Can the Shipper Add Extra Postage if I Mis-Weigh My Package?
by Chelsea Camper | Last Updated December 30, 2015Incorrectly weighing a package can be easily done when you’re in a hurry or have a lot of packages to weigh. Fortunately, many shipping carriers can tack on extra postage for you (you’ll still have to pay for that extra postage though!) as long as they have a way to charge you.
If you put a letter in the mail with no postage, it will get returned to you because they have no way of charging you for the extra postage. If you take that letter into the post office to mail it, they can add a postage stamp and charge you right there for it.
USPS
Similarly to the example above, if you take your packages to the post office to drop them off, usually the packages will be weighed when they take it in. If you have mis-weighed your package, they can charge you right then and there to add more postage.
They won’t be able to charge you for extra postage if you just drop it off in a mailing box. If they can’t charge you for the extra postage, the package will be returned to you.
FedEx & UPS
Usually FedEx and UPS will just bill you for the extra postage that’s needed in order to mail the package. If they have a credit card on file for you, they may just end up charging your card for the extra postage.
If they have no way to charge you for the extra postage, the package will likely be
returned to you.
You can call your shipping carrier for more information on how they handle insufficient postage as each carrier will handle it a little differently. When you buy your postage online in the form of a shipping label, that will usually give your carrier a way to charge you for any extra postage your package may need.
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Image: MJ/TR
