On September 26th, I purchased three adult tickets to Disney World's Not so Scary Halloween Party in the Magic Kingdom for Halloween night. This event was sold out, which is why I had to purchase these tickets online via eBay. I used paypal in this transaction, paid the day I committed to buy the tickets and communicated with the seller about how my package would be mailed, etc. On Saturday, September 27th, Jessica Blow (the seller of the tickets) went to her post office in Kissimmee, Florida and mailed my package around 12:15pm. She called me that day as she was leaving the post office to let me know that it was on its way and it should be at my door on Monday, September 29th. She told me at this point that she had shipped it priority mail, insured it for $500 (since my purchase price was $490 shipping), delivery confirmation and a tracking number. I felt certain that would all be enough to guarantee my package and excitedly awaited my package. Because she provided me with the tracking number, I was able to track the progress of my package over the weekend and early Monday morning. She also sent me copies of the Insured Mail Receipt and Delivery Confirmation Receipt, as well. I noticed on the Insured Mail Receipt that my address was mistakenly flipped around on the Street line.instead of 8578 Carolina Lily Lane, the seller had written in 8578 Lily Ln Carolina. Concerned about this, I called my mail carrier, Neil, and put him on alert to locate this package. I even described to him what it would look like and what the contents were. He assured me that he would find it.
On Monday, September 29th, my package was not delivered, so I checked the tracking information site on USPS.com. I still wasn't too worried, just curious. According to this site, it was on 9/29/08, that my package arrived at postal unit 28262 at 9:58am. However, by 4:03pm, it had been marked Undeliverable as Addressed. When I saw this, I called my mail carrier, again. Neil assured me that if he had seen it, since it was a bright pink bubbled self-sealed envelope, he would have delivered it, so he said that he would be on the look-out for it and would go into the back room and search for it if he had to. I thanked him but kept a close eye on the shipment information website myself. I also had the website email me further updates about my package. That is actually what lead to the package FINALLY getting delivered to me.
On October 1st I received an email that said that my package was scanned AGAIN at postal unit 28262. This time saying No such number. It was at this point that I called my mail carrier for the third time and told him that my package was STILL at his unit and therefore needed to be found. He called me the next day, October 2nd and told me that he had located my package and that he would deliver it to me in person between 12 noon and 1pm that day. I got off work early to meet him in person because I did not want him to put it in the mailbox and risk other possible future problems with the post office not taking blame, etc. Neil delivered by package at 1:10pm on Thursday, October 2nd. I met him outside and he got out of his Nissan Xterra and handed me the package in person. It did not enter my mailbox. Because I was so appreciative of what he had done to recover my package, I gave him a Thank you card with a $10 restaurant gift certificate enclosed. I was just so happy to finally have my package. As soon as I looked down at the package, he slipped into his car and drove off. He did not wait for me to open my package before leaving. I thought it was a little strange, but did not think too much about it. While walking, I began to open my package. I first noticed that the sender had written my street address mistakenly as 8578 Lily Lane instead of 8578 Carolina Lily Lane. I then noticed that the top flap of the envelope had been re-taped all the way around with clear packaging tape. I also noticed that a sticker (that was originally on the back of the package) had obviously been removed because the sticky film and some white paper backing of the sticker were still there. This was when the stress began to arise. When I went to open the package, the entire envelope flap lifted off with the tape telling me immediately that SOMEONE had been in my package. My nightmare was furthered when I looked into the package to find a ripped Halloween card, orange jelly beans that had been separated from the card they were originally in and no Disney World tickets. When I went online to check the shipment information of my package, it then said it had been Returned to the Sender. Why would it say THAT? This of course, was not true since it never left postal unit 28262 between the dates of September 29th and October 2nd (when it was delivered by hand to me by the mail carrier, Neil. If you would like to confirm any of this information with Neil, his phone number is 1-980-521-0345. His manager, Ron White, gave his phone number to me when I first called postal unit 28262 regarding this situation.
I contacted the sender of the tickets immediately and she was appalled. She sent me all of the information that I have provided you with and immediately went to her post office in Florida to file a claims report. However, they told her that I would need to file the claim since I was the one who needed to be refunded. On Saturday, October 4th, I went to my postal unit 28262 to file a claim. I spoke with Ron White, the manager at this unit on the phone the day before and he assured me that he would take care of it. Upon my entering the post office, I was told that Mr. White was not there, but that I could file the claim with the help of a USPS worker named Shannon. She was extremely helpful, upbeat and told me that not only would my claim be filled because I had more than enough documentation of my loss, I would even have my money within 2 weeks of filing the claim. Angry, but feeling better, I left and awaited a phone call from the Claims Office in case they needed more information. I was not contacted by them for over a week.
By Monday, October 6th, I noticed that we had a new mail carrier on our street. I thought that was very interesting and a little coincidental. I waited 11 days until I called the Claims Customer Support center. When I first called on October 14th, I was told that my claim was pending (incident number: 37539). I called again on October 17th and was told that it was still pending but that they would request that it be reviewed (incident number: 138887). At 11:14am on October 17th, I received a phone call from an Unknown Number. I answered the phone and it was a female representative from the USPS. She said, I am just calling to let you know that your claim will now be processed. We are going to go ahead and fill this claim and it will be mailed out today or by the latest on Monday. Then, the status of your claim will be updated. I thanked her over and over, telling her how much I had worried about this and how appreciative I was of her fixing this nightmarish situation. She thanked me and hung up.
Because I had not received anything in the mail as of Wednesday, October 22nd, I called the Claims Customer Support center, again. It was then that I was told that my claim was denied because the seller misaddressed my package. I received the letter today, October 23rd and I am baffled by how this decision was made and how the United States Post Office feels justified in this situation. The letter that I received reads that Indemnity will not be paid for mail not bearing the complete names and addresses of the mailer and addressee, or is undeliverable as addressed to either the addressee or the mailer. However, the seller put her return address on this package before she mailed it. She confirmed with me that it was there when I called her and told her about the sticker that seemed to be removed from the back flap of the envelope. Therefore, I know the return address was removed by the person that went into my package. Was the return address removed so that the USPS would have the right to enter MY package to see where to mail it since my address was incorrect? Why was this package not mailed immediately back to the sender since the return address was originally provided? Instead, my package and thus $500 contents were subjected to foul play under the care of postal unit 28262 for FOUR DAYS. Does this not sound suspicious to you? I have read online USPS.com about recovery mail services, etc. I even filed my mail as missing when this all first started. I read that if there is no return address on a package and the package is undeliverable as addressed, then the USPS can enter a package and see if they can figure out where to mail the package based on its contents. Does this not sound like what happened? The return address label that was on the back of the package served as another sealant of the flap that was removed. The proof is still on the back of the package that I submitted to the postal unit. It just seems to me that someone at my postal unit used this rule to their advantage, went into my package to locate an alternative address to send the package and instead stole the contents.
Because I cared so much about this package and its contents, I tracked it continuously and thus played a key role in locating the package. And what do I get in return? I gained the knowledge that I am one of the rare cases where USPS mail is occasionally damaged or lost by your own company. I feel violated, angry and deserving of indemnification. I have also read and reread the front sheet of the Domestic Claim or Registered Mail Inquiry form and no where does it say that I will not be reimbursed for mail that is not addressed 100% correct nor was I told that by the staff of postal unit 28262. The fact of the matter is that the package was delivered to me; it just took A LOT of effort on my part for that to happen! Plus, the sender only left out one word.in fact, Neil, when he found the package was shocked that it was not automatically delivered.in fact, he said that anyone at that postal unit should have known that the package was meant for Carolina Lily Lane because that is the only Lily Lane in this area. He said if he had come across it first, he definitely would have brought it to me in the first place. Is this the truth? I'm not sure. I am simply repeating what I was told.
If this letter is long-winded, frustrated and angry that is because I am! I have been dealing with this for a month now and I am ready to be justified and treated as if I am the victim of a crime because I am. I am not the criminal here. I did nothing wrong and none of what happened to my purchase is my fault. The seller yes, mistakenly did not write out my full address on the package. This is true. However, the package was NEVER sent back to the sender as it should have been because her return address label was falsely removed. The package NEVER left postal unit 28262 between the dates of September 29th and October 2nd and therefore was in USPS' possession more than likely when my package was destroyed and emptied of its contents.
I know the economy is terrible right now and I know there are probably people who try and seek money out of this company left and right. But I am not one of those people. I am not trying to steal money from the government or one of its organizations; I am simply trying to be indemnified for a crime that was committed against me by what seems to be the USPS.
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