Shipping label for return of wallet from Los Angeles hotel

Golactico

My son left his slimline wallet (containing only his bank card and his driving licence) at the hotel he was staying at during a college trip to Los Angeles. Fortunately, they have found it and are willing to return it by post. However, they have asked my son to send them a Shipping Label. I assume this involves my son telling a courier company dimensions and weight of his wallet, the hotel address for collection and our address for delivery. We then pre-pay shipping costs, download a label and email this to the hotel? 

If above assumption is correct, I am stumped as I have tried UPS, DHL etc websites and none of them offer a clear and simple online facility to do this. Any help and advice gratefully received. Thanks

DullGreyGuy

Are the hotel going to package it or will you need a courier that will bring packaging with them?

Assuming its the former its the dimensions/weight of the package, with the wallet in, that you will need. 

It'll almost certainly be cheaper to book it via the UK version of the couriers website than the US but that may be more difficult if you need the courier to bring packaging. 

la531983

A driving license cost £20 to replace
Most banks dont charge for a replacement card.

How much is the wallet worth?

Or, to get to the point, is it really worth doing weighed up with the cost of the postage and everyones time and effort?

pseudodox

If you don't get them back what happens to them?  If you do get them back how do you know they have not been cloned or won't disappear en route?  Better to report both as lost ASAP, get them cancelled/invalidated and get replacments.

la531983

Hopefully the bank card has been reported as lost already? Please say it has.

RFW

You can try USPS. They offer various ways of getting a label to you. They'd probably need to fill in a customs form too. As said above though it may be simpler to not bother unless the wallet is valuable.

https://www.usps.com/ship/

Golactico

Thanks all. If it were me, I would cancel and ask the hotel to cut up the card/licence and get new ones. However, the wallet is worth enough for my son to want it back. He has suspended the bank card using his banking app, so no-one can use it (I acknowledge that this doesn't mean that it can't still be used fraudulently)

soolin

As above you need to find out whether hotel are intending to wrap it securely or expect packaging to be supplied by courier. Until you have confirmed that it is impossible to get correct advice, as if it isn’t packaged that will limit your courier.

You will also need to be clear about the ‘customs’ rules for the US, find out what forms need to be completed and complete them as well . A value will need to be declared, so watch limits for personal goods but don’t under declare. 

Golactico

All booked for collection by FedEx. Shipping label has been emailed to the hotel who have agreed to put it in a secure envelope. Just needs to make the 5.5K mile journey now!

Thanks all for commenting.

Golactico

For those who like happy endings - my son's wallet was safely received today. Thanks again to all who commented.