Posted by Ilene C. Seidel on 12/22/11 4:37pm
Msg #407366

UPS Problem

FYI folks, in the past I had a terrible time with UPS billing me even though the ship transmittal was completed properly. So I've done as everyone else ordered (what I thought) were blank shipping transmittals. Well dummy me the tracking number has my account number on them. So this week I received about $200.00 worth of charges on my AMEX bill. It took several calls to UPS (different people different stories) to figure out how this happened. First I'm told someone went into my website account and generated the shipping forms then found out They were the handwritten ones. Finally I figured out where the shipment's went and pulled the files. Sure enough my account numbers were not on the form and the correct account number was on the bill to section and all properly and accurately stated. But UPS charged for incorrect account number (which was wrong) I've been using this account number for years.
They are all daft!!! Finally found someone in billing willing to help and low and behold realized even if I don't put my account number on the transmittal it's picked up on the tracking number. DUH!!! The majority of my clients do no use UPS (FEW) but it's bound to happen if you use UPS and you'll spend many hours on phone trying to rectify problems.
So what I'm saying folks is do not order blank transmittals thru your account on line just use the blank ones in the UPS stores or from mailboxes.

Reply by BestFlCloser on 12/22/11 4:48pm
Msg #407370

I have a UPS account and generate my own labels. Never had a problem with this. In another business that I have we ship over 100 boxes per day, never a problem with miss billing. Get your own account and do everything on line, it's much more efficient and you won't get burned either.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 12/22/11 7:44pm
Msg #407380

It can still happen when you use the online billing:

Msg #217051
Msg #213288

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 12/22/11 8:07pm
Msg #407381

If the billing party doesn't pay you do. It just hasn't happened to you yet.

Reply by ReneeK_MI on 12/23/11 6:14am
Msg #407420

Same as Allan, non-problem here, too

I know Paul never had an issue, used to think he and I were the only ones - thousands of pkgs, all shipped with on-line accounts. Back in ... maybe '06, I got hit for one shipment to a T/C that folded the day I shipped. One in about 4500 ... I can't qualify that as a problem. The benefits far, far outweigh a .0002% risk.

I'd like to know, though - has anyone who uses the on-line system (w/your own account) had a charge-back RECENTLY (not counting user-error), say in the last 2 years or so? (The ones noted in prior messages are from '07) I know that both UPS & FedEx on-line will stop me from completing a label if the client's account isn't valid.

Reply by MW/VA on 12/22/11 8:11pm
Msg #407382

IMO UPS is trying to find scape goats to backcharge for all the fraudulent shipping charges they incur. It sounds like they even tried to pass it off as being your fault somehow. Good for you for pursuing it.
In five years I've only been mistakenly charged for a couple of shipments, and calls got it cleared up quickly. Shipping has been discussed many times on the forum, and some say the best way is to insist on a shipping label provided by the hiring party.

Reply by Julie/MI on 12/22/11 9:48pm
Msg #407385

Re: UPS Problem Yep BTDT

There is not intent to get someone else to pay the bill, it's just that if you have the blank handwritten airbills, your account number in embedded in the barcode and unless some sharp ups emlployees sees the bill other party and manually adds the actual party that is responsible (even if you list the receiver and the sender as the same party and don't even put your address on the label) the bar code is the winner.

Which is exactly why you have to hijack the ups boxes for blank labels, even if you have an account.

Royal pain in the ass.

Reply by Doris Metzger on 12/22/11 10:03pm
Msg #407388

Re: UPS Problem Yep BTDT

Janet's right. Grab a couple of air bills from every UPS box you drive past so when you have to write out a bill, you won't have to use one of yours. Or, insist they send you a return UPS label.

Reply by Doris_CO on 12/22/11 10:11pm
Msg #407389

Re: UPS Problem Yep BTDT

That should be Julie not Janet who gave the advice.

Reply by Linda_in_MI on 12/22/11 10:12pm
Msg #407390

Using a handwritten airbill might require you to show ID

I have seen signs in retail locations that due to increased security if you are using a handwritten airbill, you may be asked to show ID before they will accept the package. So no more just walking in and dropping a package on the counter. Not a problem however if the airbill is computer generated or preprinted. It goes back to being able to track the shipper of the package.

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 12/22/11 10:49pm
Msg #407394

Re: Using a handwritten airbill might require you to show ID

One of the problems with UPS Stores is they are mostly franchised and they have to pay for
any fraudulent

Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 12/22/11 11:11pm
Msg #407395

Sorry I hit the enter key

shipments. My UPS store across the street doesn't provide hand-written bills anymore and the only way you can ship is to provide an account number and the senders address.

I have a lot of UPS bills that I got years ago from the store and the last time I brought in a loan package, the employee asked the owner "what is this bill?" She hadn't seen a handwritten bill and the owner knows me and said it was OK. Almost all my signing are sent back FedEX thank goodness. I just gooble out their supplies when I am in a FedEx Office.

I wouldn't put my information on a UPS/FedEx bill under almost any circumstance.

One incident that happened to me a couple of years ago with FedEx was a lesson learned.
It was Dec 23 (Thurs) and I dropped 3 packages.

The drop box I use by my office is not one of the most popular drop boxes and the driver didn't pick up on Dec 23; I guess he was to busy or lazy.

FedEx didn'tpick up the drop box until Monday and the docs arrived on Tues. The
lenders were furious with me and I lost one account over it.

I never use that drop box around a holiday and take the docs directly to FedEx store and make sure I get a receipt.
Lesson learned

Reply by Ilene C. Seidel on 12/23/11 4:58am
Msg #407416

Re: Sorry I hit the enter key

There have been rare occasions when FEDEX charged me for the shipment and they are easy to work with getting the charge reversed. UPS fights all the way, it's exhausting. I called a third time spoke to this helpful lady told her I wanted to speak to the fraud dept and she helped me figure out the problems with the charges and was able to charge the receiver. I don't have time for this crap. No one does.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 12/23/11 7:04am
Msg #407425

That can be solved by dropping in a drop box... n/m

Reply by ShipTropolis on 12/7/12 7:52pm
Msg #445857

Ask the Title or Escrow company to sign-up with ShipTropolis.com so you can print UPS and Fedex labels on demand on their account.

1. ShipTropolis.com is secure for the title/escrow company.
2. It's easy for notaries to quickly create labels on demand.
3. It ensures the notary doesn't get wrongfully stuck with the shipping cost.

Disclaimer: I work for ShipTropolis

Cheers,
Bob