14 FAH-5 H-800
dpo usps indemnity claims process
14 FAH-5 H-810
indemnity claims
(CT:DPO-14; 08-23-2017)
(Office of Origin: A/LM)
14 FAH-5 H-811 postal insurance
coverage
(CT:DPO-14; 08-23-2017)
a. The Office of
Diplomatic Pouch and Mail (DPM) recommends
that customers consider purchasing postal insurance for any or all items
that are valued up to $5,000 and/or fragile. DPM
also recommends that customer's review USPS packaging requirements as described
in the USPS Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 600, section 3.0 to minimize possible damages while
in transit. The DMM is available online
via USPS Postal Explorer at: http://pe.usps.com).
b. Neither the Department
nor USPS assumes liability for loss or damage claims for any mail addressed for
Zip Codes 20189 and 20521 (See DMM 703,
section 3.3.
14 FAH-5 H-812 purchase of postal
insurance
(CT:DPO-14; 08-23-2017)
a. In the event of loss
or damage, USPS provides payment to the insured for the articles actual value
when mailed, within the amount covered by the fee paid (See DMM 609, section 4.0).
b. Insurance is not
included in the cost of the postage. Insurance for merchandise, gifts
or other valuable articles must be purchased at the time of mailing, which includes an additional fee and is added to the
cost of postage.
14 FAH-5 H-813 payable claims
(CT:DPO-14; 08-23-2017)
a. Insurance for the loss
of or damage to insured mail is payable for the following (See DMM 609, section 4.1):
(1) The articles actual
value when mailed;
(2) The cost of repairing a damaged article or
replacing a totally damaged article not exceeding the actual value of the
article at the time of mailing or the amount of insurance coverage purchased, whichever is less;
(3) Reasonable costs incurred to prepare documents such as:
(a) Copying service charges;
(b) Notary fees; and
(c) Other direct and necessary expenses or costs, as
determined by USPS; and
(4) Postage (not fees) paid for sending damaged
articles for repair.
b. Payments for claims
are determined solely by USPS. See the USPS website for instructions on filing indemnity claims.
14 FAH-5 H-814 claims not payable
(CT:DPO-14; 08-23-2017)
Insurance is not paid for
mail in these situations (See DMM 609, section 4.3):
(1) Evidence of insurance coverage is not provided;
(2) Loss, damage or
missing contents that occurred after delivery by the DPO (e.g. down-stream DPO locations serviced via pouch);
(3) Claims based solely on sentimental rather than
actual value;
(4) Requested
replacement value exceeds the articles actual value when mailed;
(5) Film items (e.g., positives, negatives, slides,
transparencies, videotapes, laser disks, x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) prints, computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan prints), the cost of
creating or re-creating these items, or the photographers time and expense in
producing the photographs or images;
(6) Perishable items;
(7) Damaged articles not properly wrapped for
protection;
(8) The mailer or addressee fails to cooperate in the
completion of required claim forms;
(9) Personal time required to replace documents;
(10) Damage caused by shock, transportation
environment, or x-ray, without evidence of damage to the mailing container;
(11) Non-mailable items, prohibited
items, or restricted articles seized by
the host country or the RSO;
(12) Loss or damage caused by the mailer, the addressee, or the addressee's agent;
(13) Loss or damage
caused by war, insurrection, or civil disturbance, or seizure by any
agency of government;
(14) Lottery tickets, sweepstakes tickets, contest
entries, and similar items;
(15) Mailer refuses to accept delivery of the parcel when returned to
sender;
(16) Mail not bearing the complete names and addresses
of the mailer and the addressee, or is
undeliverable as addressed to both the addressee and the mailer;
(17) Event or transportation tickets (e.g., concert,
theater, sport, airline, bus, train, etc.) received by the addressee after the event date;
(18) Software installed on computers that have been
lost or damaged;
(19) Damaged articles
that are not claimed within the prescribed time limits (see 14 FAH-5
H-816.2 for time limits for filing claims);
and
(20) Personal time used
to make hobby, craft, or similar handmade items.
14 FAH-5 H-815 who can file an
indemnity claim
14 FAH-5 H-815.1 Claims For Damage
to or Loss of Contents
(CT:DPO-14; 08-23-2017)
A claim may be filed by (See
DMM 609, section 1.3):
a. Either the mailer or
addressee, for damaged articles or articles with some or all of the contents
missing; and
b. Either the mailer or
addressee who is in possession of the original retail mailing receipt, or in
possession of the online label record or computer printout of the Web-based
application as described in USPS DMM 609
section 3.1d.
14 FAH-5 H-816 when to file an
indemnity claim
14 FAH-5 H-816.1 For Damaged or Missing Contents
(CT:DPO-14; 08-23-2017)
A claim may be filed as
follows (See DMM 609, section 1.4):
a. Damaged or Missing
Contents: Customers may file a claim immediately but must file no later than 60
days from the date of mailing.
b. Lost Articles:
Customers must file a claim within the time limits in the chart listed below:
|
Type of Service
|
File claims no sooner than
|
File claims no later than
|
|
Insured Mail
|
21 days
|
180 days
|
|
APO/FPO/DPO Insured
(First-Class Mail,
or SAM)
|
45 days
|
1 year
|
|
APO/FPO Insured
(Surface Mail)
|
75 days
|
1 year
|
NOTE: Express and Registered Mail
are not standard DPO offerings. In cases where posts receive complimentary DoD
support as outlined in a memorandum of
understanding (MOU), the PO may work with his or her designated DoD
point of contact.
14 FAH-5 H-817 THROUGH H-819 UNASSIGNED