How to Request a Refund From Fedex for Late Delivery

Authored by Matt Lessard

Since 2001, Matt Lessard has started numerous projects, from an E-commerce SaaS to an online store shipping to over 80 countries. Creator of Buster Fetcher®, a technology reducing shipping costs. Passionate about personal development and business growth.

Late deliveries can be a major headache for businesses. It causes customer frustration, negative reviews, and a direct hit to your revenues.

If you're using FedEx in Canada, you're not alone in dealing with this issue. According to our Buster Fetcher® Report, FedEx Ground had an alarming 7.52% late delivery rate out of 1.8 million packages shipped across the country. The numbers were even higher in Alberta at 10.13% and Quebec at 8.93%.

But there's a solution that can help recoup some of those losses: FedEx's Money-Back Guarantee for late deliveries. That's right - if your shipment doesn't arrive on time, you may be eligible for a refund. And this comprehensive guide will walk you through exactly how to claim it.

What is the FedEx Money-Back Guarantee?

FedEx offers a comprehensive Money-Back Guarantee for late package deliveries. It's a policy that entitles customers to a refund if their package is delivered late. It applies only to the following FedEx services:

• FedEx First Overnight
• FedEx Priority Overnight
• FedEx Standard Overnight
• FedEx International First
• FedEx International Priority Express
• FedEx International Priority
• FedEx International Priority Freight
• FedEx International Priority DirectDistribution
• FedEx International Priority DirectDistribution Freight

Even if your FedEx Express package arrives even one minute later than the committed delivery time, you are eligible for a refund under this guarantee.

The catch? Understanding the fine print!

It’s crucial to take note that the claim must be submitted in the 15-day timeframe following the shipment date to ensure a smooth refund process!

So make sure to check the date! Or else, you might end up failing to claim a refund.

How to Do a FedEx Refund Request for Late Delivery?

Handling late deliveries can be stressful and feel like a letdown at some point. But hey, claiming your FedEx refund doesn’t have to be that way.

Don’t let the refund process consume a lot of time and effort on your part.

Before you file a FedEx refund claim, you need to make sure that your package is indeed late.

Thanks to FedEx’s Self-Service Online Tracking, all you have to do is input the tracking number and that’s it! You can already get the most up-to-date status of your shipments. 

Easy, right?

You'll also need to make sure that you must submit your refund request within 15 calendar days of the original invoice date.

Now that you know that you're entitled for a refund, here’s a quick and easy step-by-step guide on how to start your FedEx refund claim.

What do you need before making a claim?

Before you contact FedEx for refund claim concerns, you'll need to make sure that you have the necessary details and information at hand.

Here are five specific details you'll need:

1. FedEx account number
2. Airway bill or tracking number for the shipment in question
3. Weight of the package
4. Shipment date
5. Contact information on the package
6. Reason for the refund request 

Now that you have the necessary information, let's go through the claim process.

File a Refund Request Online

if you’re signed up for FedEx Billing Online, simply follow these steps:

1. Create or input your existing user ID and log in.
2. Go to the Account Summary tab.
3. Click on the relevant invoice number.
4. Go to FedEx Invoice Details and select Tracking ID.
5. Select Dispute and specify Dispute Type: Service Failure
6. Click Dispute Reason: Delivered Late
7. Submit Dispute.

If you don’t have a FedEx account, the other way would be to access the Money-Back Guarantee option. 

Simply fill out the refund request form with all the required information and wait for a response! It usually takes seven business days for FedEx to respond with the status of your request. 

File a Refund Request by Phone

Call FedEx Canada's customer service at 1-800-463-3339. Be prepared with:

1. Your FedEx account number
2. Airway bill or tracking number
3. Package weight
4. Shipment date
5. Reason for refund request

Tip: Have documentation on hand and clearly explain how the delivery missed the committed time to strengthen your refund claim.

What are the Process and Timelines for FedEx Refund Requests?

Now that we already know all the specifics of FedEx’s policy and how to claim your refunds, let’s head straight to the process!

What exactly happens behind the scenes? How does FedEx come up with the decision? And how long should you wait? Let’s find out! 

For Late Delivery Refunds

1. You submit a refund request. Just fill out the Money-Back Guarantee Request Form to submit your claim! But if you’re a FedEx account holder, you can use FedEx Billing Online to do it. 

2. You provide the necessary information and documentation. Of course, you have to prepare the necessary documentation to support your refund claim. These are the tracking number, shipment date, and contact information on the package.

3. FedEx will evaluate your request to determine if it qualifies for a refund. Once you’ve submitted your refund request, the waiting game begins. If you used the Money-Back Guarantee option, expect to receive a response within seven business days. 

4. If you are qualified for a refund, FedEx will issue a credit to your business account. 

Handling one late package is already a tedious task. What more if it’s two? Three? Or twenty? Ah, that would be a frustrating situation to be in!

But hey, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again — you don’t have to do it alone! Let Buster Fetcher® make your life easier and claim refunds on your behalf.

What are the Factors that May Affect the Processing Time?

It’s also helpful to keep in mind that sometimes, it would take longer to process your refund request. Why? So you won’t get your hopes up and be disappointed anyway! 

Here are some of the factors that may affect your refund request’s processing time:

• The volume of refund requests: Think of it this way, it would definitely take longer to process your refund request when there are a thousand more requests ahead of you. 

• The complexity of the refund request:  When there is more extra information to be validated, FedEx takes longer to reach a final decision.  

• Accuracy of information provided: When you’ve already prepared all the necessary information needed and checked its accuracy, you can expect a faster and smoother refund process. 

• Peak shipping seasons: It’s also harder to process your refund claims during peak seasons because of the increased demand across the market!

Common Issues and How to Address Them

Missed 15-Day Refund Request Window

While FedEx requires filing within 15 calendar days of the invoice/shipment date, you can try contacting them and explaining your situation politely. As a valued customer, they may make an exception.

Incomplete/Inaccurate Details Provided

If FedEx requests clarification, respond promptly with the missing/corrected information to prevent denial of your claim.

Initial Refund Denial

Follow up politely asking for an explanation and provide any additional documentation that supports your claim per FedEx's policy. Don't hesitate to escalate the issue.

Lost/Damaged Package

Note that the Money-Back Guarantee applies only to late deliveries. For lost/damaged packages, you'll need to file a separate claim with FedEx.

Automating the FedEx Refund Process for Your Late Delivery

While navigating FedEx's refund process for late deliveries can be tedious, being proactive and persistent goes a long way.

Understand FedEx's policy thoroughly, submit refund requests properly, and don't hesitate to follow up if denied initially.

Of course, following the carefully outlined steps in this guide could also save you a lot of time and money. Which are resources that you can spend in the best interest of your business! 

If you're looking for a way to automate your FedEx claims and make sure you never miss a refund opportunity, you can give Buster Fetcher a try. We analyze all your FedEx shipment activities and handle the entire refund process for you, while ensuring you get the refunds you're owed.

All you have to do is sign up for an account, which only takes less than 5 minutes, and we’ll take care of the rest.

The best part? It’s completely free! And you will only need to pay a small amount once we’ve secured your refunds. How about that? Win-win, right?

FAQ

How long does it take for FedEx to refund a package?

It depends on a variety of factors especially when additional time is needed to process complicated claims.

But in general, FedEx takes 7-21 business days to process a refund claim, including the claim payout.

How do I contact FedEx about my refund?

If you have additional concerns and inquiries regarding refund claims, don’t hesitate to contact FedEx Canada’s customer service team. 

Here are the different channels where you can contact FedEx Canada:

• Phone

  Are you having trouble finding a solution online for your FedEx refund? You can call customer service at 1.800.463.3339!

  
  

  If you’re struggling or need assistance in using one of FedEx’s online tools, try talking to technical support at 1.877.339.2774. 

• Online Chat

  You can also talk to a virtual support assistant on FedEx’s Contact Us page!

  The only problem is that a Sales Specialist isn’t always available to assist you.

References

• FedEx - Money Back Guarantee
• Package Tracking - Courier Tracking | FedEx Canada
• Money-Back Guarantee | FedEx Canada
• Customer Support | FedEx Canada
• Invoices and Billing | FedEx Canada
• Package Tracking - Courier Tracking | FedEx Canada