What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Washington State
I live in the Seattle, WA area. I own a business and use USPS to ship everything because it's generally cheeper and easier to ship this method.
About 2-1/2 years ago, I shipped a package (rare European car headlights worth about $1500) to a customer. I insured the package for $1500. The package was damaged and both headlights were damaged. I have all the receipts and forms from the transaction.
My customer took it to his local USPS office to file a claim. They told him that he doesn't make the claim, and he should return it and I will make the claim. So my customer drives about 30-40 miles to return it and get a new set of headlights from me.
After receiving the damaged headlights, I return to my local USPS office to file a claim. I fill out off the paperwork and give them the damaged item.
Months and months go by and I get no insurance check for the damaged item. I contact the local USPS office and ask when I will be getting my check. They said "it sometimes takes up to 6-8 months. So wait a little longer".
10 months later I send a letter to the USPS claims office in Saint Louis, MO. I sent copies of the insurance info, receipt and claim forms. 2 months later, they reply with a letter that says, Please contact your local Post Office manager concerning this matter.
So I contact my local branch and give them the sane paper work I sent to Saint Louis. The manager says, I will look into the matter and contact you.
2 weeks later she calls me and says, "We threw out your head lights because they were laying around and didn't know what to do with them". I say, "Are you serious!" She says she will look into the matter and call me back with any info.
1 month, No Call.
I call her back, and she says "I re-filed the claim, and you should be receiving your check in 6-8 months."
No Check.
So 8 months later I send another letter to the USPS claims office in Saint Louis. I again sent copies of all the claim forms. 2 months later they finally reply with a letter that says, "Your local USPS office did not fill out the information at the bottom of the form, Please fill this out and return it".
At this point I'm pissed off. So I contact the USPS Consumer Affairs Division in Seattle, WA. I tell Dana, the manager my story, and they can't believe what I've just told them. She says she will personally contact USPS in Missouri.
A few more weeks go by and I get a call from Dana.
She says since it's been 2-1/2 years now, they have denied my claims. I say I will take this to court. She says you can not take the USPS to court because it is a government agency. I don't think that is true.
What can I do?
What is the process?
I live in the Seattle, WA area. I own a business and use USPS to ship everything because it's generally cheeper and easier to ship this method.
About 2-1/2 years ago, I shipped a package (rare European car headlights worth about $1500) to a customer. I insured the package for $1500. The package was damaged and both headlights were damaged. I have all the receipts and forms from the transaction.
My customer took it to his local USPS office to file a claim. They told him that he doesn't make the claim, and he should return it and I will make the claim. So my customer drives about 30-40 miles to return it and get a new set of headlights from me.
After receiving the damaged headlights, I return to my local USPS office to file a claim. I fill out off the paperwork and give them the damaged item.
Months and months go by and I get no insurance check for the damaged item. I contact the local USPS office and ask when I will be getting my check. They said "it sometimes takes up to 6-8 months. So wait a little longer".
10 months later I send a letter to the USPS claims office in Saint Louis, MO. I sent copies of the insurance info, receipt and claim forms. 2 months later, they reply with a letter that says, Please contact your local Post Office manager concerning this matter.
So I contact my local branch and give them the sane paper work I sent to Saint Louis. The manager says, I will look into the matter and contact you.
2 weeks later she calls me and says, "We threw out your head lights because they were laying around and didn't know what to do with them". I say, "Are you serious!" She says she will look into the matter and call me back with any info.
1 month, No Call.
I call her back, and she says "I re-filed the claim, and you should be receiving your check in 6-8 months."
No Check.
So 8 months later I send another letter to the USPS claims office in Saint Louis. I again sent copies of all the claim forms. 2 months later they finally reply with a letter that says, "Your local USPS office did not fill out the information at the bottom of the form, Please fill this out and return it".
At this point I'm pissed off. So I contact the USPS Consumer Affairs Division in Seattle, WA. I tell Dana, the manager my story, and they can't believe what I've just told them. She says she will personally contact USPS in Missouri.
A few more weeks go by and I get a call from Dana.
She says since it's been 2-1/2 years now, they have denied my claims. I say I will take this to court. She says you can not take the USPS to court because it is a government agency. I don't think that is true.
What can I do?
What is the process?
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