Postal Explorer > International Mail Manual - Issue 32 > 3 Special Services > 320 Insurance

320 Insurance

321 Description

Insurance is provided against loss damage or rifling for parcel post items. Compensation varies according to the fee paid. If the parcel has been delivered to the addressee payment for damage and missing contents is paid to the addressee unless the addressee waives payment in writing in favor of the sender.

322 Availability

Insurance is available only for parcel post and only to certain countries. See Individual Country Listings. Insurance is not available for letter-post items.

323 Fees and Insured Value

323.1 Insurance Fees

The insurance fee is in addition to postage and other applicable fees. See Individual Country Listings.

323.2 Insured Value

323.21 Maximum

The insured value (insurance coverage) of a parcel may not be more than the maximum allowed for the country of destination. See Individual Country Listings.

323.22 Insured Value vs. Declared Value

The insured value (insurance coverage) of a parcel may not be more than the declared value of the contents. However insured value may be less than declared value depending on the wish of the sender.

323.23 Computation

The insurance fee is based on the insured value.

324 Processing Requests

324.1 Mailing Receipt and Insurance Number

324.11 General Use

All international parcels must be numbered. PS Form 3813-P Insured Mail Receipt provides a numbered insurance label for the parcel and an identically numbered mailing receipt for the sender. The receipt is issued to the sender as proof of mailing and proof of payment of insurance fee. For volume mailers use PS Form 3877 Firm Mailing Book for Accountable Mail as sender's receipt. Only labels printed by the Postal Service may be used on international insured mail.

324.12 Accepting Clerk's Responsibility

Accepting clerk must:

a. Tear off the numbered insurance label and affix it to the parcel close to the address.

b. Complete the receipt part of PS Form 3813-P to show city and country of destination postage insured value insured fee return receipt fee if applicable and total charge. Indicate special contents for fragile liquid and perishable items.

c. Postmark and initial the receipt and issue it to the sender.

d. For federal government official parcels (see 143.1) presented for insurance indicate the amount of the fee according to the authorized amount of insurance requested.

324.13 Sender's Responsibility

Sender should enter name and address of addressee on mailing receipt and retain it. The receipt must be submitted if the sender wishes to make an inquiry about or file a claim for an insured parcel (see Chapter 9).

324.2 Marking

324.21 Sender's Responsibility

The sender must:

a. Mark parcels containing fragile or perishable articles with the appropriate endorsement; e.g. "FRAGILE" "PERISHABLE" or "GLASS" etc.

b. Enter the insured amount in U.S. currency (figures only) in the appropriate space on the customs declaration.

324.22 Retail Employee's Responsibility

The retail employee must:

a. Indicate on the parcel the amount for which the parcel is insured. Write the amount in ink and express the amount in U.S. currency and special drawing right (SDR) values indicating both amounts in figures only. For example:

INSURED VALUE

$100 (U.S.)

66.87 SDR

b. See Exhibit 324.22 for a table showing the conversion of U.S. dollar values up to $600 to SDR equivalents. To determine SDR equivalents above $600, multiply the insured amount, rounded up to the next full dollar, by the conversion factor of 0.6687.

Note: Use the following formulas in the conversion of U.S. dollars and SDR equivalents:

1 U.S. $ = 0.6687 SDR
1 SDR = $1.50 (1.4954)

c. Enter the insured number insured amount and SDR equivalent on PS Form 2976-A Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note - CP 72.

Exhibit 324.22 (p. 1)

Conversion Table: U.S. Dollars to Special Drawing Right (SDR)

1 U.S. $ = 0.6687 SDR
1 SDR = $1.50 [$1.4954]

Exhibit 324.22 (p. 2)

Conversion Table: U.S. Dollars to Special Drawing Right (SDR)

1 U.S. $ = 0.6687 SDR
1 SDR = $1.50 [$1.4954]

324.3 Postmarking

a. Postmark item at the time of acceptance showing the full name of the Post Office facility two-letter state abbreviation and ZIP Code if authorized and the date of mailing.

b. Postmark at all breaks (cuts or torn edges) of any gummed-paper strips used in sealing parcels.

324.4 Sealing

All insured parcels must be sealed.

324.5 Return Receipt

Return receipts may be purchased for insured parcels to all countries with which insurance agreements are in force except Canada (see 340).

325 Indemnity Claims and Payments

The sender must submit the original mailing receipt to initiate an inquiry or file a claim (see Chapter 9).

Note: For detailed information concerning indemnity claims and payments for lost rifled or damaged insured parcels see 930.