Billions of packages are shipped and delivered all around the world daily. Most packages that are shipped make it to their destination, but many are lost. If the contents of a package are valuable, it is essential that insurance is purchased through the courier. This will insure that compensation is given for loss or damage.
Depending on the courier, when a package is lost, a claim must be submitted by email, fax, mail, or online. Their claims department will review the information and make a monetary offer for the lost goods. If any insurance was purchased at the time of initial shipping, the terms of the insurance agreement will factor into the settlement amount.
It is impossible to foresee or prevent the loss of a package, but there are steps that can be taken in the event that an important package is lost by a courier. The most important is for a shipper to always keep a copy of the shipment details. The tracking number, ship date, and recipient address are bits of information that are necessary in the claims process. It is also good practice, that the recipient of a shipment receives this information as well.
The settlement and claims process can take as long as 60 to 90 days. If information is missing or inaccurate this process will be prolonged. Senders need to check with their courier of choice as to how to submit a claim on lost courier packages. As long as their specific policies are followed, couriers companies are helpful in getting these issues resolved timely.
