What to Do if UPS Delivers Your Package to the Wrong Address

How do you know if your package is delivered to the wrong address?

Your package may be at the wrong address if the tracking says “Delivered,” but it’s not. If you’re expecting a package and UPS has notified you that it’s delivered but is nowhere to be found, it may be at the wrong address. Check the tracking progress using UPS’s Tracker to ensure it says “Delivered,” and your address is entered correctly. If you haven’t received your package, remain calm. UPS has measures in place to help you get your package.

What to Do If Your Address Is Misdelivered

Take a good look around your property. More often than not, a package has been delivered to your address. The UPS employee may have just left it in a different location. Check near all your accessible mailboxes, doors, garages, patios, and porches before taking any following measures. Similarly, ask your neighbors if they’ve received a package with your name on it. This is especially common in apartment complexes and subdivisions.

Ask the sender for a tracking number. Contact the person who sent the package (whether that’s a business or friend) and fill them in on the situation. Every package shipped by UPS has a special tracking number that can be traced online. If you believe your package has been misdelivered, check the tracking progress using UPS’s Tracker for any clues. Pay attention to where the package wound up. Was it last tracked at your local post office, or is it in a different city? Check that the original delivery address was written correctly. Hang on to this tracking number, as you’ll need it later.

Contact UPS at 1-800-742-5877. If the address on your package is correct and you’re still unable to find it (despite it saying “Delivered”), contact a UPS representative for personalized care. They’ll be able to help you file a claim and potentially find your misdelivered package. Either call them at 1-800-743-5877 or message them online through their Technical Support.

File a claim with UPS. UPS will work with you to locate and find your missing package. Create or log in to your UPS account and file a claim for your misdelivered package. You’ll be asked to provide some details about the package (such as the tracking number, weight, and recipient's contact information). Then, click submit and wait for UPS to contact you. Use this link to start and file your UPS claim online. You can start a claim within 60 days of your package being lost. Claims can take an average of 8 to 15 days to be processed.

What do you do if someone else’s package is delivered to you?

If you receive a package that isn’t yours, contact UPS. Mistakes happen, and you could accidentally get a package that doesn’t belong to you. No, you can’t keep it. What you can do is avoid opening the package and contact UPS at 1-800-743-5877. Let them know you’ve received a misdelivered package, and they’ll give you directions on what steps to take next. Typically, UPS will schedule a truck to come and pick up the package to deliver it to the correct address. Under federal statute 18 USC Section 1702, opening mail addressed to someone else is illegal. While it may be tempting to deliver the package to the right address yourself (especially if it’s to a neighbor), it’s always best to contact UPS.

Why Does UPS Misdeliver Packages

An incorrect address or human error may cause a misdelivered package. Things happen, and nobody is perfect! More often than not, a UPS package is sent to the wrong address because (a) the address is incorrect, (b) the address is incomplete, or (c) the delivery driver made a mistake due to a hectic schedule or unforeseen circumstance.

How to Prevent Misdeliveries

While mistakes happen, there are a few things you can do as a sender and receiver to help prevent your package from being delivered to the wrong person: Check that the address is correct before sending or ordering anything. Include a phone number and email for the recipient. Provide delivery instructions with the shipment. Request a signature upon delivery. Sign up for UPS My Delivery to get delivery notifications.

Can you change your delivery address on a sent package?

Yes, you can change your delivery address. If you realize the delivery address you’ve given UPS is inaccurate (whether you’re receiving or sending a package), there may still be time to correct the address. Enter the package’s tracking number into UPS’s Tracker. Then, select “Correct my Address” at the top of the page. If you’re unable to change your address or the option isn’t available, contact the sender.