UPS Insurance Claims

Did you know that every package shipped within the UPS system is covered by up to $100.00 of insurance protection AT NO COST (with very few exclusions such as documents or perishables)? What happens when your packages does not arrive at its destination or arrives damaged?

If you ship with The UPS Store, you contact the store and the staff will file the claim on your behalf. If you ship at a customer counter or authorized shipping outlet, you will likely have to file the claim yourself. Phone 1-800-PICK-UPS (1-800-742-5877) and speak with a representative to file the claim. Have the following information handy when you call the 800 number or you local The UPS Store (if you shipped with the store):

• tracking number (most UPS tracking number start with the number "1" and the letter "Z" and are 18 characters long)
• whether the contents are missing or damaged
• condition of the damaged items (i.e., shattered, dented, nicked, bent, etc.)
• whether or not the damaged items are repairable or replaceable
• the value of the damaged or missing items
• the telephone number of the recipient

You will be instructed to contact the receiver and have them retain the contents of the package, as well as the packaging material, for five business days. After the fifth business day, the recipient may retain or discard the damaged items. You will have to fax to UPS Claims department a copy of the original invoice for the items, an estimate for repair, or a replacement item. You can go to QVC.COM or HSN.COM or some other appropriate website to find as close a match to the original item as possible, print out this information, and fax it in to the Claims Department.

UPS may decide to visit the recipient and inspect the shipment for proper packaging materials and outer carton. If the inspection reveals that the items were not packaged correctly or an unapproved shipping carton was used, the claim will be denied. Keep in mind that ALL items packed by The UPS Store locations are assumed to have been packed correctly. The few dollars you might save by packaging something yourself might turn into a denied insurance claim if you did not pack sufficiently to meet UPS standards.

So, the safest way to protect your valuables in the shipping process is to have them packed at your local The UPS Store location. Let the packaging experts carefully pack your items to ensure that you will be fully covered in the event there is an insurance claim for the shipment.