What do you do if there are shipping invoice errors? Who do you turn to when faced with late deliveries of packages? We hope it is your parcel audit service provider. If not, you face the uphill task of asking for refunds from parcel carriers.
This blog deals with the audit services provided by parcel audit companies such as Audintel. In addition, we will discuss how auditing helps companies save money.
Parcel audit services
Parcel auditing services help businesses overcome manual time-consuming refund claims. The parcel shipment of each shipper is monitored and tracked by automatic parcel auditing software. Shippers can receive refunds from shipping carriers for late deliveries, damaged packages, and more. Further, Parcel audit services identify shipping inaccuracies and recover money for their clients.
Types of parcel audit impacting businesses
Initially, we will discuss the different audit points that impact businesses. Audintel identifies various audit points that need checking. These audit points are categorized further into three types of audits.
Service Audits
These audits are for deficiency in services provided by the shipping carriers. Small parcel auditors target the below audit points:
Late Delivery (Air, Ground and International)
Shippers are entitled to a refund from parcel carriers for late deliveries. Small parcel auditing services monitor the delay in package deliveries.
Voids
Shipping carriers generate labels for packages that are not shipped. At times, delivery of packages does not occur, and the shippers pay for such non-deliveries. Audintel helps shippers identify such shipments and recover money.
Duplicate Invoices
Shipping carriers may give shippers duplicate invoices for a shipment. Audintel identifies such errors and requests refunds.
Duplicate Tracking Number
Parcel carriers give duplicate tracking numbers by mistake. Audintel monitors duplicate tracking numbers.
Lost Claims
Audintel makes claims to the shipping carriers for lost packages. These claims include refunds for businesses.
Damage Claims
Packages damaged during transit are subject to claims. Audintel claims declared value or insurance for packages on behalf of the client.
Saturday Pick-Up and Delivery Validation
Shipping carriers pick up packages on Saturday and charge more for such shipments. Audintel verifies Saturday pick-up by parcel carriers, and if any errors occur, we file refunds for clients.
Invoice Audits
Errors in invoices are subject to audit by parcel auditors. The audit points that monitor inaccurate invoices include:
Incorrect Rate
Shipping carriers will publish shipping rates every year. Every package shipped is charged according to the decided rate during carrier negotiations. However, the parcel carriers may charge more than the negotiated rate. It leads to billing with inaccurate rates. Audintel files claims on behalf of shippers for refunds.
Incorrect Discount
During contract negotiations, shippers and service providers decide on discounts based on the shipping needs. A mistake in providing the correct discounts by carriers leads to refunds.
Incorrect Accessorial
Audintel requests refunds for shippers if accessorial fees and surcharges such as fuel surcharges are incorrect.
Commercial/Residential Adjustments
Packages to be delivered to commercial establishments may incorrectly charge residential location prices. Parcel audit services identify these inaccuracies made by shipping carriers.
Address Corrections Air and Ground
Shipped Packages by air or ground transport may not require address corrections. Nonetheless, shippers may charge incorrectly for address changes.
Delivery Area Surcharge
Shipping carriers charge businesses a surcharge if the delivery area is in remote locations. Audintel identifies any errors in DAS and requests refunds wherever possible.
Hundredweight Shipments
Multiple shipments going to one location will get discounts from shipping carriers. Audintel consults shippers to opt for these kinds of alternatives given by carriers so that they save money.
DAS Extended
Shipping carriers may charge more to shippers for shipments that have delivery areas beyond the remote areas. Audintel checks whether the delivery areas are beyond the distant locations and requests refunds where necessary.
DAS Rural
This surcharge is for rural areas. Parcel auditors check such DAS Rural for verification.
International Import and Export
Packages shipped to and from the US will have duties and taxes. Audintel ensures that shippers do not pay extra taxes.
Weight Accuracy
Parcel auditing helps in paying the right amount for package weights. For example, a package weighing 5 pounds may be charged incorrectly as a 7-pound package.
Additional Handling Charges
Our team verifies if the shippers are paying more for additional handling charges and helps how to reduce them.
Fuel Surcharge
Fuel surcharge changes frequently. Audintel verifies the fuel surcharge.
Hazmat Materials
Packages with hazardous materials have higher prices. Audintel checks the invoices to determine if the shippers get the correct bills.
Compliance Audits
Audits conducted by third parties are compliance audits. It is to check if both the shippers and parcel carriers are following their negotiated terms of the contract agreement. The audit points that are a part of these audits are:
Contract Rate and Tier Audits
Audintel has expert negotiators who have in-depth knowledge of carrier contracts. Additionally, we help shippers perfect their contract agreements with the shipping carriers to get the best deal.
Contract Negotiations
FedEx and UPS carrier Contracts/Agreements are very complicated and very difficult to negotiate with them. Our negotiating team ensures that the shippers’ contract agreements with parcel carriers are correct and there are no discrepancies.
Invalid Account Number Usage
Parcel auditors identify packages having invalid account numbers.
Incorrectly billed 3rd Party Shipments, who’s using your account number
Packages shipped are billed to a third party using account numbers that are not existing. Audintel identifies incorrect third-party account numbers.
Special Contract Consideration
Audintel checks contract negotiations made by shippers for inaccuracies and mistakes.
Small Parcel audits by Audintel: refunds and saving
Audintel identifies mistakes made by parcel carriers and requests refunds from them. We ensure our clients receive money in their accounts from FedEx, UPS, or other carriers. Audintel is a small parcel auditing company whose services do not end with just providing software solutions. But also with ensuring refunds for their customers. We help our clients save money by negotiating for discounts with shipping carriers.
Final Remarks Parcel audit services help businesses by requesting refunds for mistakes of parcel carriers. Several eligible refunds are unclaimed by shippers. Small parcel audit services claim refunds for businesses thus, saving money. The expert team at Audintel helps shippers to cut shipping costs. Reach out to us for a demo and benefit from our top-notch services. Visit the Audintel website or call us at +1 (619) 354 8539 to know more about us.