Shipping refund credits are a huge part of how Refund Retriever’s shipment auditing clients save money on yearly shipping costs. Small parcel shippers contact Refund Retriever when their current auditing company isn’t doing the job. The rate of late delivery credits fluctuates from week to week. But there are ways to ensure that your business gets all the money-back guarantee refunds that your FedEx or UPS account is entitled to.
FedEx and UPS offer a money-back guarantee for every ground and express delivery. Shippers may request a refund or credit of the shipping charges if FedEx or UPS miss the published delivery time by even 60 seconds. This guarantee applies to both commercial and residential. Here are a few ways to ensure your company gets the highest number of GSR refund credits.
1. Check carrier agreement for a money-back guarantee waiver
All ground or express, FedEx, and UPS packages have a money-back guarantee to arrive on time, or it’s free. But carriers are starting to place waivers of this service guarantee into newly signed contracts even when the previous contract did not include it. Usually, the shipper never receives notice of this new provision. The account representative is not going to point this out.
Read your new carrier agreements. Most shippers scan the new rates and accessorial discounts, then sign without much attention. Read the whole agreement; if you see the waiver, ask your carrier representative to remove the provision from your agreement.
2. Avoid scheduled FedEx invoice payments
FedEx Online Billing gives the option to place a credit card on file to pay the invoices instantly or after a certain number of days. If you pay the invoice upon generation, the shipping refunds will be credited back to the credit card to which the full invoice amount was charged. Late package refund logistics are complicated enough; a credit card on file will stop it altogether.
If you schedule the invoice payment for a set number of days, FedEx will not allow a dispute. Basically, the user is agreeing to pay the invoice in full. Therefore, here are two alternatives. First, log into FedEx online billing to review the invoice and submit instant payment. Alternatively, pay the invoice upon the generation without checking it. Then, let Refund Retriever review the invoice for billing mistakes and late deliveries afterward. Our parcel audit professionals will have shipping refund credits applied back to the credit card.
3. Avoid EFT payments for FedEx
Once an open invoice is scheduled for an electronic funds transfer, there is no way to dispute any shipments. FedEx will not reduce the invoice amount. FedEx knows they are getting the invoice amount in full from your financial institution and gives no option to dispute any billing mistakes. Remove EFT and opt for another payment method; never use EFT payment.
Use a credit card like American Express to earn an additional 15% back as a statement credit when you use an Amex business card. This will save money since late delivery refunds are available, and additional loyalty bonus savings apply.
4. Have the pickup driver scan each package before it leaves the warehouse
The starting point for all UPS and FedEx tracking is an origin scan. This origin scan is the starter pistol in the race to be delivered on time. If your UPS driver does not “start the race”, UPS has a greater opportunity to delay your delivery without fault. The origin scan is also the official notice that the carrier controls your package.
5. Beware of issues that exclude a shipping refund credit
FedEx and UPS are not obligated to issue late delivery shipping refund credits in certain situations. You must claim all UPS refunds within 15 days of the originally scheduled delivery date and 15 days from the original FedEx invoice date.
Refunds are not possible if the shipment was rerouted from the delivery address to a different location, was undeliverable or returned, contained dangerous goods or dry ice, was delayed due to an incorrect address or ZIP code, or the unavailability or refusal of an appropriate or eligible person to accept delivery or sign for the package.
Smart shippers see the value of a dependable and intelligent audit company. Our proprietary late delivery refund technology will monitor each and every FedEx and UPS shipment. Getting all the shipping refund credits your company deserves is not easy. Let our billing and refund logistics experts keep the carriers in line.
