Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I lost my reciept from the Post Office now the business I sent the package to says they never got it. What recourse do I have proving I sent it back so I can get my money back?
Unfortunately, if you cannot prove you sent the package, you are probably out of luck.
Your receipt is the proof you sent the package. If the package is valuable, you also have the option to buy insurance.
If you remember the date you sent the package you may be able to use that and your name to track the package. I'm not sure this would work. Go to the local post office where you sent it and ask.
I sent it on 3/30 and they said it would arrive at its destination on 4/3. It is now 4/9 and still no package. Tracking it says it has been sitting in New Jersey since 4/3. What can I do? I cannot get anyone on the phone to help. This is crazy!
By Charlene from Tinley Park, IL
I suggest that you go to the Post Office you mailed the package from (take all the paper info with you) and speak with a supervisor or manager. It is easy to simply not answer the phone but more difficult to avoid a physical body at the counter.
Hope you insured the package.
I agree with the other responder that a personal visit will get more attention.
Also, has the recipient stated the package has not been delivered? I ask this as sometimes parcels are delivered but final scan was not made (showing delivery).
Was parcel sent Priority Mail? If so, you will/should have some USPS insurance included (no extra payment).
I sent a package on January 29, 2015 to a friend who lives in Uruguay. I'm from New Jersey. This is the first time I've sent anything through the post office and well it might as well be the last since it's already March 13, 2015 and he still hasn't gotten it. It does have tracking and it says that it departed Montevideo, Uruguay. Does that mean it's being sent back to me? Cause it's been stuck like that since the 7th of February and I have no idea where it is now. I apparently bought insurance without realizing and it's a large flat rate box. What should I do?
By Kim
Contact your local post office for help. However, once a package has left the US, the USPO has no responsibility for how the package is handled.
Has your friend checked with their local post office? Or customs?
Most likely they are the ones that will have to do the checking.
US postal service insurance does not always cover nondelivery to a foreign country.
I have had nothing but problems with the post office in Oakland California.
The priority package departs Oakland, but never reaches Florida. Can somebody help me?
By S
There could be many reasons why a package mailed from one location "disappears" and it may not be a particular post office's fault. I used to work at a post office and believe, for the most part, the mail system moves letters and parcels properly. However, who knows what may happen "down the line".
You can ask to speak with a supervisor or the post office post master in Oakland for help. You can also try shipping via another system such as Fed EX, UPS, etc., to avoid using the USPO entirely. Remember to insure if needed, save all tracking information and check online to see the package's movement and delivery.
I hope the package was just delayed and has now been delivered. I mail a lot of packages and have never had a parcel go "missing" but I feel sure that - once in a blue moon - it could happen.
Only the original post office can help you and talking in person is always better than using the telephone.
If the parcel has not been delivered and your post office will not help you, then you can write to the post office customer service advocate in Washington, DC and they will usually investigate it for you.
Always think about how far a package has to travel and maybe how many times it will be handled and pack accordingly. If fragile, over pack, and insure anything that may break or is valuable to you. I always use tracking as you can follow the package from your post office to delivery - everything cost extra money but this is a service that is well worth the cost.
I shipped a package from New Jersey to Minnesota. When the package was picked up the carrier never scanned it. So now the post office is telling me it was not picked up. Now for the twist, two package were sent to the same person at the same time. I have video surveillance that shows the post man with the two packages never being scanned. One package was delivered and one is lost. Now what do I do?
By mad about usps
Unfortunately, there is little you can do to prove what actually happened. If you did not insure the package, your only option at this point is to file a complaint with the USPO. Good Luck!
The truth is - without proof of pick-up there is very little you can do - even if you purchased insurance. Have you placed a written complaint with your postmaster and/or with the postal service advocate in Washington, DC?
Only a written complaint has to be answered - not even email has the power of a written complaint. Do you have any way to show your local postmaster the "photo" of the postman with your 2 packages w/date and your house?
My sister sent a recorded track and sign parcel on November 21st from the Post Office to South Korea. I tracked it and it said it was headed to India. I called Royal Mail and the clerk insisted that it was on a transit flight.
I was intially sceptical but the clerk sounded confident. I checked a few days later and the parcel has been processed in Mumbai ready to be delivered. It's been in Mumbai since 24th of November 2014. It's December 4th now and all I can do is sit and wait for the post office, in Mumbai to forward my parcel. Although something tells me they have no intention of doing that.
My question is, has anyone experienced anything similar, and have received their parcels in the end? I've called the post office in Mumbai, but they either can't speak English or refused to pick up the phone. It's all really frustrating and I'm really anxious about being so helpless.
By Echo
Call back to the post office it was mailed from and give them the tracking number. They should be the one hunting it down, not you. That is what the tracking number is for, is for them to track it and act accordingly if it goes the wrong way.
Approximately 15 May 2013 we sent a package back to the merchant by USPS. On July 22 the merchant said he did not receive package. We have since lost or threw away our tracking receipt. Can USPS history show if a package was delivered without a tracking number?
By Randy
No, they cannot prove it was delivered, without the tracking number. If you can find the payment receipt from USPS the tracking number will be on it too. Shame on you for not checking to see that it was delivered. Was it something purchased on Ebay, or Listia? On each website there should be a place to record tracking numbers. If you ever used www.usps.com to see if it was delivered back to the merchant, the tracking number might be stored in your computer somewhere. Go back to website, and under tracking number start by putting in 900. Every usps tracking number I've ever had has begun with 900. Maybe you will get lucky. If nothing else, next time save it to your computer, or cell phone notepad. I think you got a shyster seller that was counting on you losing the tracking info, and you not having any way to prove that you indeed returned the purchase.
Hi - this is a tricky question but - here goes.
Did you actually pay for tracking? or for delivery confirmation? Is this the receipt you are talking about?
You can call customer services with the USPS (not local) but you will need the actual date shipped, the sender and recipient information, the post office where shipped and time of day may even help. Explain how important this information is because the recipient is claiming they did not receive it.
If you did not purchase tracking information then you are out of luck - most likely. You can Google the telephone number for customer services. There is also a number for USPS advocate.
What can I do to locate my lost package? The PO say I am out of time to lodge a complaint. The delay has been due to illness and I have medical evidence to prove this.
By Jao from South Norwood, London
If the package was being sent to you it is the responsibility of the sender. They should have had tracking on the package so it could be tracked down. If it was something you sent the only way you can find it is if you had a tracking number.
The exception to both of these is packages sent to a foreign country can't have tracking but you do get a "customs" number which allows limited tracking capability.
Now if you are talking about a package that was mailed to you and you couldn't pick it up because of your medical condition there is no telling where that package is. It may have been returned to sender. It may have been put somewhere in the mail room with other unclaimed packages. All you can really do is talk to a postal official and hope they are willing to go out of their way for a customer.
If you're talking about the Royal Mail, the best chance you have for sorting this (although with the Royal Mail, bless them, it's not a very good chance this will work) is to take your proof of medical incapacitation and any tracking numbers, etc, to the local post office and ask to speak with a supervisor.
The most important thing to remember when asking a postie to go the extra mile is to stay calm and keep repeating you know you are asking a lot and are so grateful for all the hard work they do with so little appreciation. Don't go 'overboard' but being extra nice when asking a postie for anything seems to work a lot of the time.
Plan to make your visit during a not-so-busy time for the counter clerks, and don't go anywhere near the post office with a special request too close to tea-time. I learned that one the hard way:(
I live in Scotland and have come to understand sometimes this works when dealing with 'special requests' to the Royal Mail. Not always, but with your medical paperwork and an extra helping of niceness it's possible your local will help you out.
I'm from India and I had cleared my CCNA exam, but the certificate has to be sent from United States. Cisco is telling that my certificate has already been sent to me, but I had not received it yet.
They have not given me any receipt number to track my certificate. So if any one knows how to get a receipt number I would appreciate your help. It was dispatched on the 16th of March 2011. It has been almost 4 months.
By guddu from India
If possible ask for another to be sent and have them send it signature required if possible.
My boyfriend sent me my broken phone back in the mail, but I never got it. I don't have a tracking number. How will I be able to track it down? They said it would take 2 -3 days, but it's been a week. What should I do?
You can file a claim with the USPO but, without a tracking number, it will be difficult to find your package.
I ordered a cosmetic from Korea on July 28th 2015 addressed to Bangalore India. It's been a month and I didn't receive the parcel.
Generally it used to come in 20 days. I couldn't track it with the order number they have given me. Can anyone help me on this?Who is "they" who gave you an order number? In the US, one can track orders using order numbers, etc., with the various delivery services, however, tracking orders out of the US is very difficult, to say the least. If you insured your package, you can file a claim for reimbursement. If not, you are probably out of luck.
A package from Pakistan was mailed on March 8th, 2015. I have a tracking number, but the USPS website says "tracking not found". Is it possible that the package will arrive even though it has that status? It was sent by registered mail.
By Kim G.
I had this happen to me but I got my package. I called the post office and they said some places don't scan the number and it looks like it is still there but not necessarily. Since they do not always scan them it could have gone on to the next station. Hopefully this is true in your case and the package will be delivered shortly.
I received notification from a vendor that the package I had ordered had been delivered. When I used the tracking information, it said that the package had been delivered to my address. Since I did not actually receive the package I went to the post office thinking that maybe it was still there. The manager told me that their information shows that the carrier scanned the package as delivered and there was nothing more they could do. What recourse do I have?
By Ila F.
If the package was from Amazon, you can probably get a replacement for free if you open an online chat with their customer service. If a different vendor, maybe not, but it probably won't hurt to explain to them what happened. They may be able to do something. It may partly depend on how long you've been a customer.
I shipped a package to an Ohio address, I was able to track the package to the post office in Memphis, Tennessee on December 14, 2014. The only additional information is "package is in progress". Where is the package now, 5 weeks later? The purchaser said they never received the package and want a refund. I need to know where the package is! What do I do next?
By Ellen H.
Directly contact that post office in Tennessee. Use directory information or the internet to find the number.
My friend has sent me a parcel from the US to India through USPS first class mail on 01/12/2015. The tracking number is LK062750123US. I haven't received the parcel yet. I tried tracking the parcel in http://ipsweb.ptcmysore.gov.in/ipswebtracking/ website but no use. Please help. What else can I do?
By Radhakrishnan K
I just was able to track that package through tools.usps.com/
So, I sent a package from Leeds to London second class on 22/11/14 and the buyer claims it has not been delivered. I have a receipt, but no tracking number. What are my options?
By Claire S
A parcel was sent to me from abroad. At the time it was delivered, I was not home and I found the delivery notice in my mail box. When I went to my local USPS office, they said that they are unable to find it! What should I do?
By Pichi G
If you have a "delivery" slip from your post office then you should talk to your post master and strongly "insist" they find the parcel or tell you what happened to it. Do not relinquish your slip as that is the only proof that a parcel ever arrived.
If no good comes from this then you should write to the postal inspection service. Obtain the address from your post master. You should also try to find out exactly what the package contained and the value.
I mailed my package and my sister never received it. Now I don't have the tracking number, but I have a receipt. Is there anything I could do having a receipt?
By Kate from CA
Do you mean that you did have a tracking number, but lost it? The receipt will have that number on it. Look it up yourself on USPS.com to see how far it got, before it was lost. Then take the receipt to the post office so they can take it from there.
If you didn't get a tracking number, you could ask them to try to trace it, but it's a long shot. At least you'd have the date it was mailed, which would give them a little info to go on.
Good luck!
Why doesn't USPS deliver parcel to the right address? It was sent to me by seller with tracking, but the Post Office sent my parcel to another city with a completely different address.
By Patty
I had sent a parcel on 26/02/2013 from Asansol head post office to USA, but the parcel has not yet been traced as to where it is lying. It's over 3 months now. Please suggest what I can do?
By P.Sinha
I had a package send to me by USPS Priority mail. He lost the confirmation number; I have tried everything to find it. Can you help me?
By Robert from Santee, SC
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On 9/1/10 I ordered a package from China. Then on 9/25/10 I received a letter from the USPS saying that they have no record of the package plus China did not receive the package as of that date.
I returned a starter, to Sears, by Priority Mail, that would not fit my mower. I lost my Post Office receipt. Now they will not return my $189.00. What can I do?