When using the UPS to deliver mail & packages, often times you may see that the tracking system from the UPS website and the actual delivery process in reality, is not aligning and showing the same information. 

Especially during busy holiday seasons, or in the case of backlogs with the UPS, it is very common for packages to not be delivered to the right location even though you see online that the package was delivered successfully. 

There’s really no worse feeling than discovering that your important packages and parcels have been lost or mishandled – or, even worse, sent to the wrong address – by the folks over at UPS.

It’s easy to get stressed out, it’s easy to get concerned, it’s easy to get frustrated – but it’s important to try and remain calm. There are a lot of different things you can do to track down missing packages as well as those that have been delivered to the wrong address, but you’ll have to be proactive.

If that is you, and you have had a package that was delivered to a wrong address by the UPS, then this guide will help you sort through this and retrieve your missing package. 

How To Retrieve A Misdelivered Package

If your driver was the one who delivered the package, then the package’s tracking status or delivery notice will show where the driver delivered that package. If a shipment does not require the signature of the recipient, then the driver will usually try and find a safe spot around your home where he can place the package (that may be a porch, or the side door etc.) If the tracking indicates however that your driver did in fact complete delivery and received a signature, then the package might have simply been signed by some neighbor or another resident at your location. 

If the driver however has delivered the package at an alternative location, then you should have received a UPS InfoNotice that indicates where the particular shipment was left. Common areas where it could have been delivered are the neighbors house or at leasing office. It will probably be a good idea for you to check with your neighbors or others at the address to see if someone has picked up your package. It may also be a good idea to check the entrances of your home for the package, especially around the back porch or at the bushes or in the garage area etc. 

Before you start to call UPS and begin the claims process for missing packages it’s not a bad idea to take a look around your property just to make sure that the package wasn’t dropped off somewhere that you weren’t expecting it to be.

As we highlighted above, it’s not at all unusual for packages to be delivered on the back porch, near your garage, near an infrequently used doorway or even to end up in your bushes!

This is especially true if your packages being delivered by someone that isn’t normally dropping off packages at your home. 

While your “regular” UPS driver probably has a spot that they are pretty consistent with when they drop your packages off they may not be available for delivery every single day throughout the year. They might’ve called out sick, they might’ve needed a break, and they may even be on vacation.

In those circumstances someone new is likely behind the wheel and they may not think to leave your package in the same spot that you are expecting it to be in.

Definitely take another look around just to be sure that your package really has been delivered to the wrong address before you dive headfirst into the claims process.

You may also want to look out for anything that is wrapped in a plastic bag; often times drivers will place your package in a plastic bag, if there is some harsh weather condition or expected rain that day. If however, after all this, you still can’t seem to find your package, it may be a good idea to actually reach out to the sender in order for them to initiate a trace process with the UPS. From there, the sender will follow up with you on the progress of your shipment. 

In almost all situations like this the sender will be able to reconfirm your tracking and delivery information for you. They will likely do everything they can on their end to help you find your package but you also be able to use the information that they provide to double check and track your UPS package as well.

This info will let you know where your package was intended to be delivered, giving you a chance to confirm that the sender had the right address to begin with. It’ll also let you know where your package moved through the UPS logistical system and when, and will even tell you when your package was delivered – even if it was delivered at the wrong location.

All of that data is going to be hugely important when you reach out to UPS directly to have them help you find your package (or replace what’s gone missing).

Who To Call If Your Package Is Not Found

If you need to call the UPS to try and recover your package, one way to go about it is calling them at 1800 P-I-C-K  U-P-S. Once you get the machine to answer the phone, press 0 a few times in order to be connected to the operator. Once you have an agent speaking with you on the phone, make sure to explain the issue in as much detail as possible.

It is critically important to remember to try and stay calm in these situations, even though you’re likely going to be really frustrated and upset that your package is missing.

The person that you are on the phone with from UPS is almost never responsible for your package going missing and has very little whatsoever to do with how it moved through the UPS system. Their whole job is to help you navigate the infrastructure and logistics of UPS to find or replace your package, and that’s exactly what they are going to do their level best to help you with.

It definitely doesn’t help to get angry and frustrated with them. In fact, that’s only going to delay your progress even more so – and will make it more challenging for UPS to empathize with your situation and help you find your missing packages and parcels as quickly as possible.

It will be helpful if you have your tracking number as well as the address the package was intended on reaching. Once you have completed that step, you will probably need to leave them a call back number. 

You’ll want to be sure that the number you are providing is one that UPS can contact you at throughout the day. It’s not a bad idea to give them your cell phone number so that you are always within reach, though daytime phone numbers – including home phone numbers or office phone numbers – can work wonders as well.

It’s very rare that the folks at UPS are going to want to reach out to you after normal business hours (around 6 PM to 8 PM local time). Even still, though, they may try to reach out to you on your cell phone after those normal business hours if they been able to track down your package and have it available for local pickup or redelivery.

Just be sure that you are ready to answer the phone when numbers that you might not necessarily recognize are calling you back. It just might be UPS on the line looking to update you about your missing package.

File A Claim With UPS

Once you have spoken to them on the phone, it may be a good idea to wait a few days in case they are able to find it and have it delivered back to you. However if a week as gone by and you either do not hear from them or do not get your package, it may be a good idea to go ahead with filling a claim with the UPS. 

Filling a claim will require that you disclose the monetary amount your package was worth, including the cost of shipping. You will need to provide some evidence for that amount (such as a receipt,) and from there you can expect to get a refund for your loss. 

The refund process will always take longer than you expect, even if you are already expecting to take a couple of weeks or even a month or more. The wheels at UPS when refunds are concerned very slowly and that something that you’re going to want to expect and anticipate.

Thankfully though, there’s not a lot of evidence of UPS forgetting to refund customers that they have promised a refund to in the first place. It may take a little bit longer than you expect to get your refund after UPS green lights it, but you will (inevitably) received the refund at some point in time.

Mistaken Delivery At Your Doorstep

If you are the one that received accidentally the package for someone else, then it will be very important that you reach out to the shipping company to try and get the package delivered to the right person. An easy way to do this, is by simply looking up the name and address that was delivered on your doorstep. If you have confirmed that you are the recipient of a package that was supposed to be sent elsewhere, then make sure to give the delivery company the tracking information on the package. 

Whatever you do, do not hang on to the misdelivered package; you will definitely be getting a phone call or an in person visit from someone trying to claim it. 

If you happen to know the name of the individual on the package, do not try and deliver it on behalf of the shipping company. Rather reach out to the company itself, explain the situation and they will make sure to give you the right directions and next steps from there. They will also be making sure to stop by to pick up the misdelivered package, and deliver it to the right recipient. 

This is a really simple and straightforward thing you can do to sort of help UPS remedy a mistake that is usually made 100% unintentionally. You’ll also help someone else avoid a lot of the stress and frustration that you have inevitably felt when your packages were misdelivered or lost somewhere along the line.

Receiving Packages At An Established Virtual Address

More and more people have been opting in for what are known as virtual addresses. These are real physical addresses, that receive mail on your behalf, and upload images of both the exterior of your envelope and the contents (letters) in the envelope, into your virtual mailbox account. It is almost like e-mail, but for paper mail. 

Packages that are sent to virtual addresses, are also uploaded into your account for you to have a visual of any new package arrivals. So from within your mobile or desktop computer, you are able to view everything that has arrived for you. If you need it shipped at your location, you can get up to 80% off your typical retail shipping rates. If you want to save additionally, you can just have that package stored at that facility and have it sent along with other packages that you get there in the future. This is known as “bundling” your packages, and since it will be sent in one shipment, it can save you money. 

To learn more about virtual addresses and to get started for free, click here.

US Global Mail as a near legendary reputation as far as virtual mailbox services are concerned – and for good reason.

The company has been offering a more modern approach to mailbox services since 1999, constantly improving and innovating to offer only the best solutions to their customers.

You’ll be able to get more information about the specific services and features available from US Global Mail by visiting their website directly. If you have any questions you would like to have answered don’t hesitate to reach out to customer service directly – they love to help!