Anyone have experience with USPS Insurance claim?
 

Hi Gang:

Checking in to see if anyone has filed an insurance claim with the USPS?

If so how did it go? How long did it take? Were you happy with the outcome etc.?

I filed a lost item claim on 6/26/21 and all I have so far is crickets! When I check online all it says is " under review".

Thus my wondering how long it took any of you to get a reply and/or your payment?

Any hints, inside info, on how to speed up the process is also appreciated.

It is a PITA. I got paid a long time ago for a Royal Daulton figurine that got damaged in shipping. I did get paid, but it is not a fun process. I hear it has gotten worse since then. To the point it is practically useless.

Insurance
 

Just go to USPS.com and file it online. It only takes a few minutes and payment is usually quick.

I agree with Rick
 

File online and to speed things up attach photos of the damaged item and package. Request the buyer to send you photos of the damaged package that includes the shipping label (if possible) and a photo of the damaged item. Give the buyer a refund when the pictures are received. When you file the claim attach the photos along with the proof of value of the damaged item. Proof of value can be your selling price or another sale of the same item. You can insure your item for more than your selling price if you can document a higher selling price in another transaction.

Example: I sold a poster for $300 and insured the package for $500. The package arrived damaged and the buyer sent me the photos I needed. I found a transaction for the same poster at $595 to establish the value and attached it to the claim. The claim was settled in less than a week for the $500 value.

Gentlemen:

I did file online

I did send photos and records of the sale

I did all the things you mentioned and NOTHING since June 26th!

What is my next move?

Local PO for me helped a ton. The issue I had was proof of value. Had $5k insurance,all allowed on line at the time, but likely 7-8k of value. Problem was some of the items had no sale history. At the time,I was more modern , Birds,Elways,Auto patches etc.. I was required to show/print a sale history from eBay and submit. Thus some of the patches were 1/1’s so no sales. I received a check about 6 weeks later. Was for roughly $4600 iirc. This was in 2014 though.

I was advised by a Postal supervisor normally if the claim is over $100 its a automatic 1st denial. A collector I know was first denied then received a letter asking for more information, he decided to send all the paperwork direct versus online. After they received his paperwork they updated the deny to review. He still waiting for a resolution?

The local post office supervisor remarked it was good ideal I had a private Insurance policy.