Problems With ASN: Chargeback Prevention Guide
This guide covers the ASN Accuracy chargeback — issued when an Advance Shipment Notification (ASN) is missing, late, or doesn't match what's physically shipped. For each region, you'll find what triggers it, how to avoid it, the current rate card, and the documentation Amazon requires if you need to dispute a charge.
1. ASN Accuracy Chargeback
An advance shipment notification (ASN) is a virtual notification sent to Amazon about your shipment contents and carrier tracking information before goods arrive at a fulfillment center. ASNs are required for every shipment, regardless of freight type, size, or payment terms. These notifications help ensure Amazon receives shipments on time and processes them efficiently.
What triggers this chargeback
The ASN Accuracy chargeback is triggered when either of the following occurs:
- Required information in your advance shipment notification was missing or inaccurate.
- Amazon did not receive an ASN before your shipment physically arrived at a fulfillment center.
The units, quantity, product identifier, and item type in the ASN must match the purchase order. For example, if the PO is for 2 cases and you send an ASN for 16 each, you'll be subject to this chargeback. An incorrect hierarchical loop in EDI 856 also makes the ASN non-compliant.
For palletized deliveries (EU), a BOL/PRO mismatch charge applies if the BOL or PRO reference in the ASN is not entered into the FC appointment booking. For EDI, the BOL is in the RFF+BM (or RFF+DQ) field, and PRO in the RFF+CN field.
US rate: 1–5% of product cost per unit, tiered by compliance (ASN accuracy defects). EU rate — Expiry Date sub-type: €0.07 – €1.70+ per unit (missing/invalid/expired).
Exceptions
No chargeback if the ASN discrepancy was caused by Amazon's receiving error (must provide proof of accurate ASN submission). Chargebacks are automatically waived for any week where your 12-week average compliance is 95% or higher — otherwise, you can dispute individual chargebacks. Compliance requirement: 95% on a 12-week rolling average.
How to avoid this chargeback
- Submit accurate ASN/ARN — within 30 minutes of carrier departure, or 6 hours before the FC appointment, whichever is sooner. Submit in real-time, not in batches. Check ASN status to avoid "pending submission."
- Ensure third parties have correct information. Match PRO/BOL with carrier info exactly.
- Include correct expiration dates — don't ship expired or near-expiry items. Applies to Grocery, Health & Personal Care, Pet, Beauty, and Beer/Wine/Spirits.
Rate card
| Market | Compliance rate | Chargeback fee | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | Above 95% | 1% of product cost | Cost of all ASINs within the non-compliant shipment |
| US | 70% – 95% | 3% of product cost | Cost of all ASINs within the non-compliant shipment |
| US | Below 70% | 5% of product cost | Cost of all ASINs within the non-compliant shipment |
| EU category | Sub-type | Description | Fee per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASN On-time Compliance | — | ASN must be sent within 30 min of departure OR 6 hours before FC appointment | €0.30 |
| 1. ASN Accuracy | Unit Count Mismatch | PO-ASIN received quantity mismatches the quantity in ASN vs. PO | €0.30 |
| Missing BOL | Delivery appointment missing matching BOL number as entered in ASN | €0.30 | |
| 2. ASN Expiry Date Compliance | Missing expiry date | Product requiring expiration date has none on ASN | €0.07 |
| Invalid expiry date | Date in wrong format, or >10 years in future from FC receive date | €0.07 | |
| Below minimum shelf life | Expiry date is 30–90 days from FC receive date (see Pan-EU Vendor Manual) | €1.70 | |
| Expired product | Expiry date is past or <30 days from FC receive date | €1.70 + cost of item (+85% PCOGS) |
Note (US): The cost of the product refers to all ASINs within a shipment. If an ASN is missing for a 5-ASIN shipment, you're charged the relevant % of all five ASINs. Note (EU): Amazon Fresh and Prime Now products are excluded from the ASN Expiry Date Compliance sub-type. Applicable categories: Grocery, Health & Personal Care, Pet Products, Beauty, Beer/Wine/Spirits.
Required documentation for dispute
- ASN/ARN submission
Screenshot of ASN/ARN submission showing the ASN was submitted before shipment arrival at the fulfillment center — with accurate unit counts, PO number, and submission timestamp.
- PRO/BOL proof
Screenshot or email with the PRO or BOL number and Purchase Order info — proving the shipment details match the ASN and carrier records.
Approved submission
ASN submitted 30 hours before FC arrival, with a unit count that matches the PO (480 units). BOL confirms PRO/BOL numbers match the ASN and PO.
Denied submission
ASN submitted 2.5 hours after FC arrival, with a unit count mismatch (520 vs. PO 480), and no PRO/BOL provided. The vendor stated the ASN was batched at end of day instead of submitted in real time — no carrier documentation included.
For more information on this topic download the attached one pagers at the bottom of this article..
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