One of the most frustrating things you can experience is to receive a notification that a carrier delivered your package, but you don’t have it.
You’ve searched everywhere for it, but the package isn’t at your front door or nearby.
You may wonder what you’re supposed to do next.
Here’s what you need to know about the steps to take when DHL’s tracking system says it delivered a package but there isn’t a package.
DHL Says Delivered But No Package (What To Do)
According to the DHL website, the best thing to do is contact them.
DHL uses extensive tracking information to locate packages.
They’ll trace the package’s transit to determine what went wrong.
In most cases, a delay occurred which means the driver was unable to deliver the package on that exact day.
They may have marked the package as delivered prematurely.
By contacting DHL, you can find out the status of your package and receive a refund if necessary.
When speaking with DHL, you’ll need to provide your tracking number and order information.
They may also request details about the package to further help them locate it.
Having those details ready can speed up the process of finding your package.
Check With Your Neighbors
Sometimes DHL will leave your package with your neighbors.
They prefer to leave packages with trusted individuals rather than leave a package by the front door.
If DHL’s tracking system says your package was delivered, but you don’t have it, then you should check with your neighbors.
There’s a good chance that the package either got sent to them by mistake or they accepted it on your behalf.
However, you should only do this if you feel safe with your neighbors.
If you do not, then you need to contact DHL.
They can either pick the package back up for you or provide you with a refund.
Where Does DHL Deliver Their Packages?
Knowing where DHL tends to deliver its packages is also helpful.
It can ensure that you don’t miss the package when you’re looking for it.
In most cases, DHL will place the package at the front door.
They may also place it at your back door.
Certain drivers prioritize safety more than others.
These drivers will look for areas that are slightly concealed.
It allows them to hide the package from prying eyes.
They may also take a picture and send it to you to help you find the package when you arrive home.
The first place you should check for your package is the front door.
If it isn’t there, then check the back door.
If it isn’t there, then you’ll want to try by your garage or in other areas that are slightly more concealed.
If you still can’t find the package, then contact DHL.
They’ll be able to speak with the driver who can tell them where they placed the package.
Then they’ll relay the information to you.
If the package is small, then DHL may even place it in your mailbox.
It’s safer than out in the open and it’s more convenient for you to pick up with your mail.
Check With The USPS
DHL works with the USPS exclusively on some of its deliveries.
Through their Parcel Select program, USPS handles many of DHL’s last-mile deliveries.
That means that instead of DHL arriving at your door, USPS does instead.
Instead, DHL handles a lot of the cross-country deliveries.
They’ll bring the package from the fulfillment center to the local USPS office.
Then the USPS will send the package out through one of their deliveries.
That’s why you’ll often receive a package delivered notification without actually receiving the package.
USPS had the package, but they weren’t able to deliver it that day.
You’ll most likely receive it the next business day.
It’s also worth reaching out to the USPS if you know that DHL handed off your package to them.
They could have sent it to the wrong person or lost it in transit.
The USPS usually requires you to wait at least 24 hours before contacting them about a missing package.
That’s because delays can occur.
Since DHL works with the USPS, it can take some time to figure out what happened to your package.
DHL may be responsible, or the USPS may be responsible for its disappearance.
How To Prevent The Situation From Occurring
While DHL does a pretty decent job of ensuring you receive your package, there are a few things you can do to make their job easier.
In doing so, you’ll have fewer mistakes happen with your deliveries.
Here are a few tips to reduce the chances of receiving a notification that they delivered your package, but you didn’t receive it.
1. Use Their On Demand Delivery Tool
DHL provides an On Demand Delivery tool that lets you customize your delivery preferences.
It allows you to change the delivery date and whether it needs a signature or not.
Using DHL’s On Demand Delivery tool can help you reduce delivery mistakes by ensuring your deliveries are always sent on days when you’re home.
When you’re there to accept the package, you can be sure that it’s placed in your hands and not someone else’s.
You’re also there to keep potential thieves from stealing your package from the front porch.
Even if you let DHL leave the package on your porch while you’re home, you can immediately grab the package when they leave and take it into your home.
Using the On Demand Delivery tool also allows you to tell them whether they can deliver it to a neighbor or not.
If you trust your neighbors or a particular neighbor, then you can tell the company through the tool.
Even if you’re not home, but your neighbor is, DHL can give them the package for safekeeping until you arrive home.
Understanding how to use the On Demand Delivery tool and utilizing its full services can help you reduce delivery mistakes.
2. Request A Signature
You can also request that the package needs a signature before it’s delivered.
This ensures that only you can receive the package.
You can also specify a few other parties who are approved to sign for the package like a family member or neighbor.
By restricting the deliveries to a signature-only release, DHL has to hold onto the package until they receive a signature.
This is helpful for several reasons.
The first is that it reduces the chances of them giving the package to the wrong person.
They’ll be expecting the person whose name is on the package.
If someone signs for it who isn’t that individual, then they won’t release the package.
If they do release the package, then you’ll have that information on file.
It will tell you the name of the person who signed for it.
That can help you track it down.
For example, you might see that your neighbor signed their name and know that they have your package.
It also keeps DHL from placing a package on your front porch and leaving it there.
They won’t be able to update their delivery information to say it’s delivered until they place the package in your hands after a signature.
There are fewer delivery mistakes when you request a signature upon release.
The only problem with signatures is that you need to be available to sign for the package.
Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until DHL can make its way to you again.
A great way to ensure you’re there is to use the On Demand Delivery tool to schedule your delivery.
3. Get A Lock Box
If you don’t have one already, then it might be worth investing in a lock box.
These large containers sit next to your front door, or wherever you want your deliveries to go, and remain open until a delivery driver puts a package in them.
Then they lock the box afterward to ensure no one else can gain entry to the package inside of it.
Adding into your delivery instructions that you have a lock box, and you want the driver to put the package inside of it can save you from several headaches.
It will inform the driver that they need to deliver to a home that has a lock box.
If they arrive at the given address and there isn’t a lock box, then they might suspect that something is wrong.
They can correct the problem instead of delivering it to the address and making a mistake.
Another way it helps is that it keeps your packages safe from thieves.
The lock boxes are either heavy or can attach to an anchor point.
This keeps thieves from picking up the box and carrying it off with the package inside of it.
If you leave your package out by the front door, then there’s always a chance that a thief can steal it before you get home.
As a result, you may notice that it says DHL delivered your package, but you don’t have it.
The reason may be because thieves stole it after they delivered the package.
A lock box will ensure your package remains exactly where DHL put it.
4. Give Clear Instructions
Perhaps the best way to ensure your package doesn’t go missing is to give clear instructions to the delivery driver.
One part of this is to schedule the delivery at a time when you can quickly pick it up from outside.
The other part is to give the driver clear and detailed descriptions of your home or apartment.
Make it easy for them to find you, but don’t make it obvious that you’re expecting a package.
You’ll attract other people’s attention, too.
When you submit an order through a seller, they usually give you the option to write down instructions to the delivery agent.
You can tell them details about your house to help them identify it.
You can also tell them where to put the package.
If DHL honors it, then you can also ask them to take a photo of the package after they deliver it and send it to you.
This gives you visual confirmation that your package made it to your home.
Finally, if you have a lock box, then tell them how to lock it when they put the package inside of it.
Not all lock boxes are the same.
Some are simple padlocks while others use a code.
Tell them how to lock it even if they’ve done it a billion times before.
The last thing you want is for them to not know how to and then choosing to leave the lock box unlocked.
Should You Request A Signature For Your DHL Package?
Requesting a signature is always a good idea.
It ensures that the package makes it your home and is only accepted by you or someone that you’ve authorized to accept and sign for packages on your behalf.
DHL doesn’t always require you to sign for your packages, but they do give you the option to change your order type.
When you change your order type to a signature request upon receipt, then they will be unable to deliver it unless someone signs for it.
Since you may not always be home when the delivery driver is at your door, it’s a good idea to know who you can choose to sign for it in your place.
At the very least, the signer needs to be at least 18 years old.
A relative is the preferred choice, but you can also authorize a neighbor, doorman, receptionist, or someone else to sign for the package.
You only need to inform them and DHL about the circumstances.
Signing for packages can make things less convenient, but there are ways that you can make it work.
In doing so, you can ensure your package is only ever accepted by people you trust.
What Pick Up Options Do You Have With DHL?
DHL allows you to have a few different ways to pick up your package if you don’t want it delivered to your home.
Consider these options to ensure you can pick up your package without any problems.
1. Service Point Pick Up
If you don’t want to accept the package at home, then you can choose to have it delivered to a service point.
A service point is a store at which you can collect packages from DHL.
You can also ship packages from a service point.
There are several throughout the area, although they’re primarily based in the UK.
A service point delivers packages to local streets around it.
If you choose to have your package delivered to a service point, then they’ll hold your package there for a few days.
You’ll receive a notification that your package has arrived.
Then you can drive to the service point and pick it up.
Service points are open on Saturdays and have long hours instead of working standard business hours.
This gives you plenty of opportunities to pick up your package before that window closes.
Choosing to have your package delivered to a service point ensures that it never goes missing during an attempted delivery to your home.
DHL is less likely to have problems since their delivery drivers only need to go to a standard store instead of a unique address.
2. USPS Pick Up
If DHL hands your delivery to the USPS, then you may be able to pick it up there instead.
If so, you’ll need to find out if DHL intends to use the USPS for a last-mile delivery.
In the event that they do, then you can contact your local USPS office and tell them to hold the package for pick up by you.
They’ll be able to hold your package for a few days.
When you’re ready, you can drive to the USPS office and give them the information they need to retrieve your package.
You’ll be able to go home with your package shortly after.
Besides requesting to have your package held at the USPS office, sometimes the office will also request that you come and pick it up instead.
This is usually if the package is too large or too heavy for them to accommodate.
Can You Get Saturday Deliveries?
DHL does not deliver on Saturday in the United States.
They do deliver on Saturdays and Sundays in the United Kingdom and various other European countries.
Their service point stores are also open on the weekend.
Conclusion
If DHL says they delivered your package, but you can’t find it, there may be a few different reasons for this.
The best thing to do is to call them to rectify the problem.
Sometimes you’ll also need to call the USPS.
Following the tips above can help you reduce the chances of this headache happening to you.
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Susan says
But what if tracking says delivery has taken place when it hasn’t because you were in and they did not call. What if they say they have left a card when they haven’t? This has happened to me before.
Belle says
Why do I have to do all of this if you are being payed to do it for me?
Chris lillis says
I haven’t got my package and it says del.
Anonymous says
Going to the same non sense right now. They have three different addresss as to where it saysto be picked up. And I’m still here waiting.
I believe that my pkg is lost!!!!!
Kristen says
Also if it’s not endorsed by USPS , it is ILLEGALLY for any other courier to open and place in mailbox if if given the ok by a customer. So usps will take it out and then charge you for extra postage. Don’t be upset, I mean it is the law .