Filing a claim with USPS - First timer needs advice
ManifestDestiny
Posts: 106 ✭✭✭
It looks like I might need to file an insurance claim with USPS for a package they lost. I have the insurance form and the original receipt. What else will I need to provide them? It's $4800 worth of stuff that went missing. Thanks, in advance, for any help or advice.
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How to file a USPS claim
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
I'd speak with the local postmaster and check in with them and those responsible for progress on the claim or investigation.
Thanks for the link. That's exactly what I needed. For some reason I didn't see that when looking through the process.
They want something that says why you felt it was $4800 worth of stuff. It is easy if it was an auction sale, harder if it is a raw submission to PCGS.
if it was bullion, I hope you used registered mail.
Bullion will only be covered in a USPS claim if sent registered.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
It was PCGS graded coins going to a dealer. I have all of the original receipts since it was all bought within the last 60 days.
Do not file it as coins. Use term Numismatic collectibles.
Why do you suggest that terminology?
cash can not be insured
Work closely with your Postmaster... I am going through a lost package scenario right now... Cheers, RickO
At my local PO this AM, they posted their success rate on packages for the last month. 99.8% with something like 45,000 packages. It really stinks if you are in the 0.2%.
Good luck to you folks in finding your 'lost' packages.
Successful transactions with : MICHAELDIXON, Manorcourtman, Bochiman, bolivarshagnasty, AUandAG, onlyroosies, chumley, Weiss, jdimmick, BAJJERFAN, gene1978, TJM965, Smittys, GRANDAM, JTHawaii, mainejoe, softparade, derryb, Ricko
Bad transactions with : nobody to date
What does the tracking on USPS website say? Does it show as delivered? I send everything in the small priority box with blue insurance label, and never had a problem
LOL. My local PM is useless. Absolutely a fencepost beside to hang wire on. Two USPS coin shipments stolen / lost, nobody cared.
@epcjimi1....wow... sorry to hear that.... maybe a call to area headquarters.... My Post Office is very responsive...though rarely an issue..they are actively pursuing my issue... Hope you recover your coins. Cheers, RickO
I have only had to file a claim a few times, and each time it was declined the first time and I had to press the issue and then it was resolved. I tell you this, because if everything is in order (i.e. you did everything right), stick to your guns and do not let up.
Call the local HQ? Jeez, I called all the way down to the Charlotte, NC, USPS distribution center, floor production,, where it goes down, point of loss. No-one knew anything.
Hope you recover yours, good luck.
Sorry to hear that Jim.... that really sux big time.... Cheers, RickO
That is why the premiums are so high, they have to pay so many people to say no, before it gets escalated to a supervisor.
I have everything in order so I should be good to go. I have the shipping receipt, insurance receipt, and sales receipts for the nine coins that were in the box. I have called both post offices, origin and destination to alert them that it's missing. The destination post office has engaged the Postal Special Agent given the dollar amount so they can investigate. What a pain!!!
Make sure you send in a publication that shows the value of the coins. Redbook and PCGS price guide if possible. I had to file 3 claims a couple years back totalling 75k and they denied all three of the claims twice before finally granting it the 3rd time. Had a real tough time establishing value for a R7 pattern, despite having a receipt of what I purchased it for.
Curious.....
At that value (you mentioned $4800), how did you send it? Overnight? Priority? Registered?
Only way I send stuff at that value is either overnight (some bit of risk but a little lessened, imho, by how quickly they have to send it, so it isn't just sitting around waiting anywhere), or, more preferably but slower, registered. Lock/signed for each step of the way.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
Have you waited the number of days required for the shipping method yet?
I still have to wait the 15 days. I sent it USPS priority with full insurance. It was just going one state over with minimal stops. It left Friday and was supposed to be delivered Monday.
If you sent the package via Priority Mail with an insurance sticker on it to cover $4,800 then anyone who sees that package also sees a big sign that says "steal me". It is much safer to ship via Registered Mail and might have been around the same price, as well, with that level of USPS insurance. Good luck.
Just so everyone realizes; I have a terrific local PO and the folks there know what they are doing in every instance I have ever had to ask. I also have been fortunate in that only one shipment was ever lost or damaged over the last twenty-years and this covers thousands of packages worth into the millions of dollars. Oddly enough, that one package was to a board member who has posted in this thread.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
I know you are anxious about this package and rightfully so due to its value, and priority mail does typically take 2-3 business days, but it is not at all uncommon for priority mail packages to take a week to arrive at their destination, too.
The distance involved is irrelevant~I have actually found that packages travel quicker from NY to CA than from NY to NY in many cases due to the way USPS packages travel between shipping hubs in transit.
I think the package will turn up and hope it does for you.
ETA: I would also recommend establishing an account on USPS.com and printing labels from their site~there are no insurance stickers in that case and filing an insurance claim is easier, too.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
That's a whole new twist to the story. Most likely just a delay. Patience is in order.
No Way Out: Stimulus and Money Printing Are the Only Path Left
Oh, if this is simply an anticipated delivery day of Monday then the post office won't even allow you to file an insurance claim yet. I had been reading this thread and thinking the package was definitely lost, not that it was likely making somewhat slower progress than hoped. It stands a good chance of still showing up. Good luck.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
off the radar for 3 days is not an emergency yet. I like to watch the tracking and see some items pop around the country on the way to me.
Agree that it is way too early to file. Also, some states are experiencing really bad weather and that may slow things down. Priority is NOT guaranteed in a certain timeframe.
And, depending on your post offices (using mine as a reference), registered can be pretty quick as well, when the distance is short. I can send 2 states away, to PCGS, and it gets there in ~2-3 days (registered). Cross country is still 7-10 days for me.
I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment
I've had priority mail take well over a week a few times, including a check that took a 17 day vacation in Colorado while traveling from Virginia to NY. In fact most delays I've seen were going on that trip, yet first class to California took 2 days...
Does tracking give much of a clue? If you have even reasonably friendly post office folks, go visit them during an off hour. They have a system that is updated more frequently and/or more accurately they can check. If they admit to it. My local folks have done that for me a couple times.
Too early to worry. Give it time.
Any tracking movement lately?
I have been having more trouble lately than anytime I can remember with package delivery times. I have had a few Priority packages take a week or more. The USPS tracking recently changed to where it will just say "In route to destination" instead of following step by step. Frustrating and cost me a coin to an ebay scammer. I always print my own labels to avoid the dreaded "Steal me" label. FWIW.
My Ebay Store
I have a claim from them on a $3,000 coin that had $300 insurance on it (the rest I have private insurance with HUGH WOOD)
Hugh wood paid out my claim immediately on the higher amount and usps rejected my claim twice so far claiming that the proof of value was not sufficient.
(I had submitted original purchase invoice, my sales invoice, pcgs price guide)
They are ridiculous.
Still nothing. The last update says out for delivery and then nothing. The dreaded no status update.
The part of the story I did not share yet is I sent two identical boxes together to the same address at the same time. You can watch them move through the system together even to the point of both of they are both out for delivery at the same time. Then one vanishes. They were both insured for around the same amount. That's why I know it is soon enough to worry!!!
So it did resume tracking after you started this thread? Or was it out for delivery at that time? Usually, if it's out for delivery but not updated, it's because the carrier forgot to scan it upon delivery. The fact that you sent two insured packages to same person may have been a factor as I'm assuming by your post that one of the two packages was scanned upon delivery.
Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
That's easy - over 95% will be forgot to scan. The package made it to the final delivery route.
Has the recipient said they did not receive the 2nd package? Then the postal inspector will be going after the person making the delivery or the recipient...