What happens if royal mail lose your parcel

So, what happens to lost letters and packages, and what can you do if an item gets stolen? It attempts to return post using a combination of tracking numbers and local knowledge — and about a fifth of the lost items are successfully returned to the sender.

This might seem cheeky, but unlike most other countries, the Royal Mail offers a free return service — if the sender includes that all-important return address. Include the return address on the reverse, too. Using a payment service like PayPal can also give you an extra layer of security, as some financial providers and banks have dedicated teams to solve buyer issues on your behalf.

The Citizens Advice Bureau advises that if your missing mail was sent by Royal Mail from within the UK, you could be eligible for compensation. For more information, head to the Royal Mail Claims Centre website.

If so, you can call their customer service team on , or visit their website to log a claim. DHL has an even longer list of prohibited items which they will not accept, including live insects, flora, and precious stones or metals.

The full list can be found in their Claims Policy guide. To contact DHL, you can call or visit their website. But not all services are covered. If you have experienced Royal Mail delays you may be able to claim for compensation. Letters and parcels sent by special delivery should arrive on a specific day, while first-class post should arrive the next working day after it is sent, and second-class post within three working days.

Compensation for delays kicks in when your post is three or more working days late, or 24 hours late if it was sent by special delivery. In this article. Key Information. But the amount you can successfully claim will depend on factors like the length of a delay, the courier used and the type of delivery you paid for. In most cases the basic delivery rate will not include additional financial cover for the item you are sending.

Find out what online shoppers really think of the couriers that deliver their packages.