Little rant. Charged a UPS shipment to a business customers account over 4 months ago (with the customers approval) and now see the charge on one of our current invoices! Seems the customer is now in bad standing with UPS. Do you find it odd that UPS would go back to the original shipper 4 months later to almost act as their collection agent? Ever have this happen to you? Found this really odd . . .
Yes, it has happened with me. It is their policy (Fedex and UPS). Sucks.
Nick,
As Dan said, this is SOP.
But you should be wary of doing that for another reason. If you ship using the customer’s account, you do run the risk, however small, of UPS confiscating the wine since the customers account is not authorized for wine shipment.
Suppose I should not be surprised it is written somewhere in the fine print? First time this has happened, and a little over 4 months later raises an eyebrow.This particular customer is wine retailer who is also an authorized shipper so the shipment was legal, a B2B transaction basically. They are in bad standing now with UPS . . . will see how it plays out . . . Sucks is a good choice of words!
This is sort of like, having a gas station. Selling gas on credit to someone, and then when they don’t pay, going after Honda. Should be illegal, no? ![[shrug.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/4/48636ebda2a440a43ad8d24c83be20ac20c53420.gif "shrug"){kind=small}
Not really Steve.
Nick shipped from his UPS account, he just requested that the charges be billed back to another account. UPS denied that request.
I am not agreeing with the policies, especially 4 months later, but it is not as bad as you make it appear, Steve,
Silly me. [gheyfight.gif]
Guess I need to buy my stuff on someone elses account from now on. [rolleyes.gif]
You might as well. UPS will be fine with that.
I used to have a UPS shipper number until someone from NYC shipped an overnight package to LA using an account number similar to mine (it was one digit off). The cost was $661. It hit my credit card 3 times over a 4 month period, each time it was disputed with UPS and AMEX. I decided after their third attempt at charging me, it was time to close the UPS account.
The shipper signed his name as “Al K Hol”. Not kidding, have a copy of the shipper doc send from UPS billing.
It should be illegal for companies to do this. You either pay with your account, or IF they accept someone elses account, then that account is libel. Period.
Holy cow. So, if I have several customers who have asked us to use their own UPS account when issuing a label will I be able to call UPS first and find out if the account is in good standing??? Or will UPS just shine me on? How can you find out ahead of time?
Mary,
You have an out living in California. If UPS accepts the initial shipping tag with the “bad standing” account, you can’t be held liable. If you get a bill, dispute it and document all contacts. If they send you a letter with any kind of threat, dial your local District Attorney’s Office Consumer/Environmental Protection Unit and file a complaint. They love making money for their county.
It may be UPS/Fedex “policy” but a legally licensed wine shipper is responsible for his own account and there is no California State Law that says a licensed wine shipper may only ship from one location. Law trumps policy. Granted, UPS or Fedex can drop you, but they can’t make you pay for a shipment somebody else made.
PS Have the licensed shipper complete the shipping tag and e-mail it to you.
Mary, when my customer had his account charged 4 months ago, he was in good standing. UPS told me this! Something happened shortly after, he did not pay his debts, or something, and instead of UPS considering him liable for his debt, UPS took the path of least resistance and go back to the original shipper. It’s a big game they play to make others do their collections IMO. Most customers I charge to are honest and ethical, and B2B, so no issues, but this was an irritating exception . . .
Only actions I can see are go back to UPS and dispute, or go back to the original customer and say pay up, or just take the hit and refuse all future business with them! Do not see anyway you could know for sure ahead of time no matter who you called?
Good point Randy! That would be pretty fail safe . . .
Nick,
We, like you do quite a bit of B2B and haven’t had that problem. We usually complete the shipping tag and email it to any bus shipping to us. Now, I think we will have businesses buying from us complete the shipping tag and email it to us if they want to use their account.
Nick
I did not realize that he was in good standing when you shipped it. That sucks.
FYI, Fedex is slightly different, I think.
Just a quick followup:
Customer - E-mailed the customer a few times suggesting he take care of his debt as agreed with no reply from them. Amount is not worth a lot of time or pressure, more a curiousity how it would play out. Interesting to note, at the time I noticed this charge on our invoice, they were in the process of a very large order with us. Never shipped the wine because it turns out they did not have the funds!! So basically, discontinuing future business with this company.
UPS - UPS did pretty much as expected, quoted the standard “Terms and Conditions.” Had little interest in circumstances, communication with the original customer, etc. Without threatening, escalated a little and questioned a lot. In the end, suggested we split it to make it go away, as the amount is pretty trival based on the overall business we do, and that the time we have spent on the phone/email far exceeded the value. UPS ultimately said, we’ll just drop it and make it go away.
Case closed . . .