How To Handle Your Lost Packages (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.

How To Handle Your Lost Packages (1)Amazon missing packages:

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

How To Handle Your Lost Packages (2)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. Youhave 30 days to file a claim
  4. Start a claim with DHLhere

How To Handle Your Lost Packages (3)FedEx missing packages:

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

How To Handle Your Lost Packages (4)UPS lost packages:

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

How To Handle Your Lost Packages (5)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 MissingMail 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!

How To Handle Your Lost Packages (6)

How To Handle Your Lost Packages (7)

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.

How To Handle Your Lost Packages (2024)

FAQs

How To Handle Your Lost Packages? ›

File a Claim

If your mail or package included insurance, you may be able to file an insurance claim. For damaged or missing contents, we recommend filing a claim immediately, but you must file no later than 60 days from the date of mailing.

How would you handle a lost shipment? ›

File a Claim

If your mail or package included insurance, you may be able to file an insurance claim. For damaged or missing contents, we recommend filing a claim immediately, but you must file no later than 60 days from the date of mailing.

How do I deal with a lost parcel? ›

You should contact the seller to ask for a redelivery or a refund. If the item was delivered by a courier: Check your terms and conditions or account details – they might include other places for delivery, like your porch or a neighbour's house.

Who is legally responsible for lost packages? ›

Often, it's up to the seller or retailer to ensure that you receive your package. Thus, anything that happens in transit is the responsibility of the seller; they are responsible if the package is lost or damaged during transit, and usually must replace it or give a reimbursem*nt.

Do companies really investigate lost packages? ›

This investigation process involves various steps, such as: Gathering information about the package, including the tracking number and delivery carrier. Checking the delivery status and tracking information provided by the carrier to identify any anomalies.

Whose responsibility is a lost package? ›

The short answer is: The seller, which means you, the business owner. Obviously, if you printed the wrong address on the shipping label, didn't include a return address, or poorly packaged the item, it's 100% on you to compensate the customer with a new shipment or a refund.

What should I do if my package is lost? ›

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.
Jan 12, 2024

Do lost parcels ever get found? ›

The good news is most lost parcels are found; We will do everything in our power to find your parcel, however it can potentially take up to 10 working days and sometimes more to locate. One of the most common reasons for a parcel to be lost is if the label has become detached or damaged.

Who pays for lost parcels? ›

Your item was delivered by a courier

If you agreed to them, it's not the seller's responsibility if your order has gone missing. If your item wasn't delivered to the location you agreed, it's the seller's legal responsibility to sort out the issue. You can ask them to redeliver your item.

How long until a package is considered lost? ›

For most mail classes, 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 mailpiece.

Who is financially responsible for stolen packages? ›

Burden is Primarily the Buyer

Take as a whole, the Buyer is largely put in the position to resolve the issue by reaching out to the Seller or making a claim with the Delivery Company. The Buyer is also responsible for reporting the crime to the local police.

Can you call the cops on someone who stole your package? ›

File a police report for the stolen package. Check with your credit card company about purchase protections for stolen packages. Consider filing a claim with your homeowner's insurance or renter's insurance for high-dollar items. Avoid becoming a victim of porch pirates in the future.

What to do if someone is stealing your packages? ›

Here is what you should do if your package was stolen.
  1. File a police report. As with any theft, you should first file a police report. ...
  2. Contact the seller. Some online retailers will refund your money with little fuss. ...
  3. File a lost package claim with the shipping company.

Do police care about stolen packages? ›

The police often use investigative techniques such as tracking stolen items, conducting interviews, and using databases to find stolen items. They may also use bait packages to catch thieves in the act and arrest them. Police may also monitor online marketplaces in search of stolen items being sold.

Does USPS actually investigate lost packages? ›

The Postal Service™ will attempt to find and return your lost item(s), but submitting a search does not guarantee a successful outcome. We will return any mail piece from which we can locate a good address or match with an official search request.

How would you handle a situation if an important shipment got lost? ›

Contact the Shipping Company

If your package is lost or incorrectly delivered on the part of the shipping company, you may need to file a claim. You may be entitled to financial reimbursem*nt, which is decided on a claim-by-claim basis.

How would you tell a customer about a lost or stolen shipment? ›

1 Track the shipment status

This will help you determine if the shipment is delayed, misdelivered, or lost. You can also contact the carrier directly to get more details or request an investigation. If possible, provide the customer with regular updates on the shipment status and any actions taken to resolve the issue.

What to do if cargo is lost? ›

What to do When Your Freight is Lost
  1. Contact your shipping company. There is a slight chance that your cargo is delayed instead of completely lost. ...
  2. Write down all the details about your shipment. ...
  3. Fill a freight claim.

How do lost shipments work? ›

When an eligible Player does not see any Lost Shipment Voyages in stock, they have to rely on a different Crewmate to buy the Voyage or wait for the Voyages to be restocked at 6am.

How does FedEx handle lost packages? ›

You can file a claim online for a FedEx Express®, FedEx Ground®, or FedEx Freight® shipment that's damaged, lost, or missing contents. You'll need your tracking/PRO number and any necessary supporting documentation, such as a photo of a damaged package, serial number of lost merchandise, or copy of a receipt.

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