What to Do About a Letter Lost in the Mail

Recover a lost letter in the mail by contacting USPS.

You typically mail a letter and expect it will arrive at its final destination and in the hands of the intended recipient within a reasonable amount of time. When the intended receiver never gets the letter, it's not unusual to get upset. But there are things you can do to find the letter and prevent another letter from getting lost again.

Waiting Game

All letters feature a first-class stamp.

Wait at least 14 days before beginning your investigation. For whatever reason, it can take up to two full weeks for the United States Postal Service to deliver mail from one address to another. After the two-week time period, if the letter still hasn't been delivered, it's safe to assume it is lost. All stamped mail is sent first-class. Unfortunately, USPS does not track first-class mail. It only tracks registered and express mail. Mail that is undeliverable ends up in either St. Paul, Minnesota or Atlanta, Georgia. These mail recovery centers hold undeliverable mail for 90 days before destroying the contents.

Begin Investigation

An investigation to find your lost letter can't begin until you file a formal complaint. The proper procedure to follow is by filling out a PS Form 1510. This is a Mail Loss/Rifling report. You can file this report in person at your local post office. You can also file a complaint online at usps.com. Click on the "Customer Service" link at the bottom of the homepage then select "Email Us." If you don't feel comfortable doing either of those things, you can always call USPS directly at [phone] and speak with a customer service representative.

Purchase Insurance

Paying a little extra to ensure your mail may give you some piece of mind. The postal service recommends insuring any letter or package that you consider valuable. Buy insurance either online or at the post office. You can purchase up to $5,000 worth of coverage for a lost or damaged item. If the item does get lost, the postal service will reimburse you the amount of money you declared your item to be. As of Spring 2011, domestic insurance prices range from $1.80 to $4.75. This is an additional cost above postage rates.

Delivery Confirmation

Track your letter from the post office where it was dropped of to the mailbox of the intended recipient. Delivery confirmation is an additional service that allows you to monitor the whereabouts of your mail. When you purchase delivery confirmation, the post office places a green label on the item you're mailing. The label features a tracking number unique to your package. You can then inquire about the letter on a daily basis either online at usps.com or by calling USPS at [phone]. The service will let you know the date and time when your article was delivered. As of Spring 2011, the cost for delivery confirmation ranges from $0.70 to $0.80. This is an additional cost and does not include postage.

References

• U.S. Senator Mike Crapo: U.S. Postal Service FAQs
• USPS: Insured Mail
• USPS: Extra Services
• USPS: FAQ: USPS Mail Recovery Center
• USPS: Chapter 2: Postal Operations

Resources

• USPS: Insurance Prices
• USPS: Extra Services Prices