How To Navigate The Courier Claims Process

If courier services have ever damaged your shipments, then you are aware of the courier claims process. The courier claims process is the process in which a delivery service's customer files a claim for compensation for shipments that are lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed. Claims are usually paid not by the company, but by their insurance carrier. In any event, there are certain steps that you need to take in order to file a successful claim with the courier company.

The first most obvious step is to prove that the package is actually yours. This is easy to do with your bill of lading and the reference number on the package. With this information, the claims representative will be able to determine that the package was actually yours or not.

The next step is to prove that the damage or loss occurred while the shipment was in the possession of the delivery company. To make this easier, a photo inventory is recommended. The photographs should be time stamped for authentication, and should clearly show the contents and condition of the shipment prior to it being handed off to the courier company.

The next step is valuation of the article that has been destroyed. Taking out a certain dollar amount of delivery insurance will make that simple, as the claims company will just pay out to you the amount of the insurance coverage that you purchased. Otherwise, more information might be needed including receipts for the merchandise that was to be delivered.

Once it has been determined that in fact your shipment was damaged by the courier company, and the claims processor knows the value of the shipment, then the rest is up to the courier company. Getting paid should be simple, and can often be done through an electronic money transfer, or they can simply write you a check. Insurance companies are in the business of collecting premiums, not paying claims, so do not be surprise if the process of obtaining payment is a little bit slower than you would like.

Timely payment of claims is important to the business reputation of courier services. Although they try not to damage or lose any package that is in their possession, with such a large volume of package being delivered every day, accidents are bound to happen on occasion. Having the proper documentation is vital to expedite the claims process and get your reimbursement paid to you in a timely fashion.