SME EXPORTERS WARNED TO BEWARE OF FREIGHT FORWARDERS

Exporters advised to beware of Unauthorized Freight Forwarders
Submitted by PPI News Agency on April 1, 2013 – 8:37 pmNo Comment

Karachi, April 01, 2013 (PPI-OT): The Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME) has advised the SME exporters to book their export cargoes directly with the shipping lines or their authorized agent companies and if need be only through reputable freight forwarders licensed to act as logistic companies to avoid shipment delays and complications.

President UNISAME Zulfikar Thaver said the union has received complaints from many SME exporters who have been cheated by freight forwarders who have charged them higher freight and pocketed the difference and in some cases collected the frieght amount from the exporters and not deposited it with the shipping company. The exporters are advised to issue checques in favour of the shipping lines and avoid issuing checques in favour of the freight forwarders.

He warned the SME exporters to first check with the shipping company whether the freight forwarder is the approved agent of the shipping line and not on their default list and secondly insist on the bill of lading of the shipping line and not accept the bill of lading issued by the freight forwarder.

He also warned the exporters about freight forwarders located overseas who are making false promises of lower freight rates and issuing fake bookings which are not supported by actual contract with the shipping lines. Those exporters who have been cheated by overseas freight forwarders are advised to report the matter to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) who are looking after the Interpol desk in Pakistan without delay.

Some freight forwarders who are not the authorized booking agents of the shipping lines are cheating the exporters. The new and inexperienced exporters are attracted by lower freight rates offered by these brokers who are not in a position to confirm space on the vessel and cause delays and losses to the shippers. The exporters rely on them but at the last moment are informed that the cargo cannot be taken on board the vessel he said.

The union has urged the shipping lines to issue list of their authorized booking agents to enable the exporters to contact them for logistic services.

For more information, Contact:
Union of Small and Medium Enterprises (UNISAME)
Email: unisame@gmail.com

Posted in: Press Releases