USPS “Addressee Unknown” Meaning & Causes


Plus, find out what status FedEx, UPS and DHL use for unknown recipients

This article was co-authored by wikiHow writer Aimee Payne, MFA. Aimee Payne is a writer and editor living in Jacksonville, Florida. For more than 10 years, she has created informative and engaging marketing content for the insurance, collectibles and apparel industries. She graduated from Otterbein University where she studied English literature and music, and received her MFA in writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of all facts cited and confirming the authority of its sources. Find out more…

Seeing “Addressee Unknown” when you check your USPS tracking number can be frustrating and confusing. But don’t be afraid! This does not mean that your mail is lost. This usually means that the mail carrier did not recognize your name and kept the package to return it to the post office. This article explains why you might see this status and how to make sure you receive your package. In addition, we will share other statuses that the post office and other delivery services use when they cannot deliver a package.

A tracking status of “Addressee Unknown” means that the mail carrier does not recognize the name on the package. They held it until they identified the recipient or returned it to the sender.

  1. Step 1 Wait to see if the package is delivered the next business day.

    If the postal carrier mistakenly or incorrectly assigned the status “Unknown addressee” to your package, it will most likely deliver it within 1-2 business days. Best to give them a few days and see if the package shows up at your door.

    • Check your tracking status while you wait. Sometimes postal workers update incorrect statuses while processing a package.

    • You can also contact the sender to verify the name and address to which the package was sent. If your name or address was incorrect, give them the correct information and ask them to resend the package.
  2. Submit a USPS Request for Assistance form or call (800) 275-8777. If you still have not received your package after 1-2 business days, please go to the USPS Package Inquiry page to submit a request for assistance form or contact USPS Customer Service. Enter the package tracking number. Provide a description of the package, your contact information, and the sender’s information if you have it.[9]

    • A post office employee will contact you within a few days of submitting your request.
    • If you call the customer service number, enter your 5-digit zip code when prompted. Then press 3 for “Delivery Issue” to connect with a customer service representative in your area.
  3. After 7 working days, request a missing mail search. If you still haven’t received your package 7 business days after requesting assistance, please go to https://missingmail.usps.com to recover your lost package. Include the sender’s mailing address, your mailing address, package size and type, tracking number, and a description of the package’s contents.[10]

    • If you’d rather speak to someone in person, find your local post office. Then visit in person and request a missing mail search. Don’t forget to take your tracking number with you.
    • Notify the sender that you have not received the package. They can also handle searching for missing mail. If the package is lost and insured, the sender can apply for compensation.

Categories: How to
Source: HIS Education

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