Speed Post "Delivery Attempted" — What It Means, Why It Happens, and How to Get Your Parcel
Your tracking says "Delivery Attempted — Addressee Not Available" and now you're worried the parcel will be sent back. Here's exactly what's going on, how much time you have, and what to do right now to get your parcel.
Check your latest tracking status first
Has the status changed since you last checked? The exact wording tells you what to do next.
What "Delivery Attempted" Actually Means
"Delivery Attempted" means the postman came to your address, tried to hand over the parcel, and could not complete delivery. The parcel is not lost. It has been carried back to your local delivery post office, where it is sitting right now, waiting for you.
The important thing: India Post holds undelivered Speed Post articles for 7 days from the date of the first failed attempt. After that, the parcel is returned to the sender. So you have a limited window to act — and the sooner you move, the better.
The tracking status usually appears with a reason code attached. Here's what each one means:
"Delivery Attempted" Sub-Statuses Explained
| Tracking Status | What It Means | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Addressee Not Available | Nobody was home (or nobody answered the door) when the postman came. | Be present for the next attempt, or collect from the post office. |
| Door Locked / Premises Locked | The house or flat was locked. The postman could not find anyone to hand it to. | Same — arrange to be home or go collect it. |
| Refused by Addressee | Someone at the address refused to accept the parcel (e.g. refused COD payment, or did not recognise the sender). | If this was a mistake, visit the post office quickly to collect before it's returned. |
| Incomplete Address | The postman could not locate the address — missing flat number, unlisted building, or wrong locality. | Call the post office with the correct address and ask for re-delivery. |
| Delivery Attempted (generic) | A catch-all when no specific reason was recorded. Could be any of the above. | Call the delivery post office to find out the actual reason and next steps. |
The exact sub-status wording can vary slightly depending on the post office and scanner. If yours says something slightly different — like "Not deliverable" or "Item on hold" — the steps below still apply.
Why "Delivery Attempted" Happens — The Real Reasons
Some of these are genuine. Some are frustrating. All of them are common.
You genuinely weren't home
The most common reason. Speed Post articles need a signature on delivery — the postman cannot leave them at the door. If no one answers, the attempt fails.
Your phone was off or on DND
Postmen often call before arriving, especially for bulky parcels. If your number was unreachable and they couldn't find the address easily, they move on.
Apartment security didn't let the postman in
Gated communities and apartment complexes with strict security sometimes block the postman from entering, especially if your name isn't registered with reception.
Address was incomplete or wrong PIN code
A missing flat number, wrong area name, or incorrect PIN code makes the address hard or impossible to find. If the sender made an error, the postman has no way to reach you.
Postman's route ran out of time
Each postman covers a fixed route. If the day's delivery load is heavy and your address falls at the end, the parcel may come back undelivered — sometimes even if you were home waiting.
COD amount not paid
Cash on Delivery parcels need payment in cash at the door. If you didn't have the exact amount or refused the COD charge, delivery can't be completed.
"Fake attempt" — you were home but nobody came
This is the frustrating one. Some users report the status changing to "Delivery Attempted" even though they were home all day and nobody knocked or called. If this happens to you, there's a specific action to take — covered below.
How Many Re-Attempts Does India Post Make?
After the first failed delivery, India Post typically makes one more attempt the next working day. So you get two chances in total. After the second failed attempt, the parcel stays at the delivery post office for the remainder of the 7-day holding period.
Honestly, don't wait for the second attempt. If you see "Delivery Attempted" in your tracking, call the post office or go collect it the same day. Waiting just eats into your 7-day window.
Day 1 — First delivery attempt fails
Postman leaves an intimation slip (a small paper notice) at your address. Parcel returns to the delivery post office. The 7-day clock starts now.
Day 2 — Second attempt (next working day)
India Post makes a second delivery attempt. If this also fails, no more home delivery attempts are made.
Days 3–7 — Held at post office
The parcel sits in the undelivered section at the post office. You can collect it any working day. This is your safest window.
After Day 7 — Returned to sender
The article is marked "Returned to Sender" and sent back to the origin post office via Speed Post. Getting it re-sent means the sender has to book it again from scratch.
The 7-day window starts from the date of the first attempt — not the day you notice it in tracking. If the attempt happened two days ago and you only checked tracking today, you've already used two of your seven days.
How to Find Your Delivery Post Office
Your parcel is at the delivery post office that handles your PIN code area — not the nearest post office. Here's how to confirm exactly which one:
1 Check the intimation slip
If the postman left a slip in your letterbox or under your door, it shows the post office name, address, and sometimes a phone number. This is the most direct answer.
2 Look at your tracking history
Open SpeedIndiaPost.com and track your consignment. The location name next to the "Out for Delivery" or "Delivery Attempted" entry is your delivery post office.
3 Use India Post's Post Office Locator
Go to indiapost.gov.in and use the Post Office Locator. Enter your PIN code, and it will list all post offices in that area with addresses and phone numbers. Match the name from your tracking to find the right one.
How to Collect Your Parcel from the Post Office
Collecting in person is the fastest way to get your parcel. Most people have it in their hands within 10 minutes. Here's exactly what to bring and what to expect.
What to bring
What to say at the counter
Go to the Speed Post counter (or the postmaster's desk in smaller offices) and say:
"I have an undelivered Speed Post article. The consignment number is [your number]. Delivery was attempted on [date]. I'd like to collect it."
They will look it up, check your ID against the addressee name on the parcel, ask you to sign the delivery register, and hand it over. The whole process takes a few minutes.
Post office hours for collection
Monday – Saturday
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
2nd & 4th Saturday
Closed
Sunday & Holidays
Closed
Hours vary by location — GPOs and head post offices may open earlier or close later. Smaller branch offices may have shorter hours. Arrive at least 30 minutes before closing.
How to Request Re-Delivery Instead of Collecting
If you can't visit the post office — maybe it's far away, you're at work, or you're not well — you can request that they try delivering again. Here's how:
Option 1: Call the delivery post office directly
Give them your consignment number and ask for re-delivery. Confirm your full address and a mobile number where the postman can reach you. Ask them which day the attempt will happen so you can be home.
Option 2: Call the national helpline
1800 266 6868
Toll-free · Monday to Saturday, 9 AM – 6 PM (IVRS available 24/7)
If the local post office doesn't pick up (this happens more than it should), call the national helpline. They can contact the delivery office on your behalf and log a re-delivery request.
Option 3: Write on the intimation slip
Some intimation slips have a section where you can write a requested re-delivery date and drop the slip back in a post box. This is the old-fashioned method and can work, but calling is faster and more reliable.
Tip: India Post does not offer specific time-slot delivery. The postman delivers along a fixed route, usually between 9 AM and 5 PM. You can ask the post office to have the postman call before arriving so you get some notice.
What If You Were Home But Nobody Came?
This is a common complaint — the tracking says "Delivery Attempted" but you were home all day, nobody knocked, nobody called. If you believe the attempt was not genuine, here's what to do:
Call the delivery post office immediately
Tell them you were home and no one came. Ask for the postman's details and request that they re-deliver the next day. Be firm but polite — the supervisor at the counter can usually sort it out.
File a complaint online
Go to India Post's complaint portal at indiapost.gov.in (Grievance Redressal section) and file a formal complaint with your consignment number. Mention that the attempt was not genuinely made. You can also file through the CPGRAMS portal at pgportal.gov.in for higher-level escalation.
Call 1800 266 6868
Report the fake attempt on the national helpline. They will create a case and the delivery office will need to respond. This tends to get attention faster than just calling the local office.
For a full walkthrough of the complaint process — including escalation to the PG Portal and consumer forums — see our guide to filing a Speed Post complaint.
Quick Action Checklist
Saw "Delivery Attempted"? Here's your checklist, in order of priority:
Special Cases — Passports, PAN Cards & Aadhaar
If your "Delivery Attempted" article is a government-issued document, a few extra rules apply:
- Passports must be delivered to the addressee in person with photo ID. If delivery fails, the passport is held at the post office for 7 days, then returned to the Regional Passport Office. Contact Passport Seva (passportindia.gov.in) to arrange re-dispatch. See our passport tracking guide for the full process.
- PAN cards are sent via Speed Post by Protean (formerly NSDL) or UTIITSL. Collection from the post office requires your ID matching the name on the PAN application. Read our PAN card tracking guide.
- Aadhaar PVC cards follow the same rules. If delivery fails, the card is returned to UIDAI after the holding period. You can check dispatch status on myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in. See our Aadhaar tracking guide.
Track Your Speed Post Right Now
Every hour matters once the 7-day clock has started. Check your latest status on SpeedIndiaPost.com — free, no login, shows the full event history including the exact post office name and attempt date.
Track Your Consignment NowFrequently Asked Questions
What to Do Right Now
Don't wait. The 7-day clock is already running. Open SpeedIndiaPost.com, track your consignment, and note the delivery post office name from the tracking history. Then either visit that post office with your ID to collect, or call them to arrange re-delivery.
If you want to understand every India Post tracking status — not just "Delivery Attempted" — read our full Speed Post tracking status meaning guide. And if things go wrong and you need to escalate, our complaint filing guide walks you through every channel.
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