Automated Claims & Disputes
Most businesses leave money on the table because they don't have time to file shipping claims. ShipWave detects issues automatically and files claims on your behalf — recovering refunds while you focus on your business.
2-5%
Typical Recovery
Of total shipping spend
100%
Automatic Detection
Every shipment monitored
$0
Cost to Start
No upfront fees
Weekly
Recovery Reports
Full claim visibility
Benefits
Why Businesses Choose This Feature
- Automatic Detection
Every shipment is monitored for service failures — late deliveries, lost packages, and billing discrepancies. Issues are flagged the moment they occur.
- Hands-Free Claim Filing
When a service failure is detected, ShipWave files a claim with the carrier automatically. No forms, no phone calls, no manual tracking.
- Over-Billing Recovery
Our system catches dimensional weight miscalculations, duplicate charges, and other billing errors that are easy to miss on carrier invoices.
How Automated Claims Work
We Monitor Every Shipment
ShipWave tracks delivery performance against carrier service guarantees. Late deliveries, stalled packages, and billing anomalies are flagged automatically.
Claims Filed Automatically
When an issue qualifies for a refund (late delivery, lost package, billing error), we file the claim with the carrier — no action needed from you.
Refunds Recovered
We track each claim through resolution and notify you when refunds are credited. View all recovered amounts in your dashboard.
The Money You Are Leaving on the Table
Late Delivery Guarantees Most Businesses Never Claim
UPS, FedEx, and other carriers offer service guarantees on express and time-definite shipments. If a package arrives late — even by a few minutes — you are entitled to a full refund of the shipping charges. The catch? Carriers do not issue these refunds automatically. You have to file a claim for every individual late delivery, and you typically have 15 days to do it. Most businesses never even check whether their express shipments arrived on time, let alone file the paperwork. The result: carriers keep billions of dollars in late delivery fees every year that rightfully belong to their customers. ShipWave monitors every shipment in real-time and files late delivery claims automatically before the filing window closes.
Billing Errors That Slip Through
Carrier invoices are complex, often running hundreds of pages for businesses that ship regularly. Buried in those invoices are errors: dimensional weight miscalculations where the carrier measured your package differently than you did, duplicate charges for the same shipment, residential surcharges applied to commercial addresses, and fuel surcharges calculated incorrectly. Industry audits consistently find that 1-3% of shipping charges contain billing errors. For a business spending $10,000 per month on shipping, that is $100-300 per month in overcharges — $1,200-3,600 per year. ShipWave audits every charge against the expected rate and flags discrepancies automatically.
Lost and Damaged Package Claims
When a package is lost or arrives damaged, filing a claim with the carrier requires documentation: proof of value, proof of shipment, and often photos of damage. The process is time-consuming enough that many businesses only pursue claims for high-value items and write off the rest. ShipWave tracks packages that stop updating (indicating potential loss) and detects packages that are returned to sender or show irregular scan patterns. When a package qualifies as lost, we initiate the claim process with all required documentation automatically generated from your shipment records. For damaged packages, we streamline the process by pre-filling claim forms with shipment details.
How Recovery Adds Up Over Time
The typical ShipWave user recovers 2-5% of their total shipping spend through automated claims and billing audits. That number might sound small in percentage terms, but consider what it means in real dollars. A business shipping $5,000 per month recovers $100-250 monthly — $1,200-3,000 per year. A business shipping $50,000 per month recovers $1,000-2,500 monthly — $12,000-30,000 per year. And the best part: these are refunds for money you already spent. There is no additional cost, no risk, and no effort required on your part. ShipWave does the monitoring, detection, filing, and tracking automatically.
Automated Claims vs. Manual Dispute Filing
| Feature | ShipWave | Manual Process |
|---|---|---|
| Issue detection | Every shipment, automatic | Manual spot-checks only |
| Claim filing speed | Same-day, within filing window | Often missed due to time constraints |
| Billing audit | Every invoice line item | Rarely audited in detail |
| Lost package detection | Automatic tracking analysis | Noticed when customer complains |
| Documentation | Auto-generated from shipment records | Manual assembly per claim |
| Time required | Zero — fully automated | 15-30 minutes per claim |
| Recovery rate | 2-5% of shipping spend | <1% — most issues go unclaimed |
What We Detect & Recover
ShipWave monitors for every type of carrier service failure.
- Late deliveries — guaranteed service failures that qualify for refunds
- Lost packages — automatic claim filing when tracking goes dark
- Dimensional weight over-charges — catch incorrect measurements
- Duplicate charges — identify and dispute double-billed shipments
- Address correction surcharges — dispute unwarranted corrections
- Void/unused label credits — ensure refunds for labels never used
- Weekly dispute summary emails with recovered amounts
- Full claim history and resolution tracking in your dashboard
Who Benefits from Automated Claims
High-Volume Shippers
Businesses shipping 500+ packages per month recover thousands of dollars annually from late delivery refunds and billing errors that would otherwise go unclaimed.
Express & Overnight Shippers
Companies that rely on time-definite services like UPS Next Day Air and FedEx Overnight have the highest recovery rates since these services carry strict delivery guarantees.
E-commerce Brands
Online sellers who cannot afford to manually audit every carrier invoice use automated billing audits to catch dimensional weight errors, duplicate charges, and surcharge mistakes.
Multi-Carrier Shippers
Businesses using USPS, UPS, FedEx, and regional carriers benefit most because each carrier has different claim processes. ShipWave handles the specifics for every carrier automatically.
Small Teams Without Logistics Staff
Small businesses without a dedicated shipping manager recover refunds they would never have the time to pursue. Claims are filed automatically with zero staff time required.
Subscription & Recurring Shippers
Companies shipping predictable volumes on a schedule accumulate significant savings over time as automated claims catch every eligible refund across every shipment cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can I expect to recover?
Most businesses recover 2-5% of their total shipping spend. The exact amount depends on your carrier mix, service levels used, and shipping volume. Express and time-definite services have the highest recovery rates.
Do I need to do anything for claims to be filed?
No. ShipWave monitors every shipment automatically and files claims when issues are detected. You receive notifications and can view all claims in your dashboard, but no action is required on your part.
Which carriers are supported for automated claims?
ShipWave supports automated claims for UPS, FedEx, USPS, and DHL. Each carrier has different claim types and filing windows — ShipWave handles the specifics for each one.
How quickly are refunds processed?
Filing happens same-day when an issue is detected. Carrier processing times vary: UPS and FedEx typically resolve claims within 5-10 business days, while USPS may take 2-4 weeks.
Is there a fee for the automated claims service?
Automated claims are included in ShipWave business plans. There are no per-claim fees or success-based commissions — you keep 100% of the recovered refunds.
Can I see a history of all claims filed?
Yes. Your dashboard shows every claim filed, its current status, the carrier response, and the refund amount. Weekly summary emails give you a high-level overview of recovery activity.
What about claims for damaged packages?
ShipWave streamlines damaged package claims by pre-filling claim forms with shipment details. You may need to provide photos of damage, but all other documentation is generated automatically.
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Stop Leaving Money on the Table
Recover shipping refunds automatically — no effort required.