Has anybody ever had any luck disputing a USPS overcharge/upcharge after item was shipped?

[harborauction]

Got an ebay message this morning that I was being charged $31.61 by USPS for a parcel that was heavier than the postage I paid for

Item was 3 dinner plates in a #7 priority mail box that they are saying  weighed 16 pounds. the box actually weighed under 5 pounds. I do weigh these shipments before printing a label, really I do

Called USPS and filed a claim which will take them 10-15 days to investigate they said

Anyway, I've never had this happen before and just wondering if anyone had and experience with this and what I may expect

[redlinear]

No, not even 25 years ago.
Not with UPS, FedEx, or USPS...or any LTL Freight Company either.
Direct accounts with each, still no.
Spend $250k a year with them, still no.
   When they get ya, they got ya.  (and you know you did it by their book)

So, you then fudge an inch on a package here and there. A few ounces or lbs on a package here and there.
You make up for it a little bit at a time.
You treat shipping companies like insurance companies.
Get them before they get you.
OR rather...Get them when you can, because they will get you when they feel like it.

[richard1rst]

Has anybody ever had any luck disputing a USPS overcharge/upcharge after item was shipped?

MANY MANY times.

Unfortunately you did it wrong.

When you got the notice of the charge there was a hot link in the notice from which you file a request for a review. Provide them with the size and weight of the box and ask for a review. Many times the automated APV "reads" the information incorrectly (2 boxes on top of each other, for example). The tape is then reviewed by a live individual and almost all of the time I have gotten a refund. And I don't recall it ever taking 2 weeks.

Don't call USPS. You need to contact the person whose job is it do review the charges. Not some call center.

[lesegouts]

I've been here 26 years and have never had an upcharge in over 10K+ shipments.

[wastingtime101 · Accepted solution]

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@richard1rst wrote:

Unfortunately you did it wrong.

Don't call USPS. You need to contact the person whose job is it do review the charges. Not some call center.

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It can be done by email or by phone @richard1rst . Says so right on the USPS help page.

https://faq.usps.com/s/article/Automated-Package-Verification-Program

Don't worry @harborauction I've successfully appealed numerous times. Usually when this happenns there are two packages stuck together or on the scale at the same time as they pass through the APV check points. When you file an appeal USPS will review the actual photos taken during the process to confirm what happened. You should be fine on this and the credit will show up in your account within the next few weeks.

[harborauction]

Yes the link in the message was just to send an email but also included a phone number. I always prefer to talk to a human being if possible so I called and was surprised to get an agent on the phone almost instantly. She took my info & APV ID number quickly & politely (and she was human) so all should be good

I've heard before that they have APV photos like that, hard to believe they have photos of the gazillion packages that go through the system stored away

Thanks for the reassurance on this issue #1

[1786davycrockett]

@harborauction 

Yes, a couple years ago.

I also received a USPS notice through my eBay account, & I used the phone number listed to make my dispute.

And I talked with an actual HUMAN BEING -- not a computer!  She took down all the relevant information, and informed me that these situations are quite common, with a smaller package somehow becoming attached to a larger package.

A few days later, I received my refund.

No problem.