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Shipping Invoice Auditing: Find Hidden Overcharges
Audit your carrier invoices to recover overcharges and ensure you're paying the correct shipping rates.
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Shipping Invoice Auditing: Find Hidden Overcharges
Carrier invoices often contain errors in your favor—their favor, that is. Here's how to audit invoices and recover overcharges.
Why Audit Invoices?
Common Overcharges
| Type | Frequency | Recovery Potential |
|---|---|---|
| Service failures | 5-10% | Full refund |
| Weight/dim errors | 3-5% | Difference |
| Duplicate charges | 1-2% | Full amount |
| Wrong surcharges | 2-4% | Surcharge amount |
Types of Billing Errors
Service Failures
| Failure | Entitlement |
|---|---|
| Late delivery (guaranteed) | Full refund |
| Missing guarantee | Refund of guarantee fee |
| Lost package | Declared value |
Dimensional Weight Errors
| Error | Issue |
|---|---|
| Wrong dimensions | Higher billed weight |
| Rounded up | Extra weight charges |
| Measurement errors | DIM calculation wrong |
Surcharge Errors
| Surcharge | Common Error |
|---|---|
| Residential | Charged for commercial |
| Address correction | Address was correct |
| Additional handling | Incorrect classification |
The Audit Process
Manual Audit Steps
Download invoice data
Compare to shipping records
Identify discrepancies
File refund claims
Track claim resolution
Update processes
What to Compare
| Invoice Field | Your Record |
|---|---|
| Weight charged | Actual weight |
| Dimensions | Actual dimensions |
| Service used | Service requested |
| Delivery time | Guaranteed time |
| Surcharges | Applicable? |
Guaranteed Service Refunds
UPS Service Guarantee
Guaranteed services include:
- Next Day Air
- 2nd Day Air
- 3 Day Select
- Ground (to commercial)
FedEx Money-Back Guarantee
Guaranteed services:
- Priority Overnight
- Standard Overnight
- 2Day
- Express Saver
Filing Claims
UPS Claims Process
Log into ups.com
Go to Billing → Billing Center
Select invoice
Click "File a Claim"
Select claim type
Provide details
Submit
FedEx Claims Process
Log into fedex.com
Go to Manage Account → Billing
Select invoice
Click "Adjust Invoice"
Select reason
Submit claim
Automation Options
Audit Services
| Service | Function |
|---|---|
| Automated audit | Scans all invoices |
| Claim filing | Submits refund requests |
| Recovery tracking | Monitors refunds |
Recovery Rates
| Method | Recovery |
|---|---|
| No auditing | 0% |
| Manual auditing | 1-2% |
| Automated auditing | 2-5% |
atoship Invoice Features
Simplify auditing:
Best Practices
Regular Auditing
| Frequency | Action |
|---|---|
| Weekly | Review high-value shipments |
| Monthly | Full invoice audit |
| Quarterly | Trend analysis |
Documentation
Keep records of:
- Shipping labels and receipts
- Tracking information
- Claim submissions
- Refund receipts
ROI of Auditing
Example Calculation
| Factor | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly shipping spend | $50,000 |
| Recovery rate | 3% |
| Monthly recovery | $1,500 |
| Annual recovery | $18,000 |
Conclusion
Carrier invoice auditing recovers real money from billing errors. Implement regular auditing, file claims promptly, and consider automated solutions for efficiency. Every dollar recovered is pure profit.
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