Invoicing and Payment: How It Works at CALL

Completing your booking is only half the journey; managing the payment lifecycle securely is what ultimately releases your cargo. Because international logistics involves high-value transactions, ChinAfrika Logistics Limited (CALL) does not accept credit cards or loose payment methods. Instead, we operate on a secure Bank Transfer (T/T) & Verification model.

This guide explains how to locate your bills, verify transaction details, and complete your payments to ensure a seamless release at destination.

How Billing Is Structured

CALL issues invoices in two separate stages to reflect the physical movement of your shipment:

• Origin Invoice: Issued shortly after your vessel departs from China. This covers ocean freight, origin Terminal Handling Charges (THC), documentation fees, and carrier seal fees.
• Destination Invoice: Issued as the vessel nears arrival and destination charges are finalized. This covers destination THC, delivery order fees, customs clearance, and inland trucking (if included in your booking).
• Consolidated Value-Added Items: If you formally appoint CALL to manage optional services—such as cargo insurance, export customs brokerage in China, or pre-departure certifications (ECTN, BESC, CoC)—these charges are itemized and consolidated directly onto your freight invoice for clean record-keeping.

Payment Terms

To keep cargo moving smoothly, we enforce strict payment timelines tied directly to cargo release:

• No Booking Pre-Payments: We do not require advance payments to book or confirm container space on a vessel, regardless of whether you are a new or established client.
• 10-Day Payment Limit: All invoices must be settled in full within a maximum of 10 days from the invoice issuance date.
• Overdue Penalties: Late or overdue payments that exceed our standard terms may be subject to interest or penalty charges. The specific terms, rates, and conditions governing these late fees are detailed directly on your original invoice PDF.
• Release Upon Verification: While advance payment is not required to ship, your original Bill of Lading (B/L) will not be released—and cargo will not be unlocked at destination—until full payment is received and verified by our finance team.

Accepted Payment Methods & Accounts

We operate exclusively on an offline Bank Transfer (T/T) and Verification model. To pay, consult the Bank Account Box located at the bottom-right of your digital or PDF invoice. You can pay via two channels:

• China Bank Account: Direct international wire transfer to our China Bank account (settled in standard international currencies like USD or EUR).
• Local Partner Accounts: Upon negotiation and formal agreement with our team, you can deposit or transfer funds directly to our designated local partner/agent accounts within your destination country.

When executing a bank transfer, you must strictly instruct your bank to select the "OUR" charges rule, which ensures you pay all intermediary transfer fees. If CALL receives less than the invoice total due to bank deductibles, the cargo release process will be held. Additionally, always write your exact Invoice Number as the bank transfer reference.

Uploading Shipping Instructions & Proof of Payment

To verify your payment and unlock your cargo documents, follow this straightforward four-step portal process:

• 1. Locate Invoices: Hover over the myCall menu on our platform and select My Invoices to view your financial dashboard. Status colors indicate the state of each bill: PAID (Green), UNPAID (Yellow), or OVERDUE (Red).
• 2. Upload Payment Proof: Open your invoice details and click the blue Upload Payment Proof button. Attach your bank transaction receipt (as a PDF, JPG, or PNG file).
• 3. Verification Window: Your status will transition to PAYMENT VERIFYING. Our desk reviews and matches payments within 12 to 24 hours, updating cleared files to PAYMENT ACCEPTED.
• 4. Document Release: Once paid, the system automatically removes the "Draft" watermark from your Bill of Lading (available in *My Shipments > Documents*). If you requested a Telex Release, the express release instruction is transmitted to your destination port immediately.

Tracking Demurrage & Detention (D&D)

If you keep container equipment longer than the "Free Time" allocated in your booking, penalty charges will apply. These are invoiced separately from your freight bills.

To monitor active equipment thresholds, click on the D&D Charges tab at the top of the Invoices screen. This displays container numbers, free days, overdue days, and pending penalty balances in real-time. For advice on eliminating these fees entirely, consult our guide to Smart Planning to Avoid Demurrage & Detention Fees.

Last reviewed: June 2026  ·  Category: Company Essentials
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