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 Replies: 61 / Views: 8,471 |
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Valued Member
United States
161 Posts |
I need some consolation from my fellow CCF members. About two weeks ago I finally pulled the trigger and became a member of NGC. With my welcome packet came a coupon for five free early bird submissions. So I pick out my five best coins, all Morgans of course, to be sent in to get slabbed. One of those five was the gem of my collections, an 1889-CC that I bought a few years ago. The others were nothing to brag about, but were in at least MS64 or higher grade. On Wednesday, I put them all in labeled sleeves, and into a small box that I then put into a priority envelope, insured it, got delivery confirmation and mailed it out. The nice gentleman at the post office even put priority tape all over the envelope for more protection, thanks pal. This morning while at work, I get a call from NGC. I called the gentleman back, and he told me that he received the envelope containing the invoice, but the envelope had been torn and there were no coins in it! He said there were numerous "spider" cracks all along the envelope and he was rejecting the package. At this point I am out, but at least I insured it.......right? Wrong. I went to the post office and was told that I would need proof of ownership, proof of its value, and any pictures of the missing items. I bought the 89-CC from my LCS with cash, and all the others were picked up at various other locations. How am I to provide proof of these coins and of their value? Submit my claim with the latest issue of Coins Coins? Where did these coins go? Are they in the back of some USPS cargo plane, or is some disgruntled postal service employee putting them on ebay as we speak? I will never know, unless of course the post office recovery department turns it up. I won't hold my breath. I feel like a kid whose dog just died. I suppose I shouldn't have put all my eggs in one basket, but I felt as a sender I did all I could to ensure its safe passage. Anyhow, just a word of caution to other members that are thinking about sending in their coins. I'm off to a night of heavy drinking of tear soaked ale. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3184 Posts |
**keep it family friendly** raise some heck and I'm sure others can give some more.meaningful advice but that's terrible. Keep us updated.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
This is of no help to your current situation but any submission to a TPG should always be sent by Registered Mail, it is much more secure than Priority and the package is insured to a much higher value. |
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Valued Member
 United States
161 Posts |
@ bio I thought the same thing but when I said I wanted registered/insured with delivery confirmation I was told that since I was insuring it there was no need to register it as both are tracked the same way.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1200 Posts |
Sincere condolences. I've heard some Post Office horror stories before, but this one takes the cake. Leave it to the USPO to charge you for worthless "insurance" and then
deny your claim because you don't have a photographs of yourself in the act of buying the coins in question. This isn't customer service -- it's anti-customer disservice.
If you can take the time to do it, I'd suggest visiting your local regional delivery hub and ragging on some kind of claims supervisor until long, LONG after you've worn out
your welcome. After doing that, I'd be firing off letters to the Postmaster General in DC and every legislator (county, state and federal) who represents the area I live in.
I'd make it my mission in life to be the worst PITA any of those turkeys had ever had in their entire career.
The USPO demanding proof of ownership like they've demanded from you (without prior warning of this kind of officious malice) is outrageous.
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Valued Member
United States
161 Posts |
To top it off, I have to wait 21 days to initiate a claim according to the claim form. I have never had a problem with the post office but I suppose it could happen to everyone. Even if I do get my money back, I won't be able to get back what I lost. I told my dealer my budget and what coin I wanted and it took him months until one came across him. It's not as easy as going to Walmart during the next Carson City sale and using my 10% off coupon. Scott at NGC felt genuinely bad for me which was somewhat comforting, he must have to break bad news like this to so many people. I wouldn't want his job; he is like the coin doctor telling you your coin didn't make it. |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1005 Posts |
Terrible frustrating story.
People told me I was crazy for driving 500 miles to drop my coins off in person.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5826 Posts |
Sorry to hear you have loss your coins MrMorgan,
I agree with Bios that registered mail is safest and required each person that handles it to sign the package, it maybe slower but worth the cause. My local PO only will ask me if there's any liquid or fragile, and never ask me what is in the package, but I know other PO inquire about the content. I have never heard of that you need to present proof of ownership? I almost have to file a package that was lost oversea, to my surprise when I file for claim that there was a $25 deductible to what I have pay insurance for and never mention or written from the insurance slip.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3283 Posts |
That's one of the worse stories I've heard. I'm sorry for you.
It blows me away you got insurance and can't get payment.
What is the insurance for?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1511 Posts |
O my gosh... I'm sooooo sorry!! That is horrible! I can't even imagine... I e been debating sending coins into NGC for some time now but due to other stories like yours I haven't... And none of the others were near as bad as your loss! I completely agree with Fat Freedy... I would raise #€££!! It would be my mission in life to bother them relentlessly... I'm talking nonstop.. And as Freddy said not over the phone, I would go there and throw such a tantrum they'd be forced to listen! Some might call that childish and a waste of time but for a loss like that I don't even care... At the least it would probably make me feel a little better... Well ok, maybe not better but at least that I knew I went above and beyond in my pursuit of getting them back.. Wow, I don't even know... I'm angry and there not even my coins... Sorry for rambling but wow, I'm so sorry! I can't even imagine  |
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Valued Member
United States
161 Posts |
I have been on a three hour hunt for any trace of record of my
Purchases. So far I have kind three proof of purchases!! It's one small step. My wife feels
Really bad for me, she knows that this is devastating. My birthday is the day after new years so maybe her empathy will compell her to buy me a new 89' CC. I'll probably just get more
Socks and undershirts though.
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Valued Member
United States
161 Posts |
Nathan, Bmoney had the right idea. If you can drive it in, do it. I don't want to send out the wrong message about sending coins to TPG, just want everyone to realize how powerless one becomes once that package leaves your hands. It only takes one dishonest man to lift that package and make life miserable for the honest. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2150 Posts |
If you do get the proper requirements to file a claim you will probably get denied the first two times with them saying you can't insure currency. Unfortunately I've heard of this happening many times over the years. You almost have to point out to them that on page 8 of their publication that they do infact cover numismatic items. Unfortunately on the page before that it states that bullion is only payable up to $15. It's almost like who wants to play the most hardball will win when dealing with the USPS.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2150 Posts |
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Forum Dad
 United States
24154 Posts |
Quote:
I was told that since I was insuring it there was no need to register it as both are tracked the same way. Unless things have changed recently that's not true. Always was that registered mail is signed for every single step of the way and kept in locked cages in general areas along the way. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1511 Posts |
If I could drive them I definitely would.... But I live in western Massachusetts... A bit of a drive... But my cousin and uncle live in Sarasota... So maybe I'll have to take a trip to "visit them"....
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Replies: 61 / Views: 8,471 |
Posted 12/28/2012 3:43 pm
