, it then goes under a lock.... Till it gets delievered to the post office where PCGs post box is and then PCGs has to sign for the package.......

clackamas

FedEx is more than acceptable by PCGS. Customer service, if you call them, will gladly give the street address to send the FedEx. Yes those stamp marks on registered mail were nicely ruptured with a leg sized hole in a not to distant registered package I recieved back when I still used the PO. You have to love the people who can't get fired from a job until they are actually caught stealing.

LucyBop

Hmmmm..... I am now waiting for 2 packages soon (still have to be graded by PCGs) to be sent to me and I believe they are sending them registered mail, if you send them Fed x can you also request that they send them fed x back or does PCGs always use registered mail?

itsnotjustme

Clacckamas,
I dasagree with a couple of your points..

<< <i>just open MS word and create your own invoice >>

First, you appear to be suggesting including a falsified document (even if the data is accurate) with you USPS claim. This is punishable by a $10,000 fine...



<< <i>You have to love the people who can't get fired from a job until they are actually caught stealing. >>

Then you suggest people should be fired for something no one can prove they've done. That is not the American way in gov't or private industry.

Gilbert

ChiefBob,

Don't be disheartened. I suspect that the ineptitude in your local post office has contributed to the underpayment. There should have been more guidance forthcoming from the people who are SUPPOSED to know.

I don't know the exact procedures for appealing, but I know it can be done. (my claim was paid as submitted, but I provided a heck of alot of documented support - I demonstrated some numismatic education, documentation to support my assertions as to rarity and market value, and copies of my invoice to PCGS) I don't know if THAT is the invoice they are asking for, but if you didn't include it, you should have.

I THINK you shuldn't cash the check; it may be taken as acceptance of settlement. Return the check with the appropriate documentation to support the value you claim, and if the coin was ungraded, then you will be more successful if you can demonstrate that you have the experience to "evaluate" the grade of the coins you are submitting the claim about. In other words,

Sound like you know stuff, tell why your evaluation is sufficient, and give them two or three value references. I still took a loss because I couldn't get "the market maker in Franklins" to provide an estimated value, but I got what I insured/claimed at; and yes, it was legitimate. I will gladly reimburse the USPS if they come up with my coin.

supercoin

Every time I hear something like this it disgusts me... you paid for the insurance, they LOST it, they should cough up the whole amount. If they had delivered it and something was damaged, then they would have better reason to question the value. But they LOST it.

Maybe you should just tell them you had an invoice, but it was in the shipment.

Seriously, I'd provide a copy of the PCGS invoice, maybe that will look official enough for someone. How much more proof do they want... you've got a copy of the coins, an estimated value as written on the invoice, and an estimated value as evidenced by the insurance.

If that doesn't work, unless you're willing to cheat and write up your own invoice... then sadly the $75 they screwed you out of is probably not worth the time involved to escalate it further, strictly from a financial standpoint. It's barely worth it even when they aren't questioning the amount.