USPS insurance claim appeal - how to show payment processor?

[vintagemama79]

Hello!  I've got a package that I shipped on May 8th with a value of $895.  I bought insurance through USPS for the full amount as well as signature required.  The PO attempted delivery on May 11 but there was not an authorized signer so they left notice.  It went back to the PO and then for some reason was transferred to another facility never to be scanned again.  It is lost.  So I'm trying to get USPS to pay me the insurance amount of $895 but they have denied the first claim as well as my subsequent appeal.  The reason they are giving is "insufficent evidence of value."  I previously submitted and order receipt from my EBay orders but I think what it is missing is the payment method.  I found a previous thread that showed how to go into your account and print an Order Receipt.  This does add the info that payment was received on May 8, but under "paid with" it just shows --.  I'm assuming that USPS will not accept this.  How do I show that EBay is now the payment processor?  I think they are basing their requirements of documentation on the fact that payments previously went through PayPal and therefore the Order Receipt would list PayPay under the "paid with."

Also...not sure if this is related...but when I look up my claim history on my USPS account, it shows the amount I requested in pounds rather than dollars.  Could this be the reason for the denial?  Because pounds and dollars have different values? I have no idea how pounds got involved at all.  This was a transaction in the U.S.

[traditonalproducts]

Excellent, you purchased the insurance which was perfect as you have now found out. Click on orders at the top, then all orders & make a printed copy of the orders page focusing on your item. It will show the item, pricing, and tracking number. Next click on the "order details" of the order in question. Print out the page. You will notice on the right side where it says payment which is the acknowledgement by Ebay that the item was paid for.  The buyer has paid for this order and we're processing the payment. When processing is complete, the funds will be available for payout. See your postmaster and make then provide a detailed outline of the tracking. 

This is your doc's that you need to include. Make them define "insufficient evidence of value."  If you have been paid for this order that is another piece of doc's you will need to make a copy of. 

I had an issue like this several years ago. I believe you will need to file the claim with the insurance carrier/USPS. Keep in mind that USPS nor Ebay never stipulates the exact process of justifying your claim nor what documentation, video's etc. to keep until a claim is filed. 

I am always prepared to take matters to small claims court on issues like these if worse comes to worse. 

[cardxcraft]

This is what concerns me regarding USPS insurance: exactly what you stated in your case.  I've done some of my own online research regarding USPS insurance and claims filing.  I've only read denial stories.  Of course, most that post online are doing so because of denial of claim.

As it pertains to USPS Ground Advantage and the inherent $100 insurance:  Is it basically useless?  I'm not that concerned because I've never had to file an insurance claim.  But, it would be nice to know we have a little cushion.  

Has anyone had to file a Ground Advantage claim, and if so, are you willing to share your experience?

[cardxcraft]

Sorry, I didn't mean to hijack your thread.  My question does pertain to USPS claims.  

In reference to your specific claim:  Is there a way to re-appeal and change the currency? 

[retro_entertainment_collectibles]

Postal Service is pretty decent at reimbursing small claims, larger, not so much.  You should have all documentation attached to the initial claim, the eBay listing, all pages related to the order however you don't have access to the payment processor here Ayden.  You should also have the bank statement showing the deposit from the bank, not an online printout which can be altered.

Since they have already denied the claim and subsequent appeal odds are they wont hear it again but never know.

[traditonalproducts]

USPS & these insurance carriers deny quite a bit, we owned a pack & mail store, which is their 1st line of defense. During my USPS claim I threatened the insurance carrier (IC) with a small claims court action after going round and round and they finally gave in. I had all the documents the OP will need to get as I described. 

Before ground advantage (GA) 1st class was $50. When you purchased insurance and declared the valve you would file the $50 claim with USPS and the remaining with the insurance carrier.  Not sure how GA works.

The IC will make u go through hoops and deny & deny but as I stated u just have to get firm with them. 

As long as the value is under $100 on GA u r fine. Keep in mind that the insurance money u pay is non-refundable so u r out that cost even if you win. 

[traditonalproducts]

yes, u declared in U.S. $ so pounds or any other currency is a mistake.  

[12345jamesstamps]

I would actually walk into a USPS Post Office with the tracking number and talk to a clerk to make sure it is technically lost. Phone or online for something this expensive I would not do. I would google the address it was mailed to...it not being a freight forward address out of the country.

Was it an eBay shipping label or did you go into a Post Office and mail it(receipt)?

Sounds like an eBay shipping label...and I would google the address it went to to make sure it is a place where someone lives and not a shipping hub.

[vintagemama79]

Thank you.  I have done this.  My post office seemed bewildered about where it could be.  I also called the post office where the buyer lives and they thought I was the buyer, which tells me that she had indeed checked in with them about the missing package.  I googled the buyer's address and it is legit.  BUT I am bewildered that the buyer is not seeming to do much about this on their end.  They did report the package not received at the end of June (after I told them to do so) but they have done nothing since.  So I'm not sure how long an item not received claim is valid with EBay if the person that filed the claim does not do anything else on their end.  I suppose it is possible that the buyer is working with EBay on this but I have received no notification of that.  

[showmecurrency4u]

the post of will not accept most proof of value.  if i acted  like the po i would in jail or put of business . the say 2-5 days  delivery time an i  have  items take as much as  30-40 days. i think ebay should  as least 30 day before inr could be filed. between ebay  and the po is 99 percent of the problems.

[ten_o_nine]

I filed 5 claims with USPS and all were denied, I sent them the docs they needed, but they keep asking for the same proof of value when they know it's there and highlighted in the documents.

Soon, you'll receive a letter telling you that they closed the claim because you didn't provide the documents in time.

I have had no problem with Fedex and UPS.

[albertabrightalberta]

I had a claim with USPS at least 10 years ago and submitted the transaction information, payment info and a copy of the sold listing. They could (or should) connect the dots. 

It took about 3 months but I was paid. 

Did you happen to file a find missing mail report? I've found that it usually shakes the package loose from wherever it's stuck because they can see by the tracking where it was last handled, they know who attempted the delivery and was unable to get a signature and where it went after. 

https://www.usps.com/help/missing-mail.htm

[2010byandsel100]

I've gone round and round with USPS but they rarely pay up anymore. 

I now use shipcover (even if there is 'supposedly' USPS insurance) and they honor their claims

[dbfolks166mt]

     The last claim I had with USPS, which was almost 2 years ago, I ran into similar issues and rather than going back and forth in emails I contacted the claims center in St. Louis, MO. Their number is 866-974-2733 and they are open (Mon–Fri from 7 a.m.–6 p.m. CST.  You will need to provide the article number of your claim, the name on the claim, and the original claim filing date.

      After the call my claim was approved in under 24 hours but it took them about 2 months to refund me. As a side not they will not refund you the postage cost you have to file a separate claim for that if you want to be refunded for it. 

[retro_entertainment_collectibles]

It should also be noted as I don't see anything about it in the OP's post.  Has a refund been given?  If not then why would the Post Office reimburse insurance?  Insurance is about reimbursing loss, not "double dipping."  Vendor reimburses the customer, insurance reimburses vendor.