Common Mistakes Made by Exporters Leading to Unsuccessful Claims: How to Avoid Them

As an exporter, dealing with cargo claim rejection can be frustrating and time-consuming. However, many exporters make common mistakes that can lead to zero recoveries. In this blog post, we’ll share some of these mistakes and provide tips on how to avoid them in the future.

1. Incomplete or inaccurate documentation

One of the most common mistakes that exporters make is providing incomplete or inaccurate documentation. This can include missing harvest certificate, destruction certificate or damaged cargo evidence, such as pictures. To avoid this mistake, it is important to carefully collect documents timely and to ensure that all information is accurate and complete.

2. Failure to comply with regulations

Exporters must comply with a range of regulations, including those related to customs, trade, and safety. Failure to comply with these regulations, such as mixing different cargoes and shipping together can lead to unsuccessful claim. To avoid this mistake, it is important to understand your obligations such to make sure the temperature set on reefer container is correct before loading cargo.

3. Inadequate packaging

Inadequate packaging can result in damage to the cargo during transit, leading to unsuccessful claims. To avoid this mistake, it is important not to cut corners, use appropriate packaging that provides adequate protection for the cargo. This may include using pallets, shrink wrap, or other materials to secure the cargo and prevent damage.

4. Lack of communication

Effective communication is essential for successful claim recovery. Lack of communication between exporters, importers, and ocean carriers can lead to misunderstandings, delays, and rejected claims. To avoid this mistake, regardless of INCOTERMS of your shipment, it is important to maintain open lines of communication with all parties involved in the export transaction and to respond promptly to all inquiries and requests for information.

In conclusion, rejected claims is huge irritation, it is frustrating and time-consuming for shippers. However, by avoiding common mistakes such as incomplete or inaccurate documentation, failure to comply with regulations, inadequate packaging, lack of communication, exporters can increase the likelihood of successful claims recoveries.

​​Recoupex is one of the fastest growing cargo claims recovery hubs helping customers globally to obtain the compensation they are entitled to when cargo is lost or damaged in transit (ocean, multimodal, air shipments: dry and refrigerated cargo). If you think Maersk, Sealand, Hapag-Lloyd, Mediterranean Shipping Company – MSC, CMA CGM, and other carriers might owe you compensation because of cargo loss or damages, you’ve come to the right place.  Recoupex has recovered thousands for shippers around the globe and they could help you win back the compensation you deserve for lost or damaged cargo in transit.   If they don’t win- you don’t pay.