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InPost lost parcel claim: how long you have (7 days) and when to go through Vinted
Checked on 29 October 2026 against each carrier's and platform's own pages · General information, not legal advice
The short answer: it depends on where you bought the label.
- Label bought on inpost.co.uk or in the InPost app: you claim with InPost, and for a lost parcel you have only 7 days. InPost's claims form doesn't say when the 7 days start, but its complaints policy says lost-parcel claims "can only be made up to 7 days after the parcel has been dropped off at an InPost Locker or Shop". Count from the day you dropped it off.
- Damaged, or marked "delivered" but not received: 30 days for damage and 14 days for "delivered" but not received, which InPost's complaints policy counts from the delivery date. Cover is up to £50.
- Vinted label (QR code or label generated by Vinted): don't use InPost's form. InPost says to contact Vinted, and Vinted compensates sellers up to £500 once the carrier confirms the loss.
First: whose label did you use?
InPost's claims form says: "You can only submit a claim here if you bought your digital InPost label through our website or app", and "If you bought your label through Vinted or a third party, reach out to them directly." So there are three routes:
- You bought the label from InPost (inpost.co.uk or the InPost app): you claim with InPost, using its claims form. The rest of this guide is mostly about this route.
- Vinted generated the label or QR code: you deal with Vinted. See the Vinted route below.
- A shop, marketplace or other company booked it: InPost's service terms say that "your contract will be with them directly", and its help page says "You’ll need to reach out directly to them." InPost's complaints policy adds that these companies may have their own time limits.
InPost Direct (inpostdirect.co.uk, the service that used to be Yodel Direct) is a separate service with different terms. See InPost vs InPost Direct below.
How long do you have to claim with InPost?
For a label bought on InPost's own website or app, the claims form says: "Claims must be made within 30 days for damage, 14 days for undelivered but marked “delivered” parcels, and 7 days for lost parcels."
The claims form doesn't say when those days start. InPost's Queries and Complaints Policy (marked "Last updated May 2025") does:
- Lost parcel: "Claims for lost parcels can only be made up to 7 days after the parcel has been dropped off at an InPost Locker or Shop."
- Marked "delivered" but not received: "must be submitted within 14 days of the delivery date."
- Damaged parcel: "Claims for damaged parcels must be submitted within 30 days of the delivery date."
Our advice is to count from the day you dropped the parcel off (your posting date) for every type of claim. For a lost parcel that matches InPost's policy. For damage it's earlier than InPost requires, so you're safe either way. Our free checker counts InPost own-label dates from drop-off. It still marks them "not verified" because the claims form itself doesn't give a start date. If you're unsure, ask InPost before the earliest possible deadline passes, not after it.
Example: you drop a parcel at an InPost Locker on Monday 2 November 2026. Seven days after drop-off is Monday 9 November 2026. Put that date in your calendar the day you post.
Why 7 days is so tight
InPost's tracking help says a parcel sent to an InPost Locker or Shop "should arrive within 3 working days", and one sent to a home address "within 4 working days". In the example above, that's Thursday 5 or Friday 6 November. By the time a parcel looks late, you may have only a weekend and a Monday left to claim.
So don't wait for the buyer to "give it a few more days". InPost's tracking help also says that if there's "no tracking update for 72 hours after we’ve received it", you can contact its Customer Care team. If tracking stalls, contact InPost and note your 7-day date.
InPost lost parcel on Vinted: the Vinted route
If you sold on Vinted and used the InPost label or QR code that Vinted gave you, the claim goes through Vinted, not InPost. Vinted's InPost shipping help page says: "We’ll compensate you for lost or damaged parcels as long as they’re packed properly." It also says to "Keep your proof of shipping until the order is completed, e.g. a copy of the shipping label, the drop-off receipt, or an email confirmation", and to allow up to 48 hours for tracking to appear on Vinted.
- Vinted compensates sellers who used a Vinted-generated label up to £500 once the carrier confirms the parcel is lost or damaged (Vinted help 1018).
- Vinted gives a parcel a total of 25 business days to arrive before treating it as possibly lost (Vinted help 1365).
- If you posted a Vinted sale with an InPost label you bought yourself, Vinted says to contact the shipping provider directly (Vinted help 1018). Then InPost's 7-day window applies, and it will close long before Vinted's 25 business days are up.
More detail is in our Vinted lost parcel guide for sellers.
How much InPost pays
- Standard cover: InPost's service terms limit its liability for a lost, stolen or damaged parcel to "the lower of: (i) the cost value of the items within that Parcel; or (ii) £50.00 GBP". The claims form says it pays up to £50 "If InPost is at fault and packaging rules are met".
- Extra cover: InPost's help page says that if your item is worth more than £50, "you can upgrade to full-value compensation (up to £500) when you buy your label in the app". The service terms say a parcel worth more than £50 "is sent at your own risk unless you purchase additional coverage at the time of your order".
- Packaging matters. The claims form only promises compensation "If InPost is at fault and packaging rules are met". InPost's service terms say your parcel must be packaged "to ensure safe transportation and handling with reasonable care". Check the packaging rules in the terms before you send anything valuable.
What to have ready
InPost's complaints policy asks for:
- the tracking (parcel) number and how you ordered (app or website)
- a description of the parcel and the problem
- proof of purchase or value for the contents (what you paid for the item, not just the sale price)
- for damage, photos of the item and the packaging (keep both)
Take a photo of the packed parcel and keep the drop-off confirmation the day you post. It takes seconds, and with a 7-day window there's no time to hunt for evidence later.
InPost vs InPost Direct (formerly Yodel Direct)
InPost Direct, at inpostdirect.co.uk, is the service that used to be Yodel Direct. It has its own terms, and its claim windows are different. Clause 9 of the InPost Direct terms gives 14 days from delivery for damage or part-loss, and 28 days "from when the Parcel was collected or received by Us" for a lost parcel. Standard cover is £50. So check which website you booked on before you work out your date.
See every carrier side by side in our UK parcel claim deadlines guide.
Work out your own deadline. Pick InPost and how you bought the label, enter your drop-off date, and see your last day to claim plus a link to InPost's own page.
Check my claim deadline – freeFrequently asked questions
How long do I have to make an InPost lost parcel claim?
For a label bought on InPost's website or app, 7 days. The claims form doesn't say when the 7 days start, but InPost's Queries and Complaints Policy says lost-parcel claims can only be made up to 7 days after the parcel was dropped off at an InPost Locker or Shop. Count from your drop-off date.
Do I claim from InPost or Vinted for a lost InPost parcel?
If Vinted generated the label or QR code, claim through Vinted, which compensates sellers up to £500 once the carrier confirms the loss. InPost's claims form is only for labels bought on InPost's own website or app.
How long do I have to claim for a damaged InPost parcel?
30 days for damage and 14 days for a parcel marked delivered but not received. InPost's complaints policy counts both from the delivery date. Counting from your drop-off date is the safe option.
How much compensation does InPost pay for a lost parcel?
Up to £50 as standard (the lower of the item's cost value and £50) if InPost is at fault and the packaging rules are met. You can buy extra cover up to £500 in the InPost app when you buy the label.
Is InPost Direct the same as InPost?
No. InPost Direct (formerly Yodel Direct, at inpostdirect.co.uk) has its own terms: 28 days from collection for a lost parcel and 14 days from delivery for damage.