USPS Adjustments (APV): What They Are & How to Dispute Them

Got a notice from Thryft Ship about a USPS Adjustment for Postage Verification (APV)? Don't panic — you're not alone, nothing is wrong with your account, and most of the time it's a quick fix or a quick dispute. Here's exactly what's happening and what to do.

What is an APV?

USPS uses a system called Automated Package Verification (APV) to double-check package details after they've shipped. Even if a label was created and paid for, USPS can re-measure and re-weigh the package later. If they believe something was off — say, you used a flat rate box without selecting the flat rate option, or your package weighed more than declared — they'll issue an adjustment.

Why am I being charged?

If USPS finds a mismatch between the package you sent and the label information, they charge the difference to your payment method on file. For example:

• Original price paid: $4.65
• USPS adjustment: $9.85
• Charge applied: $5.20

The notice will include a reason, like "Incorrect Package Type – Used Flat Rate Envelope" or "Weight Discrepancy – Exceeded 16 oz Limit."

One small detail on fees: if the adjustment is billed to a card, you may see a small Stripe processing fee (2.9% + 30¢) included. That's standard card processing and not collected by Thryft Ship.

How to dispute an APV

If you believe the charge is incorrect, you can file a dispute directly with USPS. Disputes can be accepted or denied — and if USPS accepts yours, our USPS provider notifies us and we refund the adjustment to your payment method automatically.

1. Gather your info

   You'll need four things, all easy to find:

   • Package tracking number — in the APV email, or on your Purchased or Completed page in Thryft Ship. (Example: 9400136208271278456782)
   • Revenue Assurance ID (your dispute ID) — in the APV email. (Example: 000009104582913)
   • Why you're disputing — a brief explanation of why the charge is incorrect.
   • Your contact info — name, email, phone number.
2. Submit the USPS dispute form

   Start your dispute here — it takes about two minutes.

   
3. That's it — USPS takes it from here

   USPS reviews your dispute; you don't need to do anything else. If it's approved, we handle the refund to your payment method automatically.

How to avoid future adjustments

APVs can happen to anyone, but a few habits dramatically reduce the chances of being flagged:

• Weigh items after they're fully packaged. Even a small difference can trigger an adjustment, especially near the 16 oz cutoff.
• Measure accurately, including bulges and seams. USPS machines capture your real dimensions — round up to the nearest inch to be safe.
• Match flat rate packaging to flat rate labels. Flat rate boxes and envelopes must be used with flat rate labels only — mixing them automatically results in an adjustment.
• Watch the size cutoff for envelopes and soft mailers. Anything larger than 18 inches in any direction (or more than 3 inches thick) counts as a box — select Box/Hard Packaging when buying the label, or USPS will reclassify it and charge an adjustment.

Common questions

Questions, or want help filing a dispute? We know unexpected charges are frustrating — reach out anytime and we'll support you however we can. Need more from USPS directly? Here's their official APV FAQ.