typical causes of lost usps packets
The most common reason packages are lost by the USPS is because the address label falls off or the shipping label is smudged or illegible. the United States. the postal service and other national carriers suggest that you include an additional address label with the delivery and return address inside the package in case this problem occurs. that way, post office staff can open the package and recreate a shipping label without having to return the package to the sender.
when is a package officially lost with usps?
usps must consider a piece of mail lost before it can send a search request to find it, and there are specific time requirements for different types of lost mail. for most classes of mail, the package must be lost for at least 7 days from the date of mailing before you can initiate a request to have the usps search for the missing piece of mail .
how to send a search request for missing mail
What if the worst happens and your package doesn’t arrive as planned? For most classes of mail, you will be able to request a USPS search after 7 days from the date of mailing. the request is called a missing mail search request.
To send a search request for missing mail, you will need the following:
- the sender’s mailing address
- the recipient’s mailing address
- identifying information, such as your usps tracking number(s), shipping receipt o Print date of your online postage provider’s label
- the documented shipping date (usually the first scan of your tracking number)
- content description of the package, including receipts and pictures (if you have them)
- description of the envelope or packaging of the item (in case it has been damaged during transport)
once you have the necessary details, you can submit your missing mail search request online at usps.com. You will be required to set up an online account with the USPS in order to file your claim.
how a search request for missing mail works
After the USPS receives your shipment, they will send you an email confirming that they have received your missing mail search request.
To process the request, USPS will use your tracking number and check every time your package was scanned in transit to identify where it was left off the radar. Once USPS is able to collect more information about your package, you will receive updates about your package via email.
Hopefully, you will receive an email notification that your package has been found. the usps will then do its best to package the item and ship it to the address you provided in your missing mail search request.
what if my missing package is not found?
After you submit your request online, the USPS will begin searching for your lost mail. The USPS will continue to search for your missing mail search request through its system until the search expires, usually 3 months after the request is submitted. if they can’t locate your item, they’ll send you an email notification that the search was unsuccessful.
usps mail recovery center
The Postal Service has its own “lost and found” department in Atlanta called the Mail Recovery Center (MRC), which some may recognize by its former name, the “Failed Letter Office.” The mail recovery center staff is dedicated to reuniting lost letters and packages with their addressee or sender.
As you can imagine, that takes some serious detective work to get the job done. here’s how it works: usps processing centers send all undeliverable mail to the mail recovery center. they scan and open packages for identifying information that can help get the package to its rightful owner, if the item is worth $25 or more. packages less than $25 in value are discarded and/or recycled. If there is no way to identify the package’s intended delivery address or sender, the item is discarded, donated, recycled, or auctioned by the USPS.