Important Questions About Insurance

quote:

First, does the package have to have delivery confirmation to be eligible for the insurance and to make a claim? If the customer says the package was 'lost' in the mail, I assume we have to prove it was never delivered.

Second, I give my customers 7 days to pay. I read that the insurance is available 'for 47 hours' after the auction ends. Does this mean if someone pays me, for example, on Day 4, they can't purchase this insurance?

WOW I didn't notice that about 47 hours after the auction ends. Thats not good!! I'm like you several customers pay with money order and I'm not sure of everything that they are paying until I receive the money order. 90% of the time they pay through paypal but it isn't always immediate. It could be 3 days later.

I'm very interested in the replys to your questions also.

Glad someone else is thinking ahead.

Hello,

1) The package does NOT have to be sent with delivery confirmation to be eligible for insurance.

2) The customer is able to purchase insurance on the checkout regardless of when he/she is paying. If you are purchasing insurance for an item, you can do it for up to 48 hours after payment is recieved(underwriting guideline).

3) Filing of a claim requires a claim form filled out by the seller and a signed affadavit from the buyer stating that the item was lost or damaged. Complete instructions for filing a claim can be found at http://www.U-Pic.com -> Claims. I'm not sure how long it takes U-Pic to turn around claims but I'm sure they'd be happy to tell you.

Thanks for letting us know about the FAQ problem. We'll get on top of it=)

Thank you,
Auctiva Support

quote:

Originally posted by Auctiva Mike D.:
Hello,

2) The customer is able to purchase insurance on the checkout regardless of when he/she is paying. If you are purchasing insurance for an item, you can do it for up to 48 hours after payment is recieved(underwriting guideline).

Thank you,
Auctiva Support

PHEW!! Thats great news. Thank you MIKE!!

Thanks for answering my questions. I appreciate it. I don't know what kind of proof can be offered without delivery confirmation. I think I'm going to use it on all packages I send with the insurance just to be safe. I always get a postal receipt but they only show that you sent a package to a specific zip code, NOT an address and besides, there is no way to prove if it was delivered or not. I'm just a small seller (not a business) and I can't afford to have to pay out of pocket for a total refund if I screw up on the insurance rules.

ThymelyLister,

I just sent a support email to U-Pic to make sure the receipt you described is acceptable proof of carrier payment. I'll post their response when I hear back from them=)

-Mike

Thanks Mike! I appreciate that you are checking this out. I look forward to finding out the answer.

quote:

Proof of carrier payment, copy of carrier tracer form showing L.D.I. or other identifying number, copy from original invoice to consignee, whichever of the aforementioned is applicable, and any other documentation that is requested to substantiate loss.

"Proof of carrier payment" would seem to imply that a PO receipt would suffice, wouldn't it?

I emailed U-PIC regarding this. Here's what I sent:

Good Morning,

I list on eBay with Auctiva, through whom I can insure my shipments with
U-PIC policies. I have a question as to what information is needed should I
ever need to file a claim.

U-PIC policy states: "Proof of
carrier payment, copy of carrier tracer form showing L.D.I. or other
identifying number, copy from original invoice to consignee, whichever of
the aforementioned is applicable, and any other documentation that is
requested to substantiate loss." So, in this case, a post office receipt
showing package or customs ID number would suffice, correct? The rates
available off of your main site indicate rates for USPS shipping both with
and without Delivery Confirmation, so one would assume that DC is not a
necessarily a requirement for insuring with U-PIC.

Also, would the same be the case for internationally shipped packages? I am
shipping from the US (Michigan).

Thanks, in advance!

and here is U-PIC's response:

The items that we would need to process a claim are as follows:
1) Signed and dated claim form
2) Proof of insurance
3) If UPS/FedEx/DHL copy of the carriers settlement check (the deductible)
4) If USPS, a signed & dated statement from the buyer(consignee).
5) If it is a loss it must be submitted 21 days after the ship date,
international loss = 45 days from the ship date.
Damage claims can be submitted immediately, proof of damage may be
requested.
6) If USPS you have 90 days from ship date to file. If UPS/FedEx/DHL you
have 60 days from the date of the carrier settlement check to file.


Hope that answers all your questions, thanks!

Kyle Gibson
Claims Manager
28001 Dorothy Drive, 2nd Flr
Agoura Hills, CA 91301-2609

Here's what U-Pic had to say to me:

Good morning!

The confusion comes into play because the majority of eBayers only understand USPS regulations. Your policy covers all major carriers. The paragraph you describe below only applies to UPS, Fed-Ex and DHL. It does not apply to USPS as we insure USPS from penny one. All other carriers provide $100 worth of free coverage. We are only involved in claims exceeding $100 for those carriers. That is why they first must file the claim with the carrier and secure the $100 and then they file for the remaining amount with us.

If you would like to add a sentence regarding whom the paragraph you are referencing applies to that would be fine. Most of our partners who use all carriers have done that to avoid confusion.

Here is the difference:

USPS

Damage claims can be filed right away

Lost claims must wait 21 days from date of shipment for domestic and 45 days from date of shipment for International

Acquire a dated and signed statement from your buyer noting exactly what is damaged or that they purchased from you and have not received their product. (When sellers purchase the insurance)

Submit a dated and signed statement with all pertinent shipping information along with a description of damage if applicable. (When buyers purchase coverage)

Attach your proof of value

Complete our claim form online at u-pic.com

Fax or mail in the claim

UPS*Fed-Ex*DHL

File claim with the carrier for carrier’s liability ($100) (When claim can be filed is up to the carrier’s terms)

Carrier will process those claims regionally and normally will pay out in 7-10 days

Once you receive the carrier’s check you have 60 days to file claim with U-PIC

File the claim with U-PIC online at u-pic.com, click claims, click file online

Submit a copy of carrier’s check along with email confirmation of claim filling and your proof of value (the same proof of value that was used for the carriers claim)

Requirements

USPS

Claim form

Letter from consignee

Proof of value

UPS, Fed-EX, DHL

Claim form

Copy of carriers check

Proof of value

The only difference between USPS and the others is that for USPS claims a letter accompanies the claim instead of the carriers check.

-Mike

I am located in Canada. I ship Canada Post. Does this insurance even apply in a case such as mine.
I'm a little confused.
If we use the products here, is there a quota of insurances that we need to have?
Thanks

Hi,

Yes, the insurance is valid for items shippied Canada Post and there is no insurance quota you have to meet.

If you use Auctiva Checkout and have shipping insurance enabled, which are default settings for your account, your customers will have the option of buying insurance for $1.30 per $100 of value. Of this $1.30 you recieve, we would bill you $1.05 and we would purchase the insurance on your behalf. This way, you would make 25 cents each time a customer buys insurance through Auctiva.

Hope this clears things up.

-Mike