04 NCAC 11 R02-17. UTILITIES COMMISSION

R2-17     Collection of charges by common carriers of household goods.

(a)  Upon taking precautions deemed by them to be sufficient to assure payment of the tariff charges within the credit period herein specified, common carriers of household goods by motor vehicle may relinquish possession of household goods in advance of the payment of the tariff charges thereon and may extend credit in the amount of such charges to those who undertake to pay them, such persons herein being called shippers, for a period of fifteen (15) days. When the bill of lading covering a shipment is presented to the shipper on or before the date of delivery, the credit period shall run from the first 12 o'clock midnight following delivery of the household goods. When the bill of lading is not presented to the shipper on or before the date of delivery, the credit period shall run from the first 12 o'clock midnight following the presentation of the bill of lading.

(b)  Where a common carrier by motor vehicle has relinquished possession of household goods and collected the amount of tariff charges represented in the bill of lading presented by it as the total amount of such charges, and another bill of lading for additional charges is thereafter presented to the shipper, the carrier may extend credit in the amount of such additional charges for a period of thirty (30) calendar days, to be computed from the first 12 o'clock midnight following the presentation of the subsequently presented bill of lading.

(c)   Bills of lading for all transportation charges shall be presented to the shippers within seven (7) calendar days from the first 12 o'clock midnight following delivery of freight.

(d)  Shippers may elect to have their bills of lading presented by means of the United States mails, and when the mail service is so used the time of mailing by the carrier shall be deemed to be the time of presentation of the bills. In case of dispute as to the time of mailing, the postmark shall be accepted as showing such time.

(e)  The mailing by the shipper of valid checks, drafts, or money orders, which are satisfactory to the carrier, in payment of freight charges within the credit period allowed such shipper, may be deemed to be the collection of the tariff charges within the credit period for the purpose of these rules. In case of dispute as to the time of mailing, the postmark shall be accepted as showing such time.

(NCUC Docket No. T-100, Sub 32, 8/23/95; NCUC Docket No. T-100, Sub 49, 01/09/04.)