Debt Collection Services for Marine Shipping

In-House Receivable Services, or IRS, is a fully licensed, bonded and insured collection agency that provides affordable contingency shipping and marine debt collection. Our marine debt collection services recover demurrage, cargo fees, container fees and other marine transport fees. Marine cargo debt collection is a specialized area in debt collections. Our marine collectors have extensive expertise and knowledge in the diversified areas of shipping and marine debt collection.

For over 20 years, our collection agency has been collecting marine shipping fees and intermodal freight receivables debt . Our marine Clients span from local barge companies, to large International and multinational shipping companies. We specialize in commercial debt collection recovery for all outstanding marine shipping debt.

Debt Collection for Demurrage Fees

Debt collection for demurrage refers to the fees, or charges, that the merchant-charterer pays to a ship owner for its extra use of their vessel or ship. Demurrage fees debt are a form of liquidated damages for breaking or delaying the lay time stated in the shipping contract. Demurrage is usually an hourly fee for delays, as detailed by the port agent's Statement of Facts. Demurrage usually causes a loss to the seller-merchant as it increases their costs of shipping. The reluctance to pay demurrage costs is the main reason for unpaid marine shipping debt.

Debt collection of demurrage fees can also refer to other costs levied by a shipping company to cover container damage, container cleaning after use, or a fee for not returning the container in a timely manner. Demurrage fees are just some of the fees involved with marine debt collections.

In some countries storage fees are also referred to as demurrage fees. In other countries a container may incur both demurrage and storage fees on the same shipment. Storage fees are levied at the port or terminal of the marine shipping company. As long as the container is sitting in port any fees are passed on to the consignee receiving the container.

Debt Collection for Container Fees

Overweight container fees generally have a higher rate of bad debt. As many as 1 in 5 containers are overweight, or the shipper did not declare the actual weight of the container. This can contribute to a cornucopia of fees, or penalties, including chassis fees for damages to terminal equipment, injuries to dock workers and accidents on highways and railways. Undeclared overweight container fees can really add up and is often the most costly form of marine debt collection.

Other types of container fees can include Container Flip, Chassis Split, Chassis Charges, Tri-Axle and Pre-Pulling fees:

• Container flip fees are billed every time a container is lifted off the ground and placed on a truck chassis for transportation.
• Chassis Charge feesare for specially designed trailers for the transport of shipping containers on a roadway.
• Chassis Split feesare billed when the container needs to be moved and is not located in the same location as the chassis.
• Tri-Axle Charge feesare incurred when heavy containers require a truck with more wheels, or axles, to legally handle the extra weight of a heavy container.
• Pre-Pull fees are billed when a shipper is unable to accept delivery in the time previously arranged. In order to avoid rail storage charges, a trucking company will move the container and hold it at their container yard until it can be delivered. A pre-pull fee is usually one-third the cost of paying full rail storage fees.

Debt Collection for Detention Fees

Detention fees are another form of marine debt collection. These fees are usually a result of delays for a truck in loading or unloading containers.Other terms often used are gate and late gate charges and waiting time fees. The primary reasoning behind detention fees is to encourage shipping systems to move in a timely fashion. However, many of these fees are unexpected and why companies refuse to pay, resulting in the debt being placed for collection.

Debt Collection for Other Marine Shipping Fees

There are other shipping fees not covered above that are part of marine debt collection:.

• Rail Shifting Feescover the cost of moving containers to railway cars to save on transportation costs. The cost savings can be substantial compared to moving goods by truck.
• Explosive and Hazardous Cargo fees cover the additional safety handling costs of dangerous cargo such as special permits, escort vehicles, hazardous materials, etc.
• Refrigeration fees for containers with perishable goods.
• Stuffing and De-stuffing fees usually are related to overseas containers that are not shipped on pallets. De-stuffing is when goods are loaded on to pallets from a container. Stuffing fees are the reverse.
• Foreign BOL (Bill of Lading) fees cover the costs of creating bills of lading and other shipment documents to prevent delays caused by different languages and regulations.

Marine Debt Collection Services

Marine and shipping debt collection can be confusing with all the different fees and terminology. Give us a call and an IRS debt collection expert can provide you with options and solutions. You can also schedule a free, no obligation consultation on our marine debt collection.