Whether you are sending packages as gifts to family and friends or for your small business, relinquishing control over such precious items can be daunting. Questions of whether or not the package will arrive unharmed or even at all may cloud your mind and cause anxiety induced wide-eyed fear and heart palpitations. Or, perhaps the thought of a package arriving damaged never crossed your mind as many of us have come to assume the United States Postal Service (USPS) will handle each nondescript cardboard box with the same care and love we bestowed upon it while packaging the precious gifts. Until the unthinkable happens and the box you so carefully taped up arrives mangled, empty, or is never to be found.
If you send packages through the USPS Priority Mail® mail option then your package is automatically insured for up to $50. If you buy shipping labels through a platform like Etsy then your package may be insured for up to $100. Having this insurance is important as damage to packages does sometimes happen and if it does happen (crossing my fingers hoping you never endure this), then you have the option to file a claim with USPS to get reimbursed for some of the costs or revenue lost due to the damage.
Add in the fact that during the Holiday 2021 season we are expecting delays in USPS shipping times and the as-to-be-expected holiday shipment rush, our beloved packages will spend more time in shipment limbo increasing the opportunities for our packages to be damaged and making the possibility of needing to file a USPS claim a likelier reality.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to file a claim that has proven successful to me – 100% of the (two) times I have filed a claim with USPS and I hope you find this information helpful and valuable through your shipment journeys.
Things you will need to file a claim:
- A USPS.com account (if you do not have one, you can create one here:https://reg.usps.com/entreg/RegistrationAction_input)
- The package tracking number
- Shipment information – like date item shipped and its contents
- A digital photo of the damaged item – as a .jpg or .pdf and under 2MB in size
- A digital photo of the damaged package – as a .jpg or .pdf and under 2MB in size
- Packing slip / receipt showing the cost for the shipped items or shipment costs
- Photos of damaged packages will need to come from the recipient. In the case of the package being a shipped order to a customer – customers have been very forthcoming in providing photos as they have a stake in this as well – they want a refund!
Steps to filling out the online claim form
To begin, start by logging into your USPS.com account.
Next, go to this website to file your claim: https://onlineclaims.usps.com/OICWeb/
Step #1:
Search for Package – Enter the Tracking Number and shipment date in the fields shown below.
Once the shipment information is verified, you will then be brought to this site where you can add additional information
Step #2:
Package Information – pick the option that best suits your situation from the drop-down menu below. My claims have involved damaged items so I have chosen “Damaged Contents”.
Step #3:
Fees Paid – Mail sent via Priority Mail® include up to $50 in insurance and if you sent via Priority Mail Express® or purchased your labels through Etsy, then your shipment is insured for up to $100.
If you did not purchase any additional insurance (like through Shipsurance), then enter 0 (zero).
If you purchased additional insurance, which I have not done and cannot attest to, I believe you will enter the amount of the insurance fee you paid for the additional coverage. You may also need to file a claim with any other shipment insurance services you work with.
Step #4:
Mailer and Recipient Address – If you are the sender, then check the box next to “I was the mailer.”
Your mailing address should display – if your mailing address is incorrect, there is a link to update your address in your USPS profile
Below this, there are fields to enter the mailing address for the recipient – this should match what was on the shipping label of the package.
Do not worry about the phone number and email address – I have not filled in these fields and they are not required for the claim.
Step #5:
Payment Address – This will display your mailing address to which a reimbursement check will be sent once your claim is approved.
If the address is not correct, there is a link to your USPS account profile where you can update your mailing address.
Step #6:
Item Information
Be as descriptive as possible in the fields provided.
The Item Type is a drop-down menu with many options – choose the most fitting or “other” if one is not suitable.
Upload Proof of Value:
I have uploaded packing slips showing the amounts customers paid for the items. If you are not a seller, I believe uploading images of receipts will be acceptable.
Upload Proof of Damage:
I have uploaded photos of broken items and damaged shipment boxes.
Make sure the image file format is .jpg or .pdf and is under 2MB in size.
Step #7:
Give your claim a nickname for your own filing purposes – can be as generic or detailed is you prefer.
Finally, click the “Review Claim” button and review all the information entered for accuracy.
Correct information if needed and click to finalize and send in your claim.
USPS may request additional information if needed – but I have not needed to do this.
And I have received the reimbursement check within 1-2 weeks in the mail without any problems.
This is a living document so I will be updating this post as I learn more through the claims process and if you have any stories of your own to share please share them below!