Missing USPS packages: How to contact USPS, file a help request and submit a missing mail report

You've placed an order online and are expecting a delivery by USPS. The delivery date has come and gone, yet your package is nowhere to be seen. A missing USPS package is not uncommon at all. Packages go missing, lost, stolen, or undelivered. In this guide, we are going to help you navigate through the steps you need to take to best resolve your issue with a missing package from USPS.

Track your package

The first and foremost step you need to take is to track your package. At times your package could be on its way. To track your package you will need to keep your tracking number handy. This can be obtained from shipping receipts, sales receipts, email confirmation, shipping confirmation emails from an online retailer, or the bottom peel-off portion of your USPS label. Go to “Track a Package,” enter your tracking number and check the status of your package.

In some occasional cases, the package can show as delivered, yet you may still not have received it. It is a good idea to wait for another 24 hours before you consider and report it missing. If there is still no package, then you can go ahead with the next step, which is to file a help request form.

Filing a Help Request Form

When you are sure your package is missing, you can complete the Help Request Form. Go to the Help tab and click on “Find Missing Mail.” If you have already tried tracking your package and failed, then you can skip Step 1 - Check the Current Status. Start with Step 2 - Complete a Help Request Form. Click on the “Start your Form” tab. Alternatively, you can scroll down to the bottom of the USPS page, click on “Contact Us,” and then click on “Email Us.” It will bring you to the same page.

Choose the reason for your inquiry as “Where is my package?” When you click on it, you will need to complete 7 steps -

• Tracking - Put in the tracking number.
• Mailpiece - Describe the item sent in the mail.
• Contact - Put down your contact details.
• Recipient/Sender - Fill in the name and address of both the recipient and the sender of the mail.
• Review - Review all information provided by you is correct.
• Confirmation - Confirm all information is correct.

Once you complete this form, USPS will send your request to your local post office. You will receive a confirmation that USPS received your request and regular updates on the status of your request.

Submit a Missing Mail Report

Once you have completed Filing a Help Request Form, you have to patiently wait for at least 7 business days. If at the end of the 7th day, your package can still not be located by USPS and is still reported missing, then the next obvious step is to submit a Missing Mail Search Request.

You can get to the “Submit a Missing Mail Search Request” section from the Help tab by clicking on the “Finding Missing Mail” link from the dropdown list. Scroll down to section 3 of “How to Start Your Search.” When you are at section 3 - Submit a Missing Mail Request, click on the “Start Your Missing Mail Search” tab. This will take you to a login page. Enter your login details or create a new USPS account, if you don't have one yet. Once you've signed in to your account, fill in the necessary information and details like -

• The Tracking Number
• The date the package was mailed
• Your mailing receipt
• The size and type of box or envelope used
• A description of what was in the package. For example, what the item was, its brand, model, color, size, etc.
• Possibly provide pictures of your item to help recognize your item easily.
• The sender's mailing address
• The recipient's mailing address

Once the Missing Mail Report is filed in the system, USPS will send a confirmation email and send you regular updates about it. USPS will try to search and locate your package in its facilities and trucks. If you are in luck and your package is located, USPS will deliver it either to the sender or the recipient's address, depending on whichever you chose when submitting your request. On the contrary, if USPS establishes that your package was delivered, it will be treated as a stolen package. You can then go ahead and file a claim. However, be careful to remember that you can file a claim up to 60 days after shipping.

How to Avoid Missing USPS Packages

Almost everyone has had a missing USPS package and the hassles it causes, more so, in cities like NYC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago, Seattle, Dallas, Austin, Washington DC, Miami, Boston, Denver, Las Vegas, Jersey City & Philadelphia. One way to ensure you avoid this is to make use of Gopost, a USPS package receiving service. Customers can opt to ship their USPS deliveries for easy pick up to any one of the Gopost locations according to convenience. When your USPS package is delivered to your Gopost unit, you will receive an email or text notification to pick it up.

Another safe way to avoid missing packages is to make sure to use a secure delivery address. This is provided by Stowfly, a package acceptance storage and package receiving service. Stowfly has locations all over NYC offering secure and convenient locations for the safe delivery of your packages. Stowfly partners with local shops and businesses you can use as alternate shipping addresses. The price is only $4 to opt for a Stowfly address plus every booking is insured by a $1000 insurance to give you that extra peace of mind. Stowfly offers the assurance to securely receive your package and safely store it for you until your convenient pick-up time. Stowfly is fast becoming the go-to alternate shipping address. Choose a Stowfly package storage address to receive all your packages and mails and avoid yourself the heartburn caused by missed deliveries.

For additional details, check this blog to learn about a viable solution for all package delivery problems.