Demurrage or detention invoice dispute email template (English)

Dispute a demurrage or detention invoice from a carrier, NVOCC or terminal: the invoice and container details, why the charge is wrong, and what you ask for. The emails are in English, the usual language of international trade. Nothing you type is sent to Triplicate.

Tips for this email

Send it within the deadline. For shipments to or from the US, the billing party must give you at least 30 days from the invoice date to ask for a waiver, refund or reduction, and must try to resolve your request within 30 days (46 CFR 541.8). Elsewhere, check the carrier's tariff, the bill of lading terms and your contract.
Check the invoice line by line: B/L and container numbers, free days with their start and end dates, the dates charged, the tariff rule or contract section and the rate. Under the US rule, an invoice that leaves out required information, or that is issued more than 30 days after the charge was last incurred, does not have to be paid (46 CFR 541.5 and 541.7).
Attach evidence such as terminal notices, appointment records, gate-in and gate-out times and customs release dates. If a US dispute is not resolved, the Federal Maritime Commission accepts complaints about carrier charges and offers free dispute resolution through its CADRS office.

Choose the email

Dispute a demurrage or detention invoice from a carrier, NVOCC or terminal: the invoice and container details, why the charge is wrong, and what you ask for.

Subject Email

Dear [Name],

We dispute the [demurrage / detention] invoice below and ask you to [waive / reduce / refund] the charge.

Invoice number and date: [invoice number], [invoice date]
B/L number: [B/L number]
Container number(s): [container numbers]
Port: [port]
Amount invoiced: [amount]

Reasons:
1. [For example: the invoice counts [number] free days, but our service contract / your tariff gives [number] days ([contract number and section / tariff rule]).]
2. [For example: the container could not be picked up or returned from [date] to [date] because [the terminal was closed / no appointments were available / a hold not caused by us]; the notices are attached.]
3. [For example: the invoice does not show the start and end dates of the free time or the tariff rule and rate applied.]

[For shipments to or from the US: under the Federal Maritime Commission's billing rules (46 CFR Part 541), a demurrage or detention invoice must show, among other things, the B/L and container numbers, the free time with its start and end dates, the dates charged, and the tariff rule or contract and the rate applied, and the billed party has at least 30 days from the invoice date to request a waiver, refund or reduction. We are sending this request within that period.]

Please confirm that you have received this request, keep the invoice on hold while you review it, and let us know your decision. Attached: [the invoice, terminal notices, gate-in and gate-out records, our earlier correspondence].

Best regards,
[Your name]
[Your title]
[Your company]

The emails are in English, the usual language of international trade. Nothing you type is sent to Triplicate.

Other export email templates

More free tools

Share with a colleagueWhatsApp LinkedIn X

Triplicate is free and keeps getting better. Found it useful? Support Triplicate ♥