What to do if a home-delivery package is stolen
Argh! Porch pirates strike again. It happens more than you think: you order a package online and wait for it to appear on your doorstep, but it never does even though the shipment says “Delivered.” That’s because someone swiped it from your porch or doorstep before you ever had a chance to secure it inside your house.
Here are six steps to take if your home-delivery package is stolen:
- Track your package: Package delays are common, especially during the holiday season. Check your shipping confirmation number to make sure your package isn’t still in transit.
- Check with your neighbors. It happens. Sometimes packages are delivered to the wrong address, or a well-meaning neighbor will take them in to prevent theft. Ask around before you file any reports with the business you bought from.
- Contact the seller or retailer. Still can’t find your package? The next step is to file a claim with the seller and ask for a replacement. This could be the site you bought the item from or a smaller vendor selling on that site’s platform
- File a claim with the shipping company. Retailer won’t budge? File a claim with the postal service that shipped your package. FedEx, UPS, USPS and DHL all have a claim-filing system to help you track down your package.
- Check your credit card for purchase protection. If you used a credit card to purchase the item, check to see if you have a purchase protection. If you do, file a claim with your credit card company (i.e. Visa, MasterCard) and they may issue you a refund.
- File an insurance claim. If you have homeowners or renters insurance, it may cover mail theft. But filing a claim only makes sense for high-value packages worth more than your policy’s deductible.