{"id":2405,"date":"2018-09-11T12:56:09","date_gmt":"2018-09-11T16:56:09","guid":{"rendered":"\/?page_id=2405"},"modified":"2023-04-18T12:50:32","modified_gmt":"2023-04-18T16:50:32","slug":"filing-a-shipping-act-complaint","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"\/resources-services\/filing-a-shipping-act-complaint\/","title":{"rendered":"Filing a Shipping Complaint"},"content":{"rendered":"<h1>Filing a Shipping Complaint<\/h1>\n<p>The FMC can assist in resolving complaints and disputes, finding solutions and awarding reparations related to ocean transportation activities:<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dispute Resolution Services<br \/>\n<\/strong>The <a href=\"\/databases-services\/consumer-affairs-dispute-resolution-services\/\">Office of Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services<\/a> (CADRS) is an impartial resource that assists the maritime industry and the shipping public resolve ocean shipping problems through an informal and voluntary process (i.e., ombuds services).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Filing a Small Claims Complaint<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/resources-services\/filing-a-small-claims-complaint\/\">Filing a Small Claims Complaint<\/a>: For claims of $50,000 or less, a small claim alleging Shipping Act violations may be filed. The complaint will be handled by a settlement officer for resolution using\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ecfr.gov\/current\/title-46\/part-502#subpart-S\">informal procedures<\/a>\u00a0(46 CFR Part 502 Subpart S).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Filing A Formal Complaint<\/strong><br \/>\n<a href=\"\/resources-services\/filing-a-formal-complaint\/\">Filing A Formal Complaint<\/a>: Any person may file a formal complaint to allege\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/uscode.house.gov\/view.xhtml?path=\/prelim@title46\/subtitle4\/partA\/chapter411&edition=prelim\">violations of specific sections of the Shipping Act<\/a>. The complaint must be sworn and verified, and if seeking reparations, be filed within three years of the claimed violation. Formal complaints are generally heard by an\u00a0<a href=\"\/about-the-fmc\/bureaus-offices\/administrative-law-judges\/\">Administrative Law Judge<\/a> and are reviewed by the Commission.<\/p>\n<h2>Commission Policy Guidance<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.fmc.gov\/ReadingRoom\/docs\/21-13\/21-13_Representative_Complaints.pdf\/\">Statement on Representative Complaints<\/a><br \/>\nAny person may file a complaint alleging a violation, including shippers\u2019 associations and trade groups or trade associations. (Docket No. 21- 13)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.fmc.gov\/ReadingRoom\/docs\/21-14\/21-14_Policy_Atty_Fees.pdf\/\">Statement on Attorney Fees<\/a><br \/>\nThe Commission reiterates that a party who brings an unsuccessful complaint is not automatically required to pay the other party\u2019s attorney fees. (Docket No. 21- 14)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.fmc.gov\/ReadingRoom\/docs\/21-15\/21-15_Policy_Retaliation.pdf\/\">Statement on Retaliation<\/a><br \/>\nThe Commission clarifies that shippers and other industry participants must be able to raise claims with and provide information to the Commission without fear of retaliation. (Docket No. 21-15)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.fmc.gov\/readingroom\/documents\/30335\">Waiver of Certain Filing Requirements Due to COVID19<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Commission is temporarily waiving certain requirements related to paper filing of documents, ink signatures, and service by mail of complaints in 46 C.F.R. part 502. (Docket No. 20-07)<\/p>\n<h2>Related Links<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=f-ymv2VfVVo\">Exploring Commission Processes: The differences between contacting CADRS, filing a complaint and reporting violations<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Wf1jQAJdE9g\">Webinar on Charge Complaints<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/resources-services\/cargo-shipment-assistance\/\">Cargo Shipment Assistance<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/resources-services\/cruise-passenger-assistance\/\">Cruise Passenger Assistance<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Filing a Shipping Complaint The FMC can assist in resolving complaints and disputes, finding solutions and awarding reparations related to ocean transportation activities: Dispute Resolution Services The Office of Consumer Affairs and Dispute Resolution Services (CADRS) is an impartial resource that assists the maritime industry and the shipping public resolve... <a class=\"read-more\" href=\"\/resources-services\/filing-a-shipping-act-complaint\/\">Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":2050,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fmc.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2405"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fmc.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fmc.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fmc.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fmc.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2405"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.fmc.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2405\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7586,"href":"https:\/\/www.fmc.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2405\/revisions\/7586"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fmc.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2050"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fmc.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2405"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}