We recommend that you complete our online help request form before you start a missing mail search. Please use a desktop computer to submit your form. We’ll forward your request to your local Post Office™ facility to help locate any missing items.

How do I report a missing mail?

Postal Service
For delayed mail, either domestic or international, call 1-800-275-8777 to file a complaint. Or go to USPS online, choose the tab marked “Where is My Package” or “Where is My Mail.”For lost or damaged mail, file a claim for either international mail or domestic mail.

What happens when you report mail missing?

USPS® Mail Search

When we receive your Missing Mail search request, we will send you a confirmation email. We will also send you periodic updates about the search. If we find your package or mail, we will send it to the address you provided.

Why is my mail going missing?

Why would mail get lost? There are many reasons as to why you wouldn’t get mail or packages such as the shipping label falling off, the address or recipient name getting smeared in case of bad weather, or the most common reason of all, an incorrect address.

Who is responsible for missing mail?

As a general rule of thumb, if you don’t see any evidence to suggest otherwise, the seller or shipper is responsible. If a package is marked as delivered and you have not seen it, then the seller is responsible. The exception is that if a package is actually lost prior to being marked delivered.

Can standard mail be tracked?

If purchasing postage at the Post Office, USPS Tracking is included for free when you use Express Mail, Priority Mail or Standard Post (formerly known as Parcel Post). USPS Tracking can be added to Media Mail packages for $0.20 when using Stamps.com.

Is missing mail ever found?

The Postal Service has its own “lost and found” department in Atlanta called the Mail Recovery Center (MRC), which some may recognize by its older name, the “Dead Letter Office.” The staff at the Mail Recovery Center is dedicated to reuniting lost letters and packages with their recipient or sender.

Does missing mail search work?

Yes, the USPS finds missing mail. If it has an address on it, the mail is forwarded to the address. If there is no address, including return address, or the address is illegible, the mail goes to the dead letter office.

How long does it take USPS to find a missing package?

If all of the elements of the Missing Mail Search go smoothly the parcel can be located and start moving again in 3 to 5 days. BUT, sometimes, the USPS location where the parcel is does not cooperate, which makes the process very long and painful for the shipper and the buyer who is upset their parcel is “lost”.

Why is my 2021 mail taking so long?

The U.S. Post Office recently announced delivery of some first class mail will take longer as the postal service tries to cut costs and improve efficiency.

Is Informed Delivery delayed?

The reality is, Informed Delivery is typically 1-2 days delayed and not all items that are scanned have a preview image coming up for it. Overall however, its accuracy could be rated at well over 95%.

Why is it taking so long for my mail to be delivered?

The simple answer: Your mail may slow down because the Postal Service lengthened its “service standards,” or the amount of time it says it should take for a piece of mail to get delivered. And how much slower it will get depends on where you live.

What happens if USPS says delivered?

They’ll be able to respond faster to you. They’ll most likely tell you to wait 24 hours, so you may want to wait 24 hours before contacting them, anyway. After 24 hours, if your package still hasn’t arrived despite it saying, “Delivered,” then you’ll definitely want to speak with a USPS representative.

What can I do if USPS loses my package?

You can report a missing USPS package by filing a claim at the USPS claims site. The sender or receiver of a USPS package can file a claim, but the original purchase receipt must be available. You can receive a refund for mail that is lost or never delivered to its final destination as long as the package is insured.

How do I file a claim for a missing package with USPS?

If your insured mailing has been lost or damaged in transit, you may file an insurance claim:
Online: Go to By mail: Call 800-ASK-USPS (800-275-8777) to have a claim form mailed to you. Evidence of Insurance.Proof of Value.Proof of Damage or Partial Loss of Contents.

Can a mailed letter be traced?

You can use the number to track the item’s location or receive automated delivery notifications. A letter without a tracking number, such as one sent by first class mail, cannot be traced using that method.

How do I know if my letter was received?

If you are sending a letter, the cheapest way of finding out delivery status is to Certify it, and request a Return Receipt also. Certifying a letter requires a signature at delivery, and a Return Recipt will also be signed by the addressee and mailed back to you, giving you a legal signature, if needed.

How can I track regular mail without a tracking number?

To track a package without a tracking number through UPS, visit UPS’s website and register for a UPS My Choice account, then use the provided dashboard tools to locate your package. If you’re tracking a package through USPS, sign up for Informed Delivery on the USPS website and use the portal to track your items.