How to read a retail deduction before you dispute it.
Start with the remittance line, identify the retailer code, connect it to the original transaction, and confirm whether the amount and reason match the retailer's records and your commercial agreement.
Find the code
The code is the retailer's shorthand for why money was withheld. It is the starting point, not the conclusion.
Trace the transaction
Connect the deduction to an invoice, PO, shipment, promotion, freight event or other underlying transaction.
Gather evidence
Typical records include invoices, BOLs, PODs, ASNs, packing lists, agreements, appointments and receiving records.
Check timing
Dispute windows vary by retailer and deduction type. Do not rely on a generic industry timeline.
Decide whether to pursue
A claim that lacks evidence or falls outside the retailer process may not be worth filing.
Prevent the next one
Use the outcome to fix the process that produced the deduction, not just recover the money.
Find the deductions worth recovering.
Start with a historical deduction or remittance export. CertaRelay investigates the data, builds the evidence, and manages recovery.