How to dispute a demurrage invoice

Pick your carrier. Each playbook covers where that line starts the clock, the free time it actually grants, the mechanics that most often produce a reversible charge, the five documents that win the dispute, and the deadline you have to file inside.

Dispute a Maersk demurrage invoiceMerged "D&D" lines hide which clock produced the charge — always demand the split before paying.Dispute a MSC demurrage invoiceDetention stops at the nominated depot only. A refused return still stops the clock if you keep the rejection note.Dispute a CMA CGM demurrage invoiceAPL and ANL bills of lading are filed separately — a group-brand booking rated on the CMA CGM schedule is mis-rated.Dispute a Hapag-Lloyd demurrage invoiceHapag files demurrage and detention as strictly separate clocks — a combined line on the invoice is itself a red flag.Dispute a Ocean Network Express (ONE) demurrage invoiceOn several intra-Asia trades ONE grants one combined free period; counting two separately overstates your free time.Dispute a Evergreen Line demurrage invoiceEvergreen filings escalate steeply after the first band — day 8 can cost triple day 4.Dispute a COSCO Shipping demurrage invoiceCOSCO and OOCL are separately filed despite the common group — check which brand issued the bill of lading.Dispute a OOCL demurrage invoiceOOCL grants slightly longer detention than COSCO on the same lane — do not assume the group schedule applies.Dispute a ZIM Integrated Shipping demurrage invoiceZIM applies short free time on special and reefer equipment; the standard dry free time rarely carries over.Dispute a Yang Ming Line demurrage invoiceFree time is filed per service string, so the same port can differ between two Yang Ming loops.

The four grounds that reverse charges

The clock started on the wrong event. Demurrage runs from discharge, detention from gate-out. A merged “D&D” invoice line hides which one produced the charge — always demand the split.

The carrier controlled the delay. No appointment slots, terminal congestion, a chassis shortage or an equipment hold means the charge did not serve an incentive purpose, which is the test the FMC applies in the US.

The wrong tariff was applied. Local filings change; the tariff that governs is the one in force on the discharge date, not today.

The invoice is incomplete. US demurrage invoices must carry specified information about the basis of the charge, the free time and the dispute route. Missing information is a defect you can raise on its own.

Not sure which applies? Send the invoice through the free invoice audit, or stop the next one with free last-free-day alerts.

General information about commercial billing practice, not legal advice.