Today, technology allows us a lot more control over deliveries.
We can even track our mail on the computer and know what is on the way.
With everything, there are glitches and delays in communication in the system.
There may be times where the company that is in charge of your delivery will state that you received the package.
Here, you’ll learn what to do when this happens.
FedEx Says Delivered But No Package?
It means the driver may have accidentally marked it delivered and even received by you.
They could have delivered it to another similar address and marked it delivered.
The bottom line is that a mistake has been made which must be rectified.
There are steps to take so you are not held liable for it.
This can also be an issue if you allow it to happen.
The first thing you need to do is contact FedEx immediately.
Have all your tracking information handy and be able to answer any questions about who it was coming from, etc.
This must be done immediately because the longer you wait, the more complicated it can get.
You’ll want them to see a clear mistake was made by the company and not you.
They may have provided a tracking number, but also a designated delivery person.
If you call them first, you can tell them you never received the package.
They should be able to retrieve the package from whomever they delivered it to, or they could search the truck and determine that they had not actually delivered the package.
There could have been a computer error as well.
Your Neighbor May Have It
It pays to know your neighbors, but even if you don’t, they may not mind you asking them if they received your package by mistake.
Hopefully, they will not have stolen it, but anything is possible especially if you don’t know them.
However, asking politely if they have taken it in for safekeeping is a place to start.
If you live in an apartment complex, the driver might leave it by the door and someone else could easily grab it.
You could live in a place where the office collects the packages for the whole complex.
This is typically done in large apartment complexes and condos.
It’s a safe route since someone is in the office to sign for it.
That means FedEx is responsible for the arrival of your package first and then the office and then you.
You have the responsibility to pick up the package within a certain limited period after they leave a notice on your door or in your mailbox.
If it’s marked delivered, but you received no notice of the package in the office, it’s the office’s responsibility.
If it’s marked delivered and it’s not in the office and you don’t have a notice, then it’s on FedEx again.
In this case, make sure you alert the office when you are waiting for a package from FedEx.
Tell a specific person so you know who to check with around the time you are expecting the package.
In this way, you can head off the issue
Where Would A Driver Put A Package?
There are unusual places where a driver may place your package.
Some drivers will get used to delivering at your home or apartment.
They may leave the package in tidy little hiding places that will be hard to see at first.
Look all around your front door and your porch area.
They may even put it under the doormat.
Yes, you can typically see that, but it’s common, and no one knows why.
Maybe they know it’s harder to see that from the road.
The good ones survey the area around the door and will find the perfect spot.
You just need to look for it.
Sometimes they leave it in a mailbox.
This is also very common if it’s small enough and flexible.
For example, business cards or something like that can be put in a very small to medium box or a padded envelope.
A locked box for packages may be something to invest in for extra security.
When they drop the package off in the box, it will lock automatically when they close the door or lid depending on what type you get.
You don’t need to give anyone a key.
Some of these boxes will bolt to the porch or wall and will have a keypad where you will put in a combination of numbers that only you will know.
You can typically change the combination at will just for extra peace of mind.
They are typically sold for a few hundred dollars and up.
The Package Could Be With USPS
FedEx has a program for small to medium businesses called SmartPost.
It’s more cost-efficient for ground delivery.
In these cases, typically, FedEx will mark the delivery as delivered when they have handed over the package to USPS for their part of the delivery.
If you have contacted FedEx first and have taken the recommended steps, you can wait a few days and your package should arrive soon thereafter.
How Can I Prevent This Situation?
You can prevent the situation by stating your instructions clearly.
There are ways that you can get organized and prevent the situation from happening as much as you can.
It may still happen, but you can greatly reduce the chances.
These steps can save you much aggravation, especially if you get a lot of packages.
First, clarity is the key.
Make sure you get your address correct and instructions are clear.
There is always a place to put the delivery instructions.
Put any supporting details in that space to help the driver find your place and avoid a misdirection.
You can even put the color of your home or some distinctive thing that stands out for the driver to look for.
Can I Get A Signature?
Yes, you can require a signature from you or someone else who can accept a package for you.
This is the easiest way to make sure a package is never delivered without someone signing for it on site.
If you have a home office, this is even better.
You will be there and can sign for the package, or an assistant or family member or a neighbor can sign for the package for you.
Is there a door person in the building?
This can also be a good choice.
Then they can hold the package at the desk or in the office for you until you come and get it.
This is easy, just set up the direct signature with FedEx.
What Pickup Options Do I Have With FedEx?
You can save yourself a lot of trouble if you are concerned and set up the pickup of all your packages at FedEx itself.
Just call FedEx and set this up with them.
With anything that you set up with FedEx, we suggest that you do so on the phone or in person so that you can be clear and get feedback from a human being.
You can get a name and feel better about the communication, and you have more recourse in case you have been given misinformation.
You can take even further steps and set up a PO Box which will run anywhere from $25 and up depending on the size.
You can have all your packages from any private person or company sent to the box and you just pick it up.
Most places, including the actual post office, will send you an email letting you know that there is a package waiting for you there.
What Is FedEx SmartPost?
It takes care of the last leg of the delivery to your door after FedEx hands off the package to USPS.
FedEx SmartPost is similar to the UPS version, SurePost.
It’s more cost-effective than not when you understand what it entails.
For FedEx, the last leg of the delivery process is the most expensive.
If they can offset that by handing the last leg of the delivery to USPS, then they can pass the savings on to the customer.
This service is most cost-effective for small to medium businesses, but they do have a program for residential as well.
Your package must be delivered between Monday and Saturday.
The package must weigh less than 70 pounds and be no more than 130 inches in length.
After your package is ordered, you will wait between two and seven days for delivery.
If you are reading this post, you may be in the market for frequent shipping and could possibly benefit from this type of program.
Here are the benefits so you can weigh it all out for yourself.
First, your delivery cost for your business or personal life can be greatly reduced if you receive multiple packages.
You won’t have to pay the last-leg fees to your door that FedEx has to pass on to you when you use them without the program.
If you’re concerned that your normal way of shipping is going to change, it won’t.
It will improve through your cost savings.
The first part of the shipping process is going to be the same.
You won’t have to make any trips to the post office.
The only thing that changes is the company that brings it to your door, so get used to seeing USPS instead of always a FedEx truck showing up.
You may have noticed this happening when you purchase something online and it shows up in your mailbox.
You may have been a bit confused, but crafters, Amazon, and other large and small companies use this service so they can give you the best delivery rates.
Can I Have A PO Box With FedEx SmartPost?
Yes, you can have a PO Box with this program, and that provides great convenience to most people receiving packages in a PO Box.
This is because the USPS leg of the delivery will deliver to the post office and therefore will deliver with no extra charge to your PO Box.
Can I Get Saturday Deliveries?
Yes, you can get Saturday deliveries at no extra charge.
There are also a lot of software integrations that make things quite convenient.
It’s automatically integrated into a variety of shipping software programs.
You will also not have to use two tracking numbers.
Your deliveries will always have one tracking number for both legs of the delivery.
That means the number is the same for all.
Are There Any Cons To Using SmartPost?
There are a few things to note.
You must use your own boxes.
You can’t use the free boxes that USPS generally provides.
If you ship outside the lower 48 states, you will lose the money you save with the program, so you may not want to use it if your main client target is in Alaska or Hawaii for instance.
You could get confused when it comes to the tracking codes.
There will be one code with the SmartPost program, but you may see “delivered” and then “out for delivery” again.
The thing to keep in mind is that you have only one code, and the first time it is delivered that means it’s at USPS being handed over from FedEx.
The second time is when USPS delivers it to your door.
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Steve says
Great advice except for the ‘contact Fed Ex immediately…’… tried their 1-800 number, put in my tracking number, and get a message that my package was delivered. If I can’t find it, I should check with my neighbors… If I haven’t found it by 8pm, call them TOMORROW… no real way to get to a real person… all automated… which sucks…
Their tracking said it was delivered at 9:29am… at 9:30am I looked for it… nowhere to be seen, and the wife didn’t hear a delivery truck.
It is already 2 days late… now likely never to be seen, so I’ll have to start the claim process with the seller, who will direct me to Fed Ex, who will direct me to PayPal… or some combination of that run-around…
Gary says
Same here said it was delivered and signed by JJI, the more I find clues, it’s the delivery driver that stole my packages..
Greg j Cook says
I had 2 pkgs, separate providers, reportedly delivered last Tuesday. Received notification via text. No packages. Checked security cameras. Nothing. Not a sole. Contacted FedEx. They said shipper responsible for filing claim. Contacted shipper immediately. Reply next day said delivered. Duh
..NOT. 45 days back and forth. Shipper says FedEx provided proof of delivery. Not to me they didn’t. Now seller, eBay, and PayPal declining refund. FedEx won’t response was they provided proof of delivery to seller
RachelD says
The same thing happened to me on a $300 order that I could not and cannot afford to just throw away. I spoke with the FedEx manager to the delivery guy, and the manager told me personally that the driver delivered to the street before mind and that the driver didn’t even come down my street that particular day. Then FedEx turned around and denied the claim saying my package was delivered to the correct address. Wow! Utter BS and now I’m getting the runaround from FedEx.
Stuart Harkness says
I had one that said delivered recently on September 21st 2021 but I never received. In my dispute I explained I lived in a nice neighborhood and never had issues and none of my neighbors had it and my security cam never saw FEDEX at my door. Within 4 days it was denied and was told it was delivered. I was luck though because the company I ordered it from through Amazon gave me no hassle and shipped another THROUGH FEDEX but got them though late.
I have noticed recently companies have been using FEDEX and heard it is because it is “Cheaper”, (exactly). Sense July 23 till now I have had all 5 late and one of those was late and lost. 1 I paid company I ordered from $10 for 3 day shipping. When FEDEX sent 1st notification they received it, which was the next day they gave me a delivery date 5 days later and then received notice it was late, (Surprise? NO), I finally received it 9 days after they received it from company and it was a birthday present but got it 2 days after birthday. The other 3 were all late also and were late 2 to 4 days. Companies should be given other shipping options like USPS or UPS. I would sometimes pay extra if given option. I am not given option with some of the companies selling under Amazon.
FEDEX new selling point: “If you want it late, always, ship it FEDEX”
FEDEX gets 0.0000001 Stars
USPS gets 0.75 Stars
UPS gets 4 to 5 Stars
DHL gets ????? (Not sure. I do not get packages from them)
Well, this is my story and I am sticking to it. Its only my opinion. 🙂
TeeTee says
I’m getting the runaround too. After sitting in Memphis for a week with a “pending” status and no other updated tracking info, package shows delivered but of course nowhere to be found. Looked in all the usual places it might be but was suspicious as there is no direct route from Memphis to my local depot. It HAD to go somewhere in between first. So the driver marked it delivered but who knows where it might be. Still in Memphis? Thrown out the door? Delivered to a different address? In the “old” days, a call to FedEx would get the local depot involved and the driver would almost always “find” it and deliver within a few days. Not so now. FedEx says the shipper has to file a lost package claim (I’m not authorized to do so) but the shipper is giving me a hard time and saying they need an affidavit signed, which they will send to me in the mail (allow 7-10 business days etc). This appears to be a many months process, enough to stop me from doing any more business with any company using FedEx.
Alfonso says
Thanks for the good advise regarding all preliminary steps to be done when a package is list. The big question is what to do when both the shipper and FedEx decline any respnsibility after conclusing their investigation sayng that the package was delivered. In our case, the driver marked that a box with a new laptop was delivered. Also FedEx reported that the GPS tracking system showed that the vehicle was driven to our address. We even reported the case to. the police to see if they could tals to the FedEx driver. So, what is next?
michele says
Fedex claims they delivered the package and I signed for it. Neither happened, but the retailer is choosing to believe Fedex. I filed a claim with my credit card company and reported this to the police, but it looks as if I’m going to take a large financial hit. Any other adive
Mae says
It isn’t an “accident”. I work for an online company and we have so many tickets a day about FedEx marking a package delivered but it wasn’t! We now have a policy for the customer to wait 5-7 days before we truly claim it as lost because it is such a prevalent thing. FedEx needs to figure that out because I have seen so many cases of someone paying two day shipping, they mark it as delivered but it doesn’t show up for 3 more days. Maybe once I can see it as an error but not as often as we see it.
Dave says
Hi
I need advice also , I have 4 tracking , they have been send from different locations , at first it was showing status delayed once we call to find when driver was going to deliver boxes status immediately changed and now it shows boxes was delivered several days ago, also sign is false , no one signed it, I think Fedex Driver signed or someone maybe they steal my boxes , there was more than 10k items in boxes
I call at FedEx and they started investigation but I know what they will say
please give me advise what to do
Becky Scott says
I am so annoyed with FedEx. This problem only seems to happen when I have ordered something large or fairly expensive, and not with smaller, inexpensive packages…Tracking says my large, expensive item has been delivered and left on my porch, but no package has been delivered. I live in a very rural area and I know all my neighbors…most are related to me. No one has had any FedEx deliveries this week. Upon researching, an item was delivered last week, but seems to have the same FedEx tracking number as my large, expensive item!!!! If I was giving FedEx stars for their service, this week’s fiasco would earn them one and a half. Not happy at all!!!
Bernita says
I am retired and have a ring camera, just moved to this address 4 months ago. I have have 4 packages stated to be delivered and I am sitting at home and packages never come. One of the deliveries I was outside it my front yard at the time of delivery. This morning 5 minutes after I got text about package delivered from Walmart, ran to door and nothing. Went to post office and gave them 3 different tracking numbers for last 3 deliveries and they say it wasn’t their tracking number for 2 and they had no package or history for the Walmart delivery. Online at FedEx, you can’t talk to a person, tried everything I could think of to contact them and kept being told my package was delivered. They also noted that I should call the post office, which no one answers, Post office says I need to talk to FedEx. There should be something you could do. I appears to be inside thief and they are getting away with it.
Dan says
It happened to me yesterday I ordered a Krampus from Wish delivered from China and they received it in the United States I followed the tracking all the way to Sanford Florida which is not far from me then it says it was delivered and signed for yesterday neither happened I checked my Ring and I’m going to check with my neighbors. I’m wondering if the driver saw it was an interesting cool item and kept it for himself claiming that it was signed for. This was something I needed in In a rush and I don’t even think they have anymore. This is very upsetting and I’m not sure what else to do except I did call FedEx a course they give you a case number and say it will be 5 to 7 days I can’t wait that long Christmas is almost here this is so unfortunate what else can I do to expedite this!
Migue Torez says
UPS is the better one.
FedEx has gotten pretty bad over the years.
DHL horrible company plus the workers are lazy and leave packages all over the place.
Lasership packages don’t show up and they leave them outside on the street of the apartment building at times. I am not sure why or how they’re still in business and have not had a class action lawsuit yet along with DHL. They don’t take responsibility for their stupidity. Once my package was delivered to the wrong building.
Amazon workers packages don’t show up, and they mark as delivered plus they steal a lot if you ask me because things don’t show up, etc. Their workers and Lasership are horrible.
Solution to the issues: They need to require every worker to take picture and wear live body cams during delivers and upload these files to a network to keep things honest, especially regarding their workers because NYC is a mess, and people are stealing like there is no tomorrow. Also, recently packages were found dumped somewhere in Alabama or somewhere. In addition, camaras has caught Amazon workers stealing packages in people’s apartment building along with food delivery people from Ubereats, Door Dash and more, etc.
Alex says
two packages claimed delivery, obviously nowhere to be found. checked with my neighbor: nothing. checked all around the porch, both balconies, the walkout, even the roof, THE ROOF! nothing anywhere. checked usps because the delivery method was “partnered” with usps: nothing. now working on a reshipment from hasbro with direct request to use usps only. had to cuss yell rage and threaten federal crimes just to finally talk to a person halfway around the planet and essentially got told “too bad, so sad” they don’t care, won’t help and can’t be bothered to pretend to have customer service. TL:DR? use usps or ups instead.
Jose Perez says
Never got a package delivered said delivered but nothing
Anonymous says
Paid 200 dollars for a cell phone and never got it. It said delivered. And it was a signature necessary but reviewed signature and it’s not a signature a signature on file. All these reviews make me feel like I need to get a lawyer and sue fedex. This is ridiculous.
Elizabeth says
I was told my pkg was delivered Sat. Dec. 18th left on porch. I was home all day that day and the pjg. was not on my front porch. Looked everywhere. Tried calling Fedx gave them my tracking number and it was a recording saying my pkg was delivered. Could not talk to a human. I needed that pkg. I had to tell the person that sent it that I never got it. Fedx is horrible. This is not the first time a pkg was stolen.
Gary Smith says
I was told my packages were delivered to my house and time stamped delivered. But they were not. I got hold of FedEx and they started giving me the run around. So I let them know that I have security cameras on my house that are on 24/7. No delivery were made. Then a couple days later another package was to arrive. They said it was still coming. Never came. But the driver time stamped that one too. Said it was delivered. Again no package. They gave me two case numbers, one for each shipment. Today they said both cases are closed. I know everything had to be misdelivered. Nothing was resolved.
Paul says
My expensive and large package said delivered. Not to me though. Someone else somewhere in town signed it. I checked with my neighbors, nope. I can’t get any information from FEDEX about who might have it. Shipper needs to contact them but they are not responding. What a fiasco. Fedex zero stars.
P.L McLaughlin says
Fresh snow, no footprints.
Text message says that my package was delivered to front door, I checked every door and there wasn’t anything. We had the first snow of the winter and there were absolutely no footprints anywhere or tire tracks. The driver is lying.
FYI, It’s medical supplies that we urgently need for my 92 year old mother.
We have actually had the same thing happen multiple times over the past 3 months but only Xmas presents, important to us but not urgent. How can they keep sending a message that packages are delivered when they aren’t.?! (Amazon sends a picture of the package at your door when they deliver a package.). What has happened to Fedex??? It use to be so rock solid reliable.
Albertha Duncan says
I had order my package on the 01/12/2022 it said it was delivered on the 01/21/2022 onthe front door without no signature i was home never heard the fee ex truck was home all day so they stole my package bottom line
Annabella says
That’s so true about Amazon and that can give you an idea of where the package actually went. Also when I call the FEDEX contact center the agents are refusing to get a supervisor. It’s really ridiculous
Paul says
4 the time in a year, marked delivered not. This last time I was on the porch an hour before and after time stamped delivered. I live out in the country and no fedx ever went by. Fedx really needs to be investigated, shippers need to wise up, never a problem with UPS, those people are gold.
Carr says
UPS damaged 7 of my items from Target in transit and another item two days later! It said this on Target’s web site on my order page.
Carr says
I have also had FedEx claim they delivered my package (s) but they lost and or delivered my package (s) to the wrong address. I just had another experience like this days ago.
Alex V says
I purchased a RTX 1080 Ti Gaming Graphic Card from eBay for $1100 and seller shipped it via FedEx ground. On May 23rd 2022 at about 12:55pm that tracking was marked as delivered but no package was delivered after reviewed the shop security camera. I contacted FedEx and two days later, I received a call from FedEx and I was told they not able to locate the packaged. I should contact the shipper to file a claim. I think the FedEx deliver guy stole it.
I contacted the eBay and the seller. Seller never response but eBay customer services declined refund due to tracking shown delivered to my address although I told them security camera reviewed no package was delivered.
Now I don’t have my RTX 3080Ti graphics card and $1100 shorted on my bank account. I have no choice but to file a dispute with my credit and hopefully to regain my $1100.00