Posted by L.G (Buc) Alboucq on 8/30/09 2:34pm
Msg #302316

UPS

We have been billed fby UPS or a package that should have been billed to the signing service.

Reply by LynnNC on 8/30/09 2:54pm
Msg #302318

Do you have the sender copy of the shipping label?

Check and make sure you wrote down their account number correctly. Call UPS and they will make an adjustment.

Reply by desktopfull on 8/30/09 3:05pm
Msg #302320

Sorry you got burned, you must have used your name and address on the return and the SS has refused to pay for the package. Unfortunately, in the fine print, the shipper is responsible for the bill when the receiving party refuses to pay. What's worse is that they charge an additional $10.00 for reversing the fees to the shipper. I always use the company's name and address in the shipping and receiving sections so that they can't come after me for the bill. I got burned by Residential Title for eight packages in 2002. I got my monthly statement stating that they had charged my credit card on file for a $331.00 UPS bill, that's when I closed my UPS account. Also, always drop the package in a box or at a UPS store never have them pick up at your home. BTW, Fed Ex does the same thing.

Reply by OR on 8/30/09 4:06pm
Msg #302323

Sorry been there and done that. I call UPS and have them reverse the charges to the other account. Good Luck

Reply by bahama on 8/30/09 4:23pm
Msg #302325

I have learned the hard way that if UPS send you supplies, they still have your information on record. What I have started doing is going by the drop boxes and picking up a few supplies here and there. If they cannot collect from the companies they sure can't collect from you. They can try and collect from the drop boxes. Just one humble person's opinion. LOL

Reply by Yowheelz on 8/30/09 4:31pm
Msg #302326

Don't jump to conclusions!

Over the many years that I have been doing closings I have never been burned by a company but I have left off the account number and used a wrong account number. All instances I have been able to resolve issues with UPS and on one occassion I sent the invoice to the title company and they paid it direct. It's not always the fault of the TC or SS, we do sometimes make mistakes. I owned a mail and parcel center for 16 years and I know that UPS and FedEx will work with you.

Reply by MW/VA on 8/30/09 6:48pm
Msg #302328

Re: Don't jump to conclusions!

I agree. A mistake happens now & then. Sometimes the drivers are in a hurry & get the account nos. scanned in wrong. I've always been able to get it quickly resolved with a phone call to UPS or Fedex. The only charges I've ever gotten stuck with were for a co. that pulled up stakes & disappeared.

Reply by PAW on 8/30/09 7:39pm
Msg #302332

Re: Don't jump to conclusions!

With online airbill creation (FedEx, UPS, DHL and USPS), the account number YOU enter is bar coded to the airbill and tracking number, so scanning it wrong is highly unlikely. Also, when creating the online airbill, the account number is verified as an active account. With UPS, the account number also has to match the zip code of the billing address.

Reply by Jim/AL on 8/30/09 9:40pm
Msg #302338

Re: Don't jump to conclusions!

Paul are you saying I can create a UPS or FedEx airbill online and use someone elses (TC or SS) account number?

Sure would prefer it to the filling out of paper bills.

Reply by TRG_wy on 8/31/09 7:01am
Msg #302344

Re: Don't jump to conclusions!

Yes. I have a FedEx account but 99.9% of my shipping and all my ship manager address are for TC and/or SS returns.

I have closed two UPS accounts due to their reverse billing. I use FedEx whenever I have the chance.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 8/31/09 7:45am
Msg #302345

Re: Don't jump to conclusions!

I no longer prepare on-line shipping labels using the TC's account number. I got reverse-billed for a UPS shipment once, in 2007. When I created the label, the account number went through fine and the label was created. I sent the package. About two months later I received a reverse charge for that shipment, plus a $10 fee - totaled about $32.

I found out that the TC had decided to use DHL for shipping their packages, and closed their UPS account at some point. If my label was generated fine, I'm not sure why the TC was not billed for the package but UPS was not forthcoming with info and would not reverse the charges. I ended up paying for it and hounding the TC for several months but finally got reimbursed. The TC insisted that they no longer used UPS when my job was completed, however the shipping info I received from them was for UPS and not DHL.

As a result of this experience, I no longer trust that the account number is verified as valid and active by the shipping company. I now ONLY used pre-printed shipping labels provided by the TC or SS - without that I will handwrite the airbill with the TC account number and name in the "To" and "From" section, and I mark it as "bill shipper". I only get airbills from drop boxes, as I've heard that they can trace the ones back to you that you order on-line.

Reply by PAW on 8/31/09 7:55am
Msg #302346

That's exactly what I'm saying.

FedEx, UPS, DHL and USPS all allow for "recipient" billing and both FedEx and UPS (not sure about the others) allow for "third party" billing.

In over 20 years, I've only been reversed billed once, and that was because I entered the wrong account number. Then, the recipient (whose account I was suppose to have used) reimbursed me for the charges without any hassle.

Whenever I take an assignment, I always verify and validate the account number with the billing party. Companies do change account numbers for various reasons. Sometimes schedulers, especially signing services, don't update their records with the correct information, so a quick check before preparing the airbill for the return package has always worked for me. (It's not too often that the situation arises, but it's easier to avoid the problem than to fix it.)

Reply by MW/VA on 8/31/09 9:03am
Msg #302353

Re: Don't jump to conclusions!

I use Fedex's online shipping manager and it's the bomb. I can store ship to addresses w/account nos., & get delivery notifications. I have no problems with Fedex. I did, however, go back to using paper UPS shipping labels. I found that UPS is pretty quick to backcharge. Again, this is my experience.

Reply by Lucy/IL on 8/30/09 8:40pm
Msg #302335

Re: Don't jump to conclusions!

One time I had to travel to another town so I took the finished package to be sent to that towns UPS center instead of my usual center. I had a printed label from the signing company ready for shipping, the manager would not take the package. The billing had to be paid by ME, would not accept it paid by the receiving company. They said they get to many returns and they have to pay for the package. I went down the road to another UPS center and sent it from there with no problems.

Reply by Bob_Chicago on 8/31/09 9:13am
Msg #302354

Recepient info and ac # is very clearly written on airbill.

Only part of sender info that can be read is my cell #, zipcode
and customer info.
Let them try to back bill bldi ikoiiee in dsoufuif, IL

Reply by ChristineHI on 8/31/09 3:43pm
Msg #302395

I had that happen once and now I put the recipient information in the sender information as well. My name and information is nowhere on the airbill. The sender and recipient information is the same.

This way, if there are any problems, they will contact the signing company/title company (recipient) for information and not me.
It has worked very well and I know that I will never be contacted by FEDEX or UPS for billing questions.

Reply by Paul Rodriguez on 9/1/09 6:37am
Msg #302438

I have had that happen to me. I call the SS and ask for there account number or go to the email that was sent to me with the package and the account number is there.Then I call ups/fed ex and tell them it was suppose to be billed to them and they correct it and I'm not responsible anymore to pay the bill.