Shipping overcharge checklist for UPS and FedEx
Work through these seven checks on any invoice. Each is based on a written carrier rule, so you can see whether a charge conflicts with it before you contact the carrier.
Carrier rules on this page are as of 2026-10-29. Carriers change their terms, and some passages could only be confirmed from search excerpts of the official pages. Where a rule is marked "check the current carrier terms", we could not confirm it. RefundDock is independent and not affiliated with UPS or FedEx. Nothing here promises any refund or amount.
Before you start: the deadline
FedEx requires overcharge requests within 180 days after the original invoice date (or ship date if prepaid). UPS requires adjustment requests within 180 days of receiving the contested invoice. Source: FedEx Service Guide 2026 (effective Jan 5, 2026); 2026 UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service, United States. As of 2026-10-29. Confirmed from search-index excerpts of the official page; read the source before relying on it. Start with the newest invoices, since they have the most time left. The eligibility checker will tell you where a given invoice stands.
Check 1: is any charge on the invoice twice?
Look for the same tracking number carrying the same charge and amount more than once, without a matching credit. Then rule out the legitimate repeats: a second delivery attempt, a reroute (FedEx shows a reroute as an address correction), a return label, and multi-piece shipments. Source: FedEx Service Guide 2026 (effective Jan 5, 2026). As of 2026-10-29. Check later invoices too; the carrier may already have credited it.
Check 2: is the billed weight possible?
Billable weight is the greater of actual weight and dimensional weight, with fractions of a pound rounded up. Use the dimensional weight checker with the divisor from your invoice or contract. If the billed weight is higher than anything you can derive, ask which dimensions the carrier measured. Remember that carriers may audit and adjust weight and dimensions after the fact, so you will need your own evidence. Source: FedEx Service Guide 2026 (effective Jan 5, 2026); UPS: shipping dimensions and weight. As of 2026-10-29. Confirmed from search-index excerpts of the official page; read the source before relying on it.
Check 3: do two surcharges contradict each other?
The UPS terms excerpt says an Additional Handling charge will not be assessed when a Large Package Surcharge is applied. Source: 2026 UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service, United States. As of 2026-10-29. Confirmed from search-index excerpts of the official page; read the source before relying on it. We found no equivalent rule at FedEx, so do not assume one. See the surcharge checklist.
Check 4: did the address really change?
An address correction fee applies when an address is incomplete, incorrect or a P.O. box. Source: FedEx Service Guide 2026 (effective Jan 5, 2026). As of 2026-10-29. If the corrected address is the same as the one you sent, ask for the evidence. See the address correction checklist.
Check 5: was the label ever used?
A label created and never handed to the carrier should not have been billed. UPS lists failure to tender as an adjustment type and puts the burden on the shipper to ask. Source: 2026 UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service, United States. As of 2026-10-29. Confirmed from search-index excerpts of the official page; read the source before relying on it. Tracking that shows only "label created" long after the ship date is the signal; allow a couple of weeks for scan lag first.
Check 6: right account, right service?
Compare the account number and service on the label with those invoiced. Both are named as adjustment grounds: FedEx's overcharge definition includes an incorrect service or account, and UPS lists an incorrect account number. Source: FedEx Service Guide 2026 (effective Jan 5, 2026); 2026 UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service, United States. As of 2026-10-29. Confirmed from search-index excerpts of the official page; read the source before relying on it.
Check 7: late deliveries, only where a guarantee exists
Late-delivery refunds apply today only to a short list of services at each carrier, and Ground-type services are suspended at both. Source: FedEx U.S. Money-Back Guarantee (policy effective Feb 12, 2026); UPS Service Guarantee (US). As of 2026-10-29. Confirmed from search-index excerpts of the official page; read the source before relying on it. If you shipped Ground, skip this check.
What to gather for any dispute
- Carrier account number, invoice number and date
- Tracking number(s) and ship date
- The disputed line, the amount charged and the amount you believe is right
- The rule you are relying on, with its source
- Evidence specific to the issue: label, address, dimensions and weight record, tracking history
If this feels like a lot of work across a thousand shipments, that is what a free audit is for.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a shipping overcharge?
FedEx defines it as an incorrect rate, special handling fee, service, weight or account, or any other billing, unrelated to a service failure, that results in an incorrect charge. UPS lists incorrect rate, billable weight, account number, failure to tender and duplicate payment as adjustment types.
Is a charge an overcharge just because it seems high?
No. It has to conflict with the carrier's data or written terms, or with your own agreement.
Which check is most often skipped?
Looking at later invoices before disputing. A credit may already be on one of them.
Do I need a tool for this?
Not for a handful of invoices. For large volumes, a structured export and a repeatable set of checks save time.
Free audits are not open yet. They open at launch.
Our fee is 20% of credits the carrier actually applies to your account. If there are no credits, you pay nothing.