If you receive a book postage-due, the first step is to assess whether or not this was a USPS error. Information that can be helpful to figure this out is:

• Is the address on the package your current mailing address?
  • If NO, then the package was forwarded to you, and you are responsible for the postage due (see below for more about this).
  • if YES, then continue with the other questions
• Is there any postage on the package?
  • If NO, then this is the sender's error (unless the postage was applied and fell off - this is rare but it has happened)
  • if YES, then continue with the other questions

• If there is postage on the package, then is the postage sufficient for a Media mail package of that package weight?
  • if YES, then ask the PO why there is postage due:
    • Perhaps the sender hand-wrote the label and did not write MEDIA MAIL on the package
    • Perhaps the sender printed out a First Class label but applied Media Mail postage
    • Perhaps the sender did not weigh the package and adjust the estimated weight on the wrapper Settings page before printing
    • Perhaps the sender used Priority Materials to mail (these may be used only for Priority packages)
    • Perhaps the sender thought that First Class Large Envelope rate would work to send a book (it will not -- read more about that in Can I use First-Class 'Large Envelope' Rate to send my book?)

If you receive a book postage-due that bears your current address on it (it was not forwarded), and you have accepted the package from the mail carrier already, you should contact the sender to discuss this.  Please be polite: this was probably a simple mistake.

• You should mark the book received as described in There is a problem with a book I received!.

• The sender will get credit for sending the book, but if the postage-due is more than a dollar, you can ask him or her to compensate you for the missing postage.

  • You can contact the sender during the process of marking the book received - or afterward using the PM button on the completed transaction for the book in your Transaction Archive
  • Be sure to note the postage due amount in the note you write while marking the  book received.

• You can arrange any solution that you like (the sender can PayPal or Venmo you the postage, or give you a credit, or snail-mail you postage, or send you another book for no credits...whatever you agree on).

If you receive a postage-due book addressed to your previous address (if you moved since you requested it), you are responsible for the additional postage.

• Media Mail postal rate does not include forwarding (or return) service.
• You can read more about this in What if I move? (How do I change my email or mailing address?).
• If the book was mailed to you very late, this was the sender's fault.  This is the only case in which postage-due for mail forwarding from the address you provided is not the requestor's responsibility.

If you receive a book postage-due that bears your current address on it (it was not forwarded) but you have NOT accepted the package yet, you may refuse it.  It will be returned to sender.   You should contact the sender to let him or her know what happened.

• In this case, you should not mark the book received.

  • This is the only time that it is appropriate not to mark a book received  (= if you have refused it for postage-due, and are not in possession of the book.)
  • This is the only time that it is appropriate to refuse a package from PBS (if there is postage due)

• When the book is declared "lost in the Mail" at PBS, you will get your credit back.

• You should contact the sender in this case also, to ensure that he or she is aware of the proper cost of mailing a book.
  • You can contact the sender using the PM button on the En Route Transaction for the book on your En Route to Me tab in My Account.

If the package has proper MediaMail postage on it,  you should ask the PO why extra postage is being charged.

• This may happen if the sender does not mark the package MEDIA MAIL
• This may happen if the package contained non-Media material and it was inspected
• This may happen (rarely) if USPS makes an error and wants First Class postage for a package marked MEDIA MAIL.
• This may happen if the item has the wrong estimated weight in the database, and the sender did not correct the weight estimate when she or he printed the wrapper to send the book.
• This may happen if the sender used Priority (or Express) Mail materials to mail - even Priority or Express Mail tape will mean that USPS will require the corresponding postage for that shipment.  Note that it's not OK to re-use a Priority Mail box or envelope for a Media Mail package - and turning a Priority Mail box or envelope inside out is considered a more serious offense since it implies knowledge of the wrongdoing.

Related Links:

There is a problem with a book I received!
How much does it cost to mail a book?
How do I contact another member?