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How To Handle Your Lost Packages

By Last updated on: June 12, 2024

Who lost your package:  UPS      DHL       FedEx      USPS         Amazon

Most packages make it to their destinations intact and on time. But what do you do when a package is lost in transit? Your lost packages could sit “in transit” for over ten days or indicate a finalized delivery.

Nothing is worse than the carrier’s tracking saying that your package has been delivered and then discovering that your packages are not there! Every shipping carrier has different rules for filing claims on lost, stolen, or missing packages. If your package is missing, here are some suggestions about what you can do:

How to Handle Your Lost Packages

  1. Look for a notice of attempted delivery.
    • Some carriers will leave notice if delivery is not successful.
  2. See if someone else accepted the delivery.
  3. Contact the carrier directly. The numbers are located below.
    • (What company was delivering your package?)
  4. Contact the shipper.
    • (Who sold or initialized the shipping?)
  5. Contact your neighbors.
    • (Misdelivery is very common)

When a package en route goes certifiably and has not arrived at your door four or five days after schedule, it can be deemed lost.

Amazon missing packages:

  1. Call (888) 280-4331- speak with customer service for a tracking update
  2. Ask neighbors if they received the package
  3. Wait 36 hours after the expected delivery date and time to file a claim
  4. Start a claim with Amazon here

DHL missing packages:

  1. Call (800) 225-5345 – speak with customer service for a tracking update
  2. Ask neighbors and look for a notice of attempted delivery
  3. You have 30 days to file a claim
  4. Start a claim with DHL here

FedEx missing packages:

  1. Call (800) 463-3339 – speak with customer service for a tracking update
  2. Ask neighbors
  3. You have 60 days to file a claim
  4. Start a claim with FedEx here

UPS lost packages:

  1. Call (800) 742-5877 – speak with customer service for a tracking update
  2. Ask neighbors if they received the package
  3. Wait 24 hours after the expected delivery date and time to file a claim
  4. Start a claim with UPS here

USPS lost packages:

  1. Call 1 (800) 275-8777 or (800) 222-1811- ask customer service for a tracking update
  2. Ask neighbors
  3. Submit a search to Missing Mail search request
  4. If mail was not recovered, you may able to file an insurance claim
  5. Wait at least seven days after the expected delivery date  – Start the USPS claim here.

When the shipping carrier cannot locate the packages, you should file an insurance claim to cover the lost packages’ combined insured value and shipment cost. This requires the tracking number, proof of the value of the item, and proof of insurance.

Not getting the lost package help you need?

  • Contact the carriers on Twitter.
    • Twitter is a public forum, and the carriers will respond to complaints and questions.
  • Contact the carriers on Facebook Chat.
    • Many times, you will reach a different customer support department within Facebook.

The best part of buying stuff online is eliminating the hassle. Until you have lost packages. Hopefully, if you experience a lost package by UPS, USPS, FedEx, Amazon, or DHL, this information will help. Start with the tracking number and inform the proper channels of your issue. Good luck!

Brian Gibbs

Author Brian Gibbs

More posts by Brian Gibbs

Brian Gibbs | President of Refund Retriever

Brian Gibbs founded Refund Retriever in 2006 while running his first eBay-based business and seeing the shortcomings of other shipment auditing companies. Refund Retriever's primary focus is FedEx and UPS parcel invoice auditing. After graduating from Texas A&M University in 2001, he graduated from the University of Houston in 2004 with a JD and MBA. Gibbs has been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and other publications discussing parcel auditing, shipping, e-commerce, and more. Learn more at www.refundretriever.com or call (800) 441-8085 for more information.

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