What Does Missent Mean USPS? – Read Best Answer
What Does Missent Mean USPS? This question has been asked a lot of times by USPS customers. Seeing a “Missent” notification while tracking your USPS package can be a bit confusing, this is largely because the word looks a bit ambiguous.
Regarded as the top mail and package delivery organisation in the United States, the United States Postal Service handle majority of the mail and package deliveries within the U.S., hundreds of packages are delivered daily.
To help their customers to understand the be aware of the delivery status of their mails and packages, USPS has introduced several terms to describe delivery status of customers’ packages. One of such terms is “missent”.
So, are you wondering what does Missent mean USPS? Or what happens when USPS missent? This post provides a complete detailed answer.
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What Does Missent Mean USPS?
Missent is a term used by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to indicate that a mail piece or package has been sent to the wrong destination or processing center. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as incorrect labeling, human error, or issues with the sorting machines.
If your package’s status reads “missent”, it is pretty clear that it must have been mistakenly loaded along with other packages on the wrong truck and went to the wrong local postal office or destination.
When a mail piece or package is missent, it will typically be rerouted to the correct destination as quickly as possible. Depending on how far off course the item has gone, this can sometimes result in a delay in delivery. Read how to fix insufficient address USPS
What Happens When USPS Missent?
When a mail piece or package is missent by the USPS, it typically results in a delay in delivery, this is because the item will need to be rerouted to the correct destination. Below are the steps that are typically taken by the USPS when a mail piece or package is missent:
- Identification of the error: USPS will identify that the item has been missent through their automated sorting system or through manual inspection.
- Rerouting of the item: The item will then be rerouted to the correct destination as quickly as possible. This may involve sending the item back to the original processing center, or redirecting it to the correct destination from wherever it was mistakenly sent.
- Updating tracking information: The USPS will update the tracking information for the item to reflect the missent status and the new routing information.
- Delivery to the correct destination: Once the item has been rerouted, it will be delivered to the correct destination as soon as possible.
What Do I Do If USPS Misdelivered My Package?
If you receive a tracking update that says your mail piece or package has been misdelivered by the USPS, below are a few steps you can take to try resolving the issue:
- Verify the delivery address: Make sure that the address listed on the tracking information is correct and matches the address where you intended the package to be delivered. It’s possible that the package was delivered to a similar-sounding or nearby address by mistake.
- Contact the recipient: If the package was delivered to a neighbor or someone else at the wrong address, you may be able to contact them directly to retrieve the package. Ask around and see if anyone in your area has received the package by mistake.
- Contact the USPS: If you are unable to locate the package or resolve the issue on your own, contact the USPS for assistance. You can file a claim or initiate a search for the missing package by calling USPS customer service on 1-800-275-8777 or visiting their website.
- Follow up: Once you have contacted the USPS, be sure to follow up regularly to check on the status of your claim or search. You may need to provide additional information or documentation such as proof of purchase or a description of the package contents.

Why Would USPS Send My Package Going The Wrong Way?
There are a few reasons why your package was sent the wrong way by the USPS, below are a few of them:
- Human error: One possibility is that the package was mislabeled or misrouted by a USPS employee. This can happen if the address on the package is illegible or if the package is accidentally sorted into the wrong bin.
- Automated sorting error: The USPS uses automated sorting machines to process packages, and sometimes these machines make mistakes. It’s possible that the package was mistakenly sorted into the wrong bin or sent down the wrong conveyor belt.
- Routing or delivery delays: Your package may have been sent the wrong way due to routing or delivery delays. For example, if your package was delayed at a processing center, it may be rerouted to a different center in an attempt to get it back on track.
- Weather or natural disasters: Severe weather events or natural disasters can sometimes cause disruptions in USPS operations, leading to delays and misrouted packages.
Missent USPS How Long?
Missent packages typically get rerouted within 2 – 4 days, but there are several factors that determine how long it will take. The length of time it takes the USPS to correct a missent package and deliver it to the correct destination can vary depending on the distance between the present location of the package and the correct delivery destination, present mail volume at the USPS, and type of delivery service selected by the sender. We have also written an answer to What Does Missent Mean DHL?
Is USPS Tracking Wrong?
USPS tracking information can sometimes be inaccurate or appear to be wrong, but this is not always the case. Here are some reasons why USPS tracking information might appear to be wrong:
- Delayed updates: Tracking information can be delayed, especially during peak shipping seasons or if there are disruptions in USPS operations (e.g. severe weather, natural disasters, etc.).
- Human error: Mistakes can sometimes be made when entering tracking information into the system, which can result in incorrect or incomplete information being displayed.
- Scanning issues: Packages may not be scanned at all of the necessary checkpoints along their route, this can lead to gaps in the tracking information.
- Misrouted packages: If a package is misrouted or sent to the wrong destination, the tracking information may appear to be incorrect until the issue is resolved and the package is rerouted.