Canada Post is a renowned postal service company that delivers parcels quite efficiently. However, at times it may suffer slight delays. And, in rare cases, a package might get lost in transition.

It’s very disappointing when that happens. Waiting for a package to arrive only to realize that it suddenly vanished. It’s even more disheartening if it was an important parcel or a gift from a special someone.

But worry no more!

There are ways to prevent this mishap. And, what’s more, you may even be able to retrieve your lost package!

So, just keep reading to know how…

Table of Contents

How to Know if Canada Post Lost Your Package Internationally?
What to Do?
How Does Canada Post Investigate Lost Package?
What Happens to the Lost International Packages of the Canada Posts?
Why Canada Post Lost Your International Package?
How to Avoid Losing Your Package?

How to Know if Canada Post Lost Your Package Internationally?

The claim for Canada Post’s lost package is very rare. However, in the case of delivering certain international packages, the problem might arise.
So, you must know the steps to follow to know if Canada Post has lost your international package:

Step 1: Visit their official website.
Step 2: Go to the bottom of the page.
Step 3: Submit a Service Ticket to lodge a formal inquiry and get the information about the delayed or lost package.
Step 4: Wait for a few days for them to respond.
Step 5: If you are not satisfied with the response, call them on their Customer Care number or visit the nearby Post Office.

If you are not comfortable online, here are steps for you to follow:

Step 1: Visit the nearby Post Office.
Step 2: Provide them with your Tracking Number.
Step 3: Ask the PO professional to locate your package.
Step 4: Give them some time as they search for it.
Step 5: Gather the complete information about your package and know how you can get it delivered safely.

What to Do?

Follow these steps if you suspect that the Canada Post has lost your international package or can’t seem to track it down:

Step 1: Call on their Customer Service number.
Step 2: Supply them with your Tracking Number and other necessary information about your package.
Step 3: Wait for some time as they process the information.
Step 4: Initiate the Missing Package Report with Canada Post.
Step 5: File an official claim to locate and retrieve the lost package.

How Does Canada Post Investigate Lost Package?

Even though it’s not guaranteed that you will see the face of your lost package again, Canada Post does everything in its power to investigate and retrieve it.
Here’s what they do:

Once they receive the missing package report from their customer, they contact the postal inspectors.
The inspectors then start their investigation of the missing parcel.
They try to retrace every step of the lost package’s journey.
They then check where the parcel was last scanned.
They also search every mail deports and Post Office.
Minimum 5 to 10 people are involved in searching for a missing package once a report is received.
Once they are successful in the search, they contact the person who claimed the missing parcel and returns it to them.

P.S.: The crucial point to note here is that you must first initiate the investigation process by officially filing the missing package report. They won’t search for your package otherwise. The Post Office will, by default, add your lost package to the list of their undeliverable parcels and might even destroy it later.

Also, make sure you wait for at least 7 days before officially filing your missing package report. Till then, you can stay in touch with their customer service professionals and keep yourself updated about the fate of your package.

What Happens to the Lost International Packages of the Canada Posts?

The lost international packages aren’t immediately discarded by the Canada Posts, and they wait for any missing reports or claims filed for the lost package. They are kept under the designation “Undeliverable” for at least 15 days. After that, they meet the same fate as the undelivered items.

After 15-20 days, the undelivered or lost packages are opened after the lapse. Then, the content decides their fate after that. If it’s nothing of great value or contains prohibited items, it’s destroyed immediately.

For cash, they are deposited at Canada Post Credit and converted to Postal Money Order on being claimed by their rightful owner.

Else, if they can track the owner of the valuable merchandise that the package carries, they mail it to them. If they find valuable items in good condition but without any trace of the sender or recipient, they put a price and sell them.

However, if the lost package doesn’t make it even to the list of undeliverable items, then it doesn’t even get to the point of meeting any of the above consequences.

Why Canada Post Lost Your International Package?

Knowing why Canada Post lost your international package will help you avoid losing your package in the future. Here are a few:

It couldn’t locate the address of the recipient of the sender.
The package was delivered to the wrong address due to missing or incorrect information.
The shipping label on the package was damaged.
The carrier missed scanning the package at the last destination due to overload, so the postal company can’t track it.
The parcel encountered some unavoidable circumstances on the road.
The packaging was so weak that the contents fell out of it and were lost on the road during transit.
The package was stolen after it was delivered to some other place that the recipient suggested.
It was delivered to someone other than the recipient in their absence.
The recipient refused the package, and there was no return address to send it back to the shipper.

P.S.: At times, the problem of a lost package isn’t as serious as it seems. Sometimes, the parcel might seem to be lost, but what happened was simply that it wasn’t scanned at the last station, and hence the company lost track. Such packages may just show up on your doorstep all of a sudden!

How to Avoid Losing Your Package?

Rather than going on the long tiring process of locating and retrieving your parcel, it’s always better to avoid the situation altogether. Observing a few precautions while mailing your package will ensure that it’s not lost on the way.
Here are a few tips to prevent the mishap of lost packages:

A girl attaching a label on shipping box

While shipping with Canada Post, always choose the service that offers to provide a Tracking ID for your package.
Keep a constant tap on your package and regularly check its location during its transit.
Contact the Canada Post immediately if you sense something strange or unusual.
Double-check the recipient’s address and ensure that it’s correct. Also, mention the return address where the parcel would be returned if it can’t be delivered due to some reason.
If you use recycled packaging, make sure there are no barcodes on it other than the one with the current address.
Ensure that the writing on the package is legible and that the address can be read.
Don’t forget to mention the correct postal code along with the address.
Be present yourself at the time of delivery and avoid getting packages delivered somewhere else or to someone else.
If you are out of home most of the time, use Canada Post’s FlexDelivery service to deliver your parcels to a Post Office instead of your house.
Use sturdy packaging to prevent your content from falling out or getting damaged during transit.
Ensure your international package with a little extra money while shipping it. It ensures that your package will be delivered safely, or you will receive a refund on the shipping charges if the parcel gets lost or damaged.
If the package doesn’t arrive on time and you feel that it might be lost, then contact the Canada Post Customer Service immediately.
Report immediately if you suspect that your item was stolen on the way or after being delivered.

Conclusion:

No one is immune to committing mistakes, not even the postal companies. So, Canada Post shouldn’t be blamed for lost packages, either.

Instead, the customers should be proactive and take immediate action if they sense their package might be lost. Better still, follow certain precautions to prevent losing their international packages altogether.

Canada Post Lost Package: Best Solution!