USPS Package Not Delivered: The Final Solution

A proficient delivery doesn’t always depend upon the USPS service alone. Several other factors play their role in influencing the proper delivery of packages. And sometimes it so happens that a USPS package fails to get delivered at the expected time.

It is truly frustrating when such things happen that adds to the harassment of both the customer and the courier company. However, being the top postal service company, USPS has the solution for every tiny offset. 

You just have to know about it!

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USPS Package Is not Delivered: What Are The Reasons?

There are several reasons why a USPS Parcel remains undelivered despite the best efforts from the USPS officials. Here are a few of the reasons that cause such kind of delivery inconveniences:

• Something was missing or a mistake in the recipient’s address and the USPS carrier couldn’t find the delivery location.
• The recipient had relocated to a new place but had failed to update their current address.
• The package suffered a refusal at the recipient’s end. This might happen if the previous recipient undergoes relocation and the person at the old address refuses to receive the parcel.
• The USPS package didn’t have all the postages required for the dispatch, and so the package was returned to the shipper to be resent after attaching the correct number of postages to it.
• The recipient’s address was too illegible to be understood, and hence the package was returned to the sender to be sent again with a legible one.
• The carrier made multiple delivery attempts but found the location closed every single time, and there was no way to contact the recipient either.
• The package suffered some damage or was lost in transit although all safety measures and hence couldn’t make it to the delivery location.

Apart from these, several other unpredictable circumstances lead to mishaps that prevent the USPS package from being delivered.

What Happens to the Undelivered Packages?

The first option that the USPS looks for in undelivered packages is to return them to the shipper. The return parcel clearly states the reason why it couldn’t be delivered. This enables the sender to locate the actual delivery problem and hence solve it before resending the package.

But in case the sender’s address is illegible or not available at all, then the only option left with USPS is to send the parcel to its Mail Recovery Centre. It is considered the “Lost and Found” department of the USPS, which is used to store all undeliverable and non-returnable packages. 

The package that goes into the mail recovery center can only be recovered by starting a Mail Recovery Centre Search. The sender can only initiate it after they have provided the USPS with their valid ID proof and their tracking ID. But one has to wait for at least seven days from the expected delivery date to initiate the search for recovering their package from the USPS Mail Recovery Centre.

So, if you do want to start the Mail Recovery Centre Search, there are a few things you need to be aware of.

Firstly, you would need to provide the USPS with the following information:

• A valid ID proof
• The tracking number of the package
• Additional barcodes, including insurance details
• The date on which the parcel began its journey
• The expected date of delivery as provided in the tracking status
• The type of Mail Service that was used to ship the package
• Address where the missing parcel should be sent once it’s recovered

Secondly, you will have to provide the best possible description of the missing parcel, like the exact dimension, approximate weight, the items contained in it, and other details that would help the inspectors identify your package. 

Finally, you will have to agree to their terms of conditions and accept two different disclaimers before you can officially submit the request for searching your missing package.

Also, it is to be remembered that Mail Recovery Centre Search is your last resort after every failed attempt of finding your parcel by any other means. You must contact the Post Office first to seek their help before applying for the search. 

What to Do When a USPS Package is Not Delivered?

If USPS couldn’t deliver your package due to any of the reasons mentioned above, here are a few things that you can do:

• Check whether there was something wrong or missing in the address. If yes, then correct the flaws and try to resend them.
• Request the USPS to search for your package by writing a search application with relevant information, valid ID proof, and your tracking ID.
• Seek help from the Consumer Affair representative via mail or call.
• Initiate the mail recovery process by visiting the local Post Office with your identity card and the tracking ID of your package.

In case you find the USPS claiming to have delivered your package, and yet you see no signs of your parcel, here’s what you can do:

• Check all the places near and around your location to see if the package was dropped off there.
• Check the places around surrounding houses to find if the parcel was mistakenly left at someone else’s doorstep.
• Check the tracking status once again on the USPS Website to ascertain that it still says “Delivered” and has not changed to “In Transit” or “Out for Delivery” to ensure that there wasn’t any technical error the first time that you checked.
• When you have undergone all the above steps, and you are hundred percent sure that the package is not anywhere in or near your property even though it says delivered, the immediate step would be to contact the USPS via call or by paying a visit to the post office

Most of the time, it needs a little effort from your end to solve the problem of the undelivered package. As a sender, you should do everything to ensure that your package reaches its destination. As the recipient, ensure that there is nothing unattended from your end that might cause missed deliveries. 

And in case of any other unpredictable circumstances or sudden mishaps, USPS will always be there to take care. Once aware of your predicament, USPS will do absolutely anything to find your missing parcel and have it delivered to its destination as soon as possible. And once you start the process of Mail Recovery Centre Search, it will bring the post officers who would put their best efforts to find your package.

Hence, there is very little to worry about if your USPS package is not delivered. In most cases, you will find the package if you take prompt actions to recover it.

Conclusion:

USPS is a very reliable and trustworthy postal service constantly devising plans and policies to ease their customers’ shipping experiences. Still, they too suffer certain difficulties despite their sincere efforts to provide their best service. Certain precautions and immediate measures can help avoid circumstances preventing the USPS package from getting delivered and recovering missing packages.