What to do
- Take photos of the packaging and contents before discarding anything.
- Contact the sender, who usually files the claim with the carrier.
- Keep all packaging materials until the claim is resolved.
- For USPS insured items, check claim deadlines on the USPS claims page.
When to contact the sender or carrier
Report damage promptly; carriers set deadlines for claims (USPS has a dedicated claims process for insured items).
How carriers word it
| Wording on the tracking page | Carrier |
|---|---|
| “Returning to FedEx facility (package appeared damaged)” | FedEx |
| “Delivery exception” | FedEx |
| “Exception” | UPS |
Check your package
Paste your tracking number to open the latest status on the official carrier website.