New-York tribune., 1907-11-24
LIGHT ON OVERCHARGES.
Erpress Companies Ans7cer Com
plants on Double Payments.

Many letters have been written TO The Tribune
recently alleging eXaction of double charges by
drivers for express companies In most cases these
complaints come from persons who have ha / goods
shipped to them in New York from small outlying
! towns.
A canvass of the large express companies was
f, made yesterday by "A reporter for The Irouhe'
with the result that many seeming instances of
overcharges by the companies were said by them
TO be due either carelessness the part of the
shipper the failure of the consignee to look
at the delivery sheet
Many persons have the impression that the mere
marking of paid a package TO be forwarded
by express relieves the conslgnee of all liability It
is generally realized that the paid" mark must
bear the Endorsement or 20. X" of the company
before it can be recognized official. The way
bill which is made out for every express package
accepted and the delivery receipt must also show
that the charges have been paid. 1t is no uncom-
mon thing, the express companies say, for ship
per mark consignment paid and then to forget
to pay the charges, in which case the goods are
forwarded collect If the receiver OF an express
package will look at the delivery sheet which he
has to sign TO get the goods he will find the
charges plainly marked paid" or collect and
act accordingly.
The overcharge question comes up most fire.
quently the large cities. although In the case OF
the Adams Express Company complaints last year
averaged les than one-tenth of per cent of all the
business handled in New York An official of the
company said yesterday
When express packages are consigned to small
every package is looked at by the agent at the
point of destination and comparison is made with
Thus, II the paid label has off I'm transDoTta-
on its loss is detected and the driver IS told that
the charges have been paid No attempt. of course.
with the rush Of business in the large cities.
however. packages are delivered soon as
ceived and no attempt is made to look at tho way
bills for purposes OF comparison Therefore, If a
looked up. II express matter were held up until
these comparisons made, serious delay would
procedure IN such is TO deliver the goods at
once, collect the charges and then refund them
comparison with the way bill shows them
to have been paid in advance
Most complaints which come TO express
panies are from private individuals and few
from nrIns or business houses. The latter under
stand the workings of the express business and ap-
preciate how easy it is for labels TO come on
even for wrappings TO get torn defaced. The
business house takes 1t every day matter to
receive refunds to be asked 10 pay charges on
consignments supposed have been paid In ad-
and receipts used by the express companies is n
guarantee that all double charges viii be discovered
| IN the auditing department and prompt refund
made
Dishonest drivers and agents Of course are a
source OF possible annoyance to shippers but the
possibility OF fraud overcharge is inimized IL
the conSgnee will always look carefully at the de-
he always has the original way bill to refer TO II
he is not satisfied
At all the companies visited one thing was made
plain. and that that there little chance for
overcharge If both shipper and consignee were
careful in looking at bills and receipts II
person sends package from New York to Boston
and prepays the charges, he receives a receipt
which reads Charges paid II he fails 10 look at
the receipt and dishonest agent does mark
/ clared that the shipper is doing only himself
but the express company as well an injustice.