How To Request a USPS Refund for Priority Mail Express & Other Services

Posted on April 29, 2023 by mailomg in memo 304 // 0 Comments

Updated: April 29, 2023

Consumers and businesses can claim a U.S. Postal Service refund when a guaranteed delivery or service is not performed.

You can claim a refund in person at your local post office or claim a refund online.

Request a USPS Refund (Domestic)

For USPS International service refunds click here

To submit a USPS^® refund request (including fees or postage), you’ll need proof of purchase. You may need one or all of the following when you request a refund:

Tracking number
Purchase receipt
Photo ID (if in person)

Learn more about requesting a domestic USPS refund. (For insurance claims for insured mail that was lost, damaged, or missing contents, click here.)

Apply Online

You can request refunds for Priority Mail Express^® items and certain extra services online.

Watch the Apply Online video.

Request a Refund

Apply at the Post Office

You can apply for a refund in person at a Post Office^™ location.

Find a Post Office

Business Customers

Businesses applying for a refund online may upload files with up to 1,000 individual USPS Tracking^® numbers.

Business Refunds (BCG)

Requesting a Domestic Service Refund

Each refund process has different requirements. Find the shipping service you used listed below and scroll down to see what is eligible for a refund, when to apply, and what you’ll need to apply.

Scroll down for specific requirements for the following:

1- Priority Mail Express
2- USPS Package Intercept
3- Change of Address
4- Click-N-Ship
5- EDDM Retail
6- Extra Services
7- PO Boxes
8- Postal Store Returns & Exchanges
9- Premium Forwarding Service Residential
10- USPS Pickup On Demand

1- Priority Mail Express

Priority Mail Express (PME) service comes with a money-back guarantee based on its service features.

Requesting a PME Refund

Each USPS Tracking Number can only be used for one refund request.
You must combine refunds for Priority Mail Express and related extra services into a single refund request.

What Is Eligible

Priority Mail Express postage for mail that did not arrive based on the guaranteed service arrival time. The guaranteed arrival time is on your receipt. (Click for more details)

When to Apply

2 to 30 days after the mailing date for Priority Mail Express without extra services.
30 to 60 days after the mailing date if an extra service was purchased with Priority Mail Express.

What You Need

Tracking number
Mailing receipt

How to Apply

Online: You can apply for a refund with a free USPS.com account.

Request a PME Refund

At a Post Office: You can also go to any Post Office and fill out Part I of Form 3533 (in duplicate) and submit it along with your original customer copy of Label 11.

Find a Post Office

2- USPS Package Intercept

The USPS Package Intercept^® fee ($17.00) plus any applicable postage charge may be refundable if the shipment was not intercepted.

What You Need

Order, Confirmation, or USPS Tracking^® Number for each shipment(s) you would like refunded
Reason for the refund request
Additional details you may have to help with processing

Refund Processing

When your request is processed, you will get an email explaining the result.
Refund requests are normally processed within 2–3 business days, unless USPS needs more information to process your request.
If your request is approved, the credit card associated with your account will be credited. It may take up to 2 billing cycles for the refund to appear on your card.

Request a Refund

You may request your refund online.

Submit a Request

USPS Package Intercept Terms & Conditions

3- Change of Address Online Authorization Fee

To verify your address online, USPS^® matches your credit card billing address to your old or new address. To do this, we submit a small charge ($1.10) to your credit card company. Sometimes this charge is refundable.

What is Eligible

Only change-of-address requests made on the official USPS Change of Address^® website are eligible for refunds.

Requesting a Refund

Call 1-800-238-3150 to request a refund.
Refunds are considered on a case-by-case basis.
If approved, $1.10 will be credited to the credit card charged.

4- Click-N-Ship Labels

Unused Click-N-Ship^® (CNS) labels are eligible for refunds up to 60 days after the print date (the label transaction date).

What Is Eligible

Labels that have not been scanned by the postage system.
Labels created within the past 30 days of label print date.
Labels that do not already have a refund request.

Request a Refund

Log in to your Click-N-Ship account.
Click Shipping History.
Check the labels you want refunded.
Where you see, Track Labels, select Refund Labels from the dropdown list.
Click Proceed.

Older Unused Click-N-Ship (CNS) Labels

If a label was printed more than 30 but less than 60 days ago, email the Click-N-Ship Help Desk for a refund. Include this information in your email:

Username
Click-N-Ship account number
Label number
Transaction number and date

5- EDDM Retail Orders Placed & Paid for Online

EDDM Retail^® refunds can be requested online and at the Post Office, depending upon how you placed the order and whether you have dropped it off.

Orders Not Yet Dropped Off

If you created and paid for an order on the EDDM^® website, but did not drop it at the Post Office, you can request a refund through your Order History.

Sign in to your USPS.com Account.
Click Activity History.
Click Request a Refund (below Order Details).
Fill out the form.

Refunds will be posted to your credit card within 3–5 days.

Orders Dropped at the Post Office

If you created and paid for an order on the EDDM website and have already submitted it at the Post Office, the order will no longer be in your Order History.

If you canceled your order after it was accepted at the Post Office, request a refund by calling 1-877-747-6249. When prompted, select Option 3 for Small Business. Have your order information ready when you call.

Date order was created
Order number
Order amount

Refunds are processed manually and should be finished within seven days.

Orders Placed Online & Paid for at the Post Office

If you began your EDDM order online but paid at the Post Office, you will need to request a refund at the Post Office where you paid.

6- Extra Services

Some extra services, such as Signature Confirmation™, are refundable if the service wasn’t performed according to its service features.

Who May Apply

Only the person who paid for extra service.

What Is Eligible

Non-delivery when USPS is at fault.
Incorrectly charged postage or fees.
Paid services that were not provided.

Postage & Extra Services Refunds – Eligibility Details (DMM 604.9.2)

When to Apply

30 to 60 days after the mailing date for general extra services.
30 to 60 days after the mailing date if the extra service is purchased with Priority Mail Express.

What You Need

Tracking number
Mailing receipt

Request a Refund

These service refunds can be requested online:

Certified Mail^®
Return Receipt (paper and electronic)
Signature Confirmation
USPS Tracking for USPS Marketing Mail^®

If you cannot request a refund on USPS.com, take your proof documents to the Post Office where you paid for the service.

Request Extra Services Refund

7- PO Boxes Refund

Refunds for new, unused PO Boxes and existing PO Boxes are handled differently.

PO Boxes in Use

If you already have PO Box™ keys:

Request a pro-rated refund for unused time in your PO Box service agreement.
Apply for a refund at the Post Office where the PO Box is located.

New PO Boxes

You may request a refund online if you applied online and:

Have not used the PO Box.
Have not picked up the PO Box keys.
Request a refund within 30 days of your original payment.

Questions? Contact the Internet Customer Care Center (ICCC) PO Box Help Desk or call 1-800-344-7779

8- Postal Store Returns & Exchanges

If there was a mistake in your Postal Store order you may be able to get a refund or exchange. Learn about options for wrong, missing, or damaged orders in The Postal Store^®.

Postal Store Returns & Exchanges

9- Premium Forwarding Service Residential

Premium Forwarding Service Residential^® (PFS-Residential^®) refunds can be requested online and at the Post Office, depending where you set up the service.

What Is Not Eligible

Enrollment fee
Weekly shipping fees, unless pre-paid and unused
Delayed shipments

PFS-Residential Terms & Conditions

Applying Online

If you set up your PFS-Residential service on USPS.com, you can request a refund online.

Applying at the Post Office

If you set up your PFS-Residential service at a Post Office, you must request your refund at that Post Office.

What You Need

Order, Confirmation, or Tracking Number for the weekly shipment(s) you would like refunded
Reason for the refund request

Refund Processing

When your request is processed, you will get an email explaining the result.
Refund requests are normally processed within 2–3 business days.
If USPS needs more information to process your request it will take longer than 2–3 business days.
If your request is approved, it will be credited to the credit card associated with your account. It may take up to 2 billing cycles for the refund to appear on your card.

Submit a Request

10- USPS Pickup On Demand

USPS Pickup On Demand^® refunds can be requested online if the service wasn’t performed according to its service features.

What Is Eligible

You are only eligible for a refund if the carrier fails to show up during the specified day for a pickup.

What Is Not Eligible

Carrier shows up during the specified day of pickup.
Cancellation request submitted after 5 a.m. (local time) on the day of the scheduled pickup.

USPS Pickup on Demand Terms & Conditions

What You Need

Order, Confirmation, or USPS Tracking^® Number for the shipment(s) you would like refunded
Reason for the refund request
Additional details you may have to help with processing

Refund Processing

When your request is processed, you will get an email explaining the result.
Refund requests are normally processed within 2–3 business days.
If USPS needs more information to process your request, it will take longer than 2–3 business days.
If your request is approved, it will be credited to the credit card associated with your account. It may take up to 2 billing cycles for the refund to appear on your card.

Request a Refund

You may request your refund online.

Submit a Request

After Submitting Your Refund Request

Approved refunds are paid in different ways depending on the service and how you applied.

Receiving Your Refund

Approved online refunds will receive a check by mail.
Approved refunds that were requested at the Post Office will be refunded in cash, check, or money order.
Approved Click-N-Ship refunds are credited to the original payment account.
Business customers who applied for a refund online will be refunded by check, not credited back to their account.
Business customers who applied for a refund at a USPS Retail^® location will receive a credit to their USPS Corporate Account (USPSCA).

Appealing Denied or Partially Paid Requests

If your refund was only partially paid or denied, you may file a dispute within 30 days of receiving the decision.

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