Guidelines for Filing Freight Claims

When a large number of consignments are being transported over a significantly long distance via Logistics Company in India to an international destination by sea etc. accidents are a serious concern. Everyone involved with the logistics from the packing company to the carrier to the overseas transportation might be organized smoothly and yet the shipment might meet an unforeseen accident.

When a shipment is damaged in transit, the shipper will definitely want to be reimbursed for the goods that arrived in a damaged state. This is where filing freight claims come into play. If you are frequently involved with shipping goods over long distances, you might be faced with a situation when it becomes necessary to file a freight claim. In this situation, here are some important guidelines and tips about the process that you must know about: 

When and How to File a Claim? 

Filing a claim with the air cargo carriers or similar transportation services is not as complicated a process as it comes across. It is crucial that the carrier or freight forwarder be notified of the problem as soon as possible. The actual filing of the claim will require some documents such as the proof of delivery (POD), the original invoice which shows that you paid for the goods, photographic evidence that the goods were damaged when delivered, and an estimate of the repairs (if required). 

The damaged goods must not be disposed of until the carrier sea freight companies direct you to do so. These must be saved until the claim has been finalized officially. This is important because the carrier will probably want to inspect the goods for themselves before agreeing to pay the claim amount. 

So when such a claim must be filed? Generally, the claim for damaged goods must be filed within a specific period of time. This time is generally limited to a few months after delivery. The claimant must take care of all the procedures in a timely manner in order to strengthen the case. There are also provisions for damages that were not noticed at the time of delivery but later. The ideal procedure to follow in this case differs from case to case and also the country where the goods are shipped. 

An important thing that the claimant must remember is that it is upon them to ensure that no further harm comes to the damaged goods before the claim is finalized.        

Word of Advice: Check for Damages upon Delivery 

As soon as the product is delivered, there must be a careful check of the goods to make sure that the shipment is undamaged and in proper order. Generally, it is advised that the consigner must ask the delivery person to wait until they have checked the product inside out for any signs of damage such as tears, holes, or cracks. This must be done before the Bill of Lading or the receipt is signed. 

In case there are some damages to the goods, clear pictures must be taken immediately as these might help while preparing documents for the claim. If the outside of the package is free from any signs of trouble, the next step is to check the goods themselves. If the goods look like they have suffered damage during transit, you must make a note of it on the receipt before signing.