A FedEx delivery exception for an incorrect address means the driver couldn’t deliver because the address on the label is wrong, incomplete or can’t be matched, so the package is held while FedEx waits for a correction. The fastest fix is for the shipper to edit the delivery address in FedEx Tracking under Manage Delivery, or for the recipient to have it held at a FedEx location for pickup.
FedEx describes any delivery exception as a temporary delay caused by circumstances outside the normal route, and says an exception doesn’t necessarily mean the package will arrive late. An address problem is one of the few exception types you can fix yourself, so acting the same day gives the package the best chance of going back out on the next delivery run.
What does “delivery exception: incorrect address” mean on FedEx tracking?
It means FedEx scanned the package as undeliverable at the address on the label. The most common causes are a missing apartment or suite number, a wrong ZIP code, a misspelled street name, an old address after a move, or a business name with no street address. The package goes back to the local FedEx facility rather than being left somewhere unsafe.
The exception is different from a package that was delivered to the wrong place. If tracking shows “Delivered” but the package never arrived, follow our guide to what to do when FedEx delivers to the wrong address instead. If the scan history has stopped changing altogether, our article on FedEx tracking not updating covers that problem.
How do you fix a FedEx incorrect address exception?
Who can fix it depends on whether you sent the package or are waiting for it. The shipper controls the delivery address, while the recipient can usually redirect the package to a pickup location.
| Who you are | Best fix | Where to do it |
|---|---|---|
| Shipper | Edit the delivery address | FedEx Tracking: Manage Delivery, then Edit Delivery Address |
| Recipient | Hold at a FedEx location for pickup | FedEx Tracking: Manage Delivery, then Hold at Location |
| Recipient | Ask the shipper to correct the address | Contact the seller or sender with the tracking number |
| Either | Give the correct address to FedEx | FedEx customer service at 1.800.GoFedEx (1.800.463.3339) |
Steps for the shipper
- Log in to your FedEx account and open the tracking page.
- Enter the tracking or reference number.
- Select Manage Delivery, then Edit Delivery Address.
- Enter the corrected address and a contact phone number or email, then submit.
- Save the case number FedEx gives you, and expect the delivery date to change.
Steps for the recipient
- Track the package on fedex.com and select Manage Delivery.
- Choose Hold at Location and accept that the delivery date may change.
- Pick a FedEx location or participating retail partner near you.
- Add a phone number or email so FedEx can tell you when the package is ready.
- Bring a government-issued photo ID and the tracking number when you collect it.
If Manage Delivery won’t let you make a change, call FedEx with the tracking number ready. Our guide to the FedEx tracking and delivery options explains each Manage Delivery feature, and you can also track a FedEx package by address if you don’t have the tracking number.
What happens if the address isn’t corrected?
FedEx holds the package at the local facility for a limited time while it waits for a correction. If nobody supplies a deliverable address, the package is returned to the shipper, and the recipient has to wait for a new shipment. Our guide to FedEx return to sender explains how returned packages are tracked and handled.
Holidays add days to that window, because local facilities don’t deliver on closed dates. Check the FedEx holiday schedule if an exception lands near a holiday. Delivery estimates by region are explained in our article on FedEx shipping map times.
Does FedEx charge for an address correction?
Yes. FedEx bills the shipper an address correction charge when it has to correct or complete an address after pickup, and the amount is listed in the FedEx Service Guide and on FedEx’s rates page. The charge can apply even when the change is small, such as adding a missing unit number. Our FedEx address corrected fee guide explains when it appears on an invoice and how to avoid it.
How do you prevent FedEx address exceptions?
Most address exceptions start when the label is created, so the fix is careful data entry. Before you print, check these details:
- Apartment, suite, unit or floor numbers on the address line, not only in delivery notes.
- The full street name and type (Street, Avenue, Road) and the correct five-digit ZIP code.
- The recipient’s phone number, so the driver or facility can reach them.
- A street address rather than a P.O. box, since FedEx can’t deliver to most P.O. boxes.
Our checklist of the address information required for delivery and our step-by-step guide on how to address a box for shipping cover the format. If you’re making the label yourself, the walkthrough on how to create a FedEx label shows where FedEx’s address check flags problems before you pay.
The same habits prevent address exceptions with other carriers, and the UPS tracking and delivery guide covers how UPS handles address problems. If UPS or USPS suits your package, ParcelPath offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS, and you can compare rates for your package in the ParcelPath rate calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the recipient change the address on a FedEx delivery exception?
Usually not the street address itself, because the shipper controls it. FedEx’s address-edit tool runs through the shipper’s logged-in account under Manage Delivery and Edit Delivery Address. A recipient can instead choose Hold at Location in FedEx Tracking to collect the package at a FedEx location or retail partner, or ask the shipper to submit the corrected address.
Will a FedEx incorrect address exception delay my package?
It often adds at least a day. Once the shipper edits the address or the recipient chooses Hold at Location, FedEx warns that the delivery date may change. A correction made the same day the exception appears usually gets the package onto the next delivery run, while waiting several days risks the package being returned to the shipper.
How does a shipper fix a wrong address after shipping with FedEx?
Log in to your FedEx account, open the tracking page and enter the tracking number. Select Manage Delivery, then Edit Delivery Address, add the corrected address and a contact number, and submit. FedEx gives you a case number for the request. The change has to be made before the package is delivered, and the delivery date can move.
Who pays the FedEx address correction charge?
The shipper, or whoever’s FedEx account is billed for the shipment. FedEx adds an address correction charge to the shipping invoice when it has to correct or complete an address after pickup. The current amount is published in the FedEx Service Guide, and checking the address before printing the label is the simplest way to avoid it.
Sources
- FedEx FAQ: What does the “delivery exception” status mean?
- FedEx FAQ: How to change or correct the delivery address for a shipped package
- FedEx FAQ: How to redirect a package to a FedEx location
- FedEx: Customer service phone numbers
Part of our FedEx Tracking and Delivery guide. Related: FedEx Tracking Not Updating, FedEx Shipping Map Times, Can I Track FedEx by Address.
