Mail Issue - Non Pony Related

[MandarinCupcake]

Hi everyone, I'm just looking for some advice.  My boyfriend and I sent a card out to his mom on Monday for her birthday.  I took it straight to the post office and handed it to the cashier.  Today my boyfriend received it in a plastic bag, torn open with the gift card he included taken out. The card was still there. There was a note of apology from the PO.  So I am curious on what to do in this situation. Do we file a complaint? Do we just have to let it go?  Is there any way to be reimbursed? I find this rather upsetting.

[hathorcat]

I would think the first thing you need to do is report it to the post office. A quick google suggests the below.

If you believe your mail was stolen, report it immediately to your local postmaster or nearest Postal Inspector. You'll be asked to file a formal complaint using PS Form 2016, Mail Theft and Vandalism Complaint. By analyzing information collected from the form, Postal Inspectors may determine whether your problem is isolated or part of a larger mail theft problem in your neighborhood--and it may help Postal Inspectors locate and apprehend the thieves.

I am not sure about in the US, but here we could also be asked to report it to the police [or the postal service would perhaps do this for us depending on what was stolen]. I would guess thats something your local postal office may also wish to do - it really depends at what point in the mailing system the letter was returned to you.

Did you send the item with any kind of insurance cover?

[MandarinCupcake]

I would think the first thing you need to do is report it to the post office. A quick google suggests the below.

If you believe your mail was stolen, report it immediately to your local postmaster or nearest Postal Inspector. You'll be asked to file a formal complaint using PS Form 2016, Mail Theft and Vandalism Complaint. By analyzing information collected from the form, Postal Inspectors may determine whether your problem is isolated or part of a larger mail theft problem in your neighborhood--and it may help Postal Inspectors locate and apprehend the thieves.

I am not sure about in the US, but here we could also be asked to report it to the police [or the postal service would perhaps do this for us depending on what was stolen]. I would guess thats something your local postal office may also wish to do - it really depends at what point in the mailing system the letter was returned to you.

Did you send the item with any kind of insurance cover?

No, my boyfriend just stamped it. I realized after the fact we should have sent it in a more discreet package, like a bubble mailer. 

[hathorcat]

Oh thats a nuisance! Either way, its still worth reporting - the postal service need to know about these things. Perhaps it wont get you your money back [as I am not sure if US mail comes with an automatic insurance or not] but it may help it stop happening again.

[MandarinCupcake]

Thank you hathorcat, I will remind my boyfriend to do that