Has anyone actually received money from TSA for items lost after an inspection?

Some articles were lost from my luggage last May, I filed a claim in June, and after waiting 6 months, I have called, faxed, and emailed TSA a hundred times without any response. I was told I could sue, but it is not reasonable to go to court for $148. It is most frustrating. Suggestions?

Let it go.

Don't let it go. Even if you don't succeed, you've at least indicated to TSA that people WILL object to losses from their luggage. But sorry you waited 6 months, because that reduces the impact of your claim considerably. You can always contact your congressional representative's office -- it's an election year, after all.

Cassandra - After you file a claim with TSA, you have to wait for 6 months before you can call and they will tell you that the claim has not yet been finalized. Then they tell you to fax and email another office (really a black hole from which nothing escapes), but they don't know how long you have to wait before calling again. The buck stops nowhere. It is a hopeless situation. :'(

This was a checked bag?

Don't think you should consider it hopeless (after all you posted here).

And the idea of contacting your Representative (rather than Senator, who will have less time and who represents more people) isn't a bad one -- they are supposed to serve their constituents with respect, particularly, to federal agencies.

It was a checked bag.

So, there were airline employees handling your bag at the departure airport and again when loading and unloading the plane. You lost the articles (or there was a theft from your bag) and your bag was inspected. That doesn't mean that your items were lost or stolen because of the inspection. That is what I was thinking in my first reply along with the fact that you contacted TSA "a hundred" times.

My point being that you can't prove that it was TSA's fault. That is their trump card for not reimbursing you. You are not likely to succeed and could wind up spending more of your valuable time (and aggravation) than the articles were worth.

I doubt it was stolen. I believe it was an accidental loss due to incompetence.

I can't prove it. I don't have a video or fingerprint evidence.

The TSA has not denied it. They haven't answered yet.

If I ever hear from them, I'll get back. Stay tuned.

Should have filed a claim also with the airline. You dropped your bag off with the airline ticket agent and it did not come back intact. So you may blithely assume (for better or worse) that the airline has some responsibility in the matter and take it from there.

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