USPS Question for jimq.... Need Definitive Answer

storm888

This question keeps coming up, and it is never
properly answered.


"If the Delivery Confirmation online says the item was
delivered, and the addressee says it was not, will the
USPS insurance still pay a claim, after an investigation is
concluded and reveals no fraud?"

Thanks in advance for a correct answer.


storm

jimq112

I'll try to get a good solid answer today about that one.

Possible reasons for inaccurate online reports are -

Package delivered, carrier forgot to scan the bar code. Happens 2-3% of the time, I think that % is way too high and it's currently the focus of management's attempt to improve service. They are giving us reports weekly, supervisors are tracking certain packages to see which carriers are doing poorly.

Package delivered, carrier scanned the package, put it in a place where the buyer doesn't see it. We're supposed to leave notes, some carriers don't.

Package delivered, left out in easy sight and stolen. Happens more than it should.

Package aimed for 11120 main st delivered at 11220 main st, scanned, nice free gift for 11220 main st.


I think it's worse now, they changed the insurance labels to blue for $200+ and black for under $200. Black under $200= no signature needed.

Anyway I'll see what I can find out -

jim

storm888

Thanks Jim.



My station manager just said this:

Neither Delivery Confirmation nor Signature Confirmation
precludes the filing of a USPS Insurance claim. If the claim
is found not to be fraudulent, the claim will be paid.

jimq112

I called all 8 of my postmasters, there is no official USPS stance but the general agreement is that on an unsigned usps insured item (under $200) the receiver has to sign an affadavit that the package did not arrive. The postmaster can handle the claim in house and get it processed. It would be a good idea to only file a claim if the item is expensive, the postmasters generally agreed that one claim per household would be plenty.

The PM will ask the carrier where the package was left and that might get a few lost ones found. They can tell by the scan who scanned it, so it's easy to go right to the correct carrier for an answer.

Over $200 insured USPS will have a documented signature on file so you better ask everybody at your house before filing a claim. You can look stupid or worse if the claim is investigated and you signed the receipt.

Over $200 the PM cannot resolve the claim.

Under $200 if you don't like how the PM resolved it you have a right to appeal.

No insurance claims will be considered without a receipt so save the receipt!!



I guess pretty much the same thing you got, I was happy to hear basically the same from all offices.

Robeson

Hi Jim,
My mail carrier tells me that she scans delivery confirmation bar codes as she loads the packages on her truck. Is this the way that it is done? That only shows being delivered to the post office. She is very lazy and spends all her time talking on her cellphone. She left 2 insured packages on my front step, one was for $300 and the second was for $200. My next door neighbor complained and now his mail ends up in other peoples mailboxes.

storm888

"My next door neighbor complained and now his mail ends up in other peoples mailboxes. "

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


The ultimate retaliatory negative feedback.





I handle my carriers with kidd gloves; I know what they
are capable of, if they hate me.

storm888

Thank you VERY much, Jim.

jimq112

<< <i>"My next door neighbor complained and now his mail ends up in other peoples mailboxes. "

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


The ultimate retaliatory negative feedback.





I handle my carriers with kidd gloves; I know what they
are capable of, if they hate me. >>



I'm not like that, but I've seen enough to know you're right. It's embarassing. I don't know why people can't take pride in their work sometimes.

neenish

<< <i>I called all 8 of my postmasters, there is no official USPS stance but the general agreement is that on an unsigned usps insured item (under $200) the receiver has to sign an affadavit that the package did not arrive. The postmaster can handle the claim in house and get it processed. It would be a good idea to only file a claim if the item is expensive, the postmasters generally agreed that one claim per household would be plenty.

The PM will ask the carrier where the package was left and that might get a few lost ones found. They can tell by the scan who scanned it, so it's easy to go right to the correct carrier for an answer.

Over $200 insured USPS will have a documented signature on file so you better ask everybody at your house before filing a claim. You can look stupid or worse if the claim is investigated and you signed the receipt.

Over $200 the PM cannot resolve the claim.

Under $200 if you don't like how the PM resolved it you have a right to appeal.

No insurance claims will be considered without a receipt so save the receipt!!



I guess pretty much the same thing you got, I was happy to hear basically the same from all offices. >>



Just wondering about what if I paid for insurance (created my shipping label via Paypal) and the recipient states the post office "lost" the package, what recourse do I have? Here's the body of the email he sent me:
"Hello, the post office looks like they "lost" the package. They left notice for me to pick it up, and now it can't be found. I hope you really insured this as you said. I have the tracking notice printed off their web site.

Label/Receipt Number: 9105 1288 8230 0893 9911 76
Status: Notice Left

We attempted to deliver your item at 2:46 PM on May 9, 2007 in PHOENIX, AZ 85017 and a notice was left. It can be redelivered or picked up at the Post Office. If the item is unclaimed, it will be returned to the sender. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later."

Wouldn't the USPS website show that the package was lost or not available? It just sounds fishy to me. I'm going down to my post office where I dropped off the package to see if they can help me, but would also like to get your input on this situation.

Thanks in advance.

Brian

storm888

Thanks in advance.

Brian

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

The package is at your buyer's post office.

Tell him to go back there and ask the manager to
please find his package.

If the package cannot be delivered/picked-up, it
will be returned to you.

Nothing you can do on your end. The buyer needs
to do it himself; for now.

If the package vanished, the insurance will cover it.

neenish

Thanks jimq112!!! I appreciate your input and will do what you suggested.

Best regards,

Brian

LWMM

<< <i>Hi Jim,
My mail carrier tells me that she scans delivery confirmation bar codes as she loads the packages on her truck. Is this the way that it is done? That only shows being delivered to the post office. She is very lazy and spends all her time talking on her cellphone. She left 2 insured packages on my front step, one was for $300 and the second was for $200. My next door neighbor complained and now his mail ends up in other peoples mailboxes. >>



It must vary, as my carrier scans them when she delivers them. I had an issue a couple weeks back with a package scanned but not delivered, and she told me then.

HoofHearted

<< <i>I'm not like that, but I've seen enough to know you're right. It's embarassing. I don't know why people can't take pride in their work sometimes. >>



Taking pride in, or caring for, your work makes all the difference in the world. There about 6 different "Fuego" brand food carts in downtown Portland where I work and they have the best grilled-chicken burritos this side of heaven. One vendor, Andru, really stood out though because his burritos tasted the best bite-for-bite, time after time. He had worked at the same site for about three years (his other job was as a bass player for a band called "Suzy Blue" -- excellent music!) before he decided to take his Dad's offer to continue the family business. Anyway, before he left I asked him what it was he did that the other vendors didn't. He just said, "I care."

Also in relation to what Jim wrote earlier, my wife worked with a rural mail carrier who was recently busted for stealing the mail from people on her route. She stole her customers' identities to make money for her gambling addiction. I've gone round and round with friends and coworkers about gambling as an addiction and just can't understand what it is that makes it so addicting. I mean, meth/drugs have a chemical means of physically addicting someone, but stealing so you can gamble just doesn't seem to have that connection to me. Maybe the adrenalin rush while you're in front of a video poker game can be addictive, but to plot to steal, swindle and rob those around you to feed the monster just seems to take more long-term thought and planning...

jimq112

<< <i>Hi Jim,
My mail carrier tells me that she scans delivery confirmation bar codes as she loads the packages on her truck. Is this the way that it is done? That only shows being delivered to the post office. She is very lazy and spends all her time talking on her cellphone. She left 2 insured packages on my front step, one was for $300 and the second was for $200. My next door neighbor complained and now his mail ends up in other peoples mailboxes. >>



We're not allowed to scan them as we load. If her postmaster checked her scan log he would see all of them scanned within a few minutes in the morning. Her scanning them as she loads shows them delivered to your house. A clerk scanning them in every morning shows them delivered to the post office.

Up until a week ago we couldn't leave any insured packages over $50 without your signature. Now it's $200. If she leaves anything with a BLUE insured label and you didn't sign for it, she has to be signing your name. My regular does that with narcotics and leaves them in the mailbox.

If your neighbor is getting wrong mail your neighbor needs to complain EVERY TIME. Also whoever gets his mail needs to complain EVERY TIME. Meanwhile call your post office and ask if they can just hold your packages for pickup since they are important to you and you want to make sure you get them.


To get a rural mail carrier fired they need to get complaints at www.usps.com - calling the postmaster doesn't do it. If they get enough complaints thru the usps.com or at 1-800-ask-usps then the postmaster has to give the carrier an official discussion, then a written warning. The next step is a week off without pay, then 2 weeks, then they can get fired.

PM me if I can help -


jim

qmayer

All this info jimq is very interesting. Its cool having someone on the "inside" Thanks for your insight.