Sefco Export Management Company, Inc.
International Freight Forwarders
Worldwide Shipping Services - Overseas Moving Specialists
Become a Sefco Export customer.
Have us open your Export or Import file.
Account Payment Instructions
To initiate your account, we will need:
Acceptable form of payment: For new accounts with no previous bookings with SEFCO: Send payment via FEDEX to our Forest Hills address (for shipments to happen in less than 1-month) or regular mail for shipments to happen further in future - Certified Bank Check, Money Order, Company Check, Personal Check (*out of state checks may take 10 days to clear). Personal checks will be accepted as long as it is received at least 2 weeks prior to export with no undue delay in bank clearance. No credit cards for ocean shipments. For establish SEFCO commercial accounts with more than 3 shipments made with SEFCO: Direct deposit to bank (give to branch teller, no extra bank fees), bank to bank wire transfer (extra fees apply), certified bank check, company check, money order. Established accounts will be provided our banking details.
Upon receipt of the above two items (signed paperwork and payment), a formal booking request will be processed with the actual carriers/agents and transport providers. All international shipments must be prepaid by or before the scheduled sailing date. Late fees apply - please be timely. Payment and receipt of paperwork signifies a shippers committment to making a new booking. Additional documentation made be required from the shipper/exporter, in order to complete the booking process. Each specific booking is handled on a case by case basis, as requirements vary greatly depending on destination, mode of shipment, complexity of the operation, availability of truckers, availability of space on vessels, etc. Send our office email scans or fax copies of any original documentation.
Email: info@sefco-export.com Fax: 718-732-2863 Hold onto any original documents, pending formal instructions. Only if instructed to do so by Sefco staff, forward any documents to our administrative office:
1 Ascan Avenue Suite PH-74 Forest Hills, NY 11375 attn: Joseph Quinn/Bookings Dept. include admin. tel # 718-268-6233 To avoid delay with any important original documents use FedEx (or UPS / DHL)
All normal signature releases are already on file with the local FedEx terminal. (2) Please do not use USPS "Express/Certified" mail due to USPS service problems (pickup from USPS depot always required, adding cost/delay.) If your correspondence is not time sensitive, then "regular" 1st class USPS mail is perfectly "OK" to use. A copy of further instructions will follow via email.
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IMPORTANT NOTICE -- PLAN AHEAD!
It is important to make preparations to book your shipment well in advance of your desired departure/sailing date. In some US port locations (Jacksonville) SIT port storage can be arranged for high and heavy equipment while awaiting space on a RoRo "roll on/roll off" vessel.
Quarantine rules apply to personal effects, agricultural equipment, boats, trucks and other high/heavy cargo. FedEx your payment using certified check, money order, company check, or personal check* Send to our Forest Hills location with a signed copy of the SLI shippers letter of instructions. Send us a scanned copy via email info@sefco-export.com or Fax us a copy (Fax # 718-732-2863). How much to pay? Please remit the total amount shown on the Sefco Export quotation. Shipping & Handling: Our basic port to port freight forwarding service schedules, for commercial cargo and personal property are posted on our website which is updated periodically. Details posted on our company web site include shipping service options, general indications of freight rates, documentation and handling fees For accessorial services, beyond basic port to port shipping/handling, i.e., marine insurance, arranging for supplemental docs as may be required, or any other origin or destination services, Sefco can send our customer a statement of account for payment. | ||
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INTERNET HOMEPAGE:
Please follow our instructions...
All rates and instructions must be confirmed in writing.
Become a Sefco Export customer.Payment as per quotation is required in order to engage our services.
All ocean export shipments from the US must be prepaid in advance.
If we are to actually submit a formal B/R Booking Request,
requesting & booking space on a vessel to happen in less than 60 days,
then the total freight charges will need to be prepaid.
For shippers planning to move cargo 2 months or further in the future:A deposit/retainer (50% of quoted amount) would be sufficient for opening new Sefco accounts. Your retainer/deposit is non-refundable. Do not send funds if you do not agree to our normal terms and conditions for service.
See: standard quote/contract terms, and SLI shippers letter of instructions.Please read our online terms for service, and cancellation credit policy.
The balance is due by or before the day of pickup, prior to the date of export.
To expedite release of documents, payment by direct deposit to our bank (and/or bank to bank wire transfer) works best.
Customer Service comes first.
Our customer can expect a formal written confirmation for all new orders,
and our closest attention and care at all times.
--- "full steam ahead" ---
Once in motion, cargo is meant to remain in motion
until it reaches its intended destination.
"Keep it moving"
Any fees for storage, demurrage, duties/taxes
or other services not specifically agreed to in advance,
remain for the account of the property owner.
Please be timely with your remittance.
Payment should be made to the order of: Sefco Export Management Company, Inc.
Established Sefco Export Commercial Accounts with repeat bookings
will be provided our banking details.
After making a deposit or arranging a wire transfer, please e-mail us at:
Accounting / Account Support services - Sefco Export Management Company, Inc.
Email: accounting@sefco-export.com - Fax: 718-732-2863 - Tel: 888-268-0565 ext. 5
Calls: Our office receives an instant copy (wav file) of your voice message via email.
Please be sure to always leave your email contact information and full details.
Advise us of your payment, and send us a copy of your bank receipt.
We will formally acknowledge when your payment has been received and cleared.
Due to security issues no banking info will be shared with unknown shippers or commercial accounts with less than 3 previous Sefco bookings.
Established Sefco Export Commercial Accounts
can direct deposit your Shipping/Handling payment.
Guidance: www.sefco-export.com/payment/how_to_direct_deposit.htm
A direct deposit means: the Payor goes into the Bank branch,
fills out a (blank) bank deposit slip (please ask us for account info),
has valid personal photo ID, and goes on the line and
makes the deposit directly to a bank teller.
Get a receipt from the teller once the deposit is made.
This is not the same as a "bank wire" which costs extra money to arrange and receive.
Choose the Bank Location most convenient to you.
DIRECT PAYMENT AND WIRE TRANSFERS ACCEPTED AT THE FOLLOWING BANKS
Bring your photo ID a
and payment to any
Bank of America branch teller
Bring along with our banking details. Direct deposit payment to Sefco Export
will be accepted at any Bank of America staffed banking center,
with convenient branch locations across the United States.
Easy Solutions... Pay Online at no cost! - CLICK HERE for details.
Freight Cashier Window
Checks payable to Sefco Export Management Company, Inc.
can be accepted at any JP Morgan Chase Manhattan Bank branch.
Find a Chase branch location near you: click here
Please refer to Sefco's quotation for our Banking Details.
Direct deposits for Sefco can also be accepted at:
TD Bank locations in NY, NJ, CT, DE, MD, DC and FL.
Please refer to your Sefco quotation or ask us for our complete banking details.
Find a TD Bank location.
Are you new to Sefco and International Shipping?
New Accounts are always welcome.
Here are instructions on
"How to Proceed with your Shipment"
A deposit/retainer is needed to open a new Sefco account file.
Going in less than 8 weeks time?
Prepayment of quotation amount will allow us to proceed
with processing a formal port/port SSL-steamship line booking request
and making transporter appointment / cargo space reservation.
IMPORTANT - Regarding Timing > Plan, Pay & Book Ahead of Time.
SSL steamship line reservations are
subject to availabilty of space & equipment.
There are no advance guarantees respective to availability of space
onboard vessels and actual sailing dates.
SSL sailing schedules are subject to change without prior notice.
We recommend submitting a booking request 60 days
in advance of the desired shipping date.
How to send in your payment.
Include the following:
1) FedEx your check, including the following
2) Printout a copy of our rate quote - sent to you by email.
3) Printout a copy of our form(s):
Shippers Letter of Instructions - Standard Contract4) Become a "known shipper" - Photo identification required.
Write in your overseas contact address, your company EIN or passport #
Sign it, and send it back to us (by email or hard copy via FedEx)
Read: "REAL I.D. Required for Shippers, Intermediaries & Logistics Providers", and "Security Matters"
number (FEIN).
Individuals: Please include copy of your passport photo identification page, for export declaration purposes.
Recommended: scan the photo ID portion of your passport, send to Sefco via email, or fax passport copy and SLI instructions.
For US corporate accounts: we will need your company tax identification
A clean and legible copy of your packing list is required at least 72 hours prior to export.
General policy...
Please remember:Economy service - Premium service - international shipping service options
Your pre-shipment deposit/payment should be sent in early to open new Sefco account. After receipt of quotation amount, our operations department can set things in motion. Sufficient advance notice is needed to reserve truckers, secure space on an upcoming vessel, bind marine cargo insurance policies, and so on. Retainers/deposits are non-refundable. Do not send us money if you do not agree to our standard terms and conditions for service, a copy of which is online here:
www.sefco-export.com/shipping/contract.htm
When to pay your balance...
Any balance is due in negotiable funds by or before the pickup date (or pier delivery/receipt of the cargo), with checks cleared by our bank so the shipment paperwork can be correctly documented as being "freight prepaid". The insurance premium needs to be covered before the freight physically moves.
Basis/terms for service: "FREIGHT PREPAID"
means that invoiced charges have been, in fact, pre-paid in negotiable funds.
All shipments proceed on a "freight prepaid" basis only.Our Proforma Invoice/Quotation amount is due by or before date of pickup
and before cargo moves from the origin terminal.
Terms: "freight prepaid" which means prepaid in fact.
Credit for your payment happens only after the funds clear Sefco's bank account.
Amount due is to be paid to our bank located in the Unites States.
SELF PACKING YOUR CARGO? Please remember to send us a copy of your packing list before the goods are exported.
How to make the list? Please ask us for help, if you are unsure.
Sefco accounts can access our online guidance about "how to make your packing lists."
FCL full container shippers should also remember to write down their container number (written on the outside of the steel ocean container) and also the seal/lock number (placed on the container door by our trucker). Let us know what these numbers are, immediately after the container departs from your home. Note: Our truckers do not handle money or packing lists.
We will need to know your "final piece count" and to see a clean, legible packing list at least 3 business days before the ship sails. Valuation for export declaration purposes, and payment for insurance, is needed before the cargo moves - with funds cleared well before the ship sails or aircraft departs.
We strongly recommend insuring your cargo.
For sending documents to SEFCO (or to any location our formal instructions may indicate) we recommend using Federal Express. They have a good record for delivering important documents. Please do not put a signature requirement as that can delay receipt. After you have sent your parcel, please advise SEFCO of the FedEx Air Waybill tracking number.
Prompt payment will expedite release of documents.
Please be guided accordingly.
Any demurrage or port storage at origin or destination due to port congestion or any other reason - remains for the account of the property owner. In the event that a check is returned due to insufficient funds or for any other reason, an automatic HOD hold-on-dock order is placed on the consignment pending receipt of negotiable funds. The amount of "free time" at any port worldwide, is limited.
Space reservations for cargo to be shipped on a vessel must be made well in advance of departure. It is not unusual for "H/H" high and heavy equipment to have to wait for space to open on a RoRo ship. Accessorial "booking roll over" and cancellation fees may apply to reservations that are unfilled.
Website use and orders for service are subject to
Sefco's normal terms and conditions for service,
a copy of which is on-line at: www.sefco-export.com/online_tos.htm
Premium full service door-to-door moves (with full OA origin agent packing/pickup services and DA destination agent delivery) are handled on a prepaid basis only. Prior payment allows the cargo to be documented as moving on a "freight prepaid" basis. This is a standard requirement of all major SSL-steamship lines.
All international shipments must be prepaid. A statement of account is provided to shippers noting any charges owed, together with supporting documentation. Invoices are due upon receipt of the invoice (no extended credit / payment terms are allowed without prior written agreement, and noted on our quotation). A COD collection fee will be assessed for any shipment that is not sent prepaid in fact, and shipped without settlement of any statement amount due. This applies to late payments (over 10 business days from date of departure). In the event of need to collect/COD overdue accounts, a $250 COD fee will be added to the total invoice plus 7% per diem from time of landing at destination. This is in addition to any late fees/penalties applied by the ocean carrier or US Customs. Unpaid / very late payment (over 30 days from date of departure) will incur a finance charge and collection fees as permitted by law.
There is a limited amount of free time at each port of entry. Rates do not include any port storage/container demurrage, duties/taxes (if any), labor in the event of a physical exam ordered by customs. Commercial shipments may require posting of a bond toward payment of duties. If a container must be placed on hold at that port, that means those free days will be quickly consumed. Demurrage is avoidable - which is why timely payment is important. Read: [demurrage definition]
Please be timely about sending in your remittance.
If using a service that mails your check for you, delays may result in release of carrier payment and original documents until the check is actually received and negotiable funds have cleared to our bank account including any additional time required to clear out of state personal checks. Time is often short so we strongly recommend using direct deposit to bank (branch teller) and/or bank to bank wire transfer for payment.
Please see: Acceptable forms of payment.
SEFCO does not accept credit cards for sea-shipping related services.
C/card exception: Our Air Cargo Service [US export only]
Sefco Export does not finance shipments. Nothing going by sea can go on a credit card. Air-consignments can be paid directly to our designated air-freight forwarding (AFF) agency; credit purchases of aircargo service must be approved in advance. If the card is acceptable by our designated AFF, a $30 handling fee plus 4% credit card company surcharge will be added to the total invoice.
All Sefco Export customers must become a "known" shipper. For repeat customers, this is not a problem. For single move shippers, one way to become "known" to our company is by furnishing us with a copy of your passport and becoming a customer (deposit/payment received). This will go into your file with the other shipping paperwork. For shipments going by air, you'll need to sign our FAA security endorsement. Sefco accounts will be sent instructions for Air Security procedures. Important: you may be "known" to Sefco but not to the US Government. Air cargo rates are for "TSA Known Shippers" which involves security checks done ahead of time.What to expect:
Our company - Sefco Export Management Company, Inc. - reserves the right to reject service requests if deemed unreasonable.
There is no service for "denied parties, blocked persons" on the USG specially designated nationals list. Sefco works in harmony with export/import security operations and US Customs & Border Protection (CBP). Our staff and agents are dedicated to providing you - our customer - with the highest quality service. As in all business matters, "courtesy counts." Commerce is conducted in a courteous, efficient and business-like manner.Formal Confirmation;
Our service order confirmation will follow receipt of your payment.
Our clients will receive a written order confirmation - providing delivery instructions and other details pertaining to the order. Shippers must realize that in heavy demand trade lanes - especially for high & heavy equipment, booking requests must wait in line for the SS Line to process. Reading our online advisories will help give new shippers a better feel for market conditions.
Sefco customers will receive the local contact number for our US agent / dispatcher / warehouse at origin and a copy of any booking confirmation. Sefco customers will furthermore receive informational copies of the applicable shipping documentation (B/L's, AWB's, EEI - US Customs export declarations, Insurance certificates, etc.) after the cargo has actually departed. This documentation will show the vessel name (or flight number), departure date, arrival date, destination port agent contact info, etc. Sefco customers should contact the designated overseas port agent (shown on your paperwork) for final delivery instructions.
In the export/import world, all instructions need to be documented and placed in writing so all concerned parties know what to do and when to do it. Before exporting anything from the USA we must submit the properly completed EEI export declaration document to US Customs on our customers behalf. This is why it is important to completely fill out our SLI shippers letter of instructions form and / or Sefco Exports contract form, to start any new job.
Where possible we try to perform all or most tasks electronically (eg., "telex released" BL bills of lading - without need to surrender an original BL at the destination, emailed certificates of insurance, online tracking reports, etc.) Regarding the expedited return of original documents: OBL's original bills of lading, original titles, bills of sale, etc. - Please provide our docs department with your FedEx account number if you would like originals to be sent to you via FedEx as opposed to sent via regular USPS mail. If you would like to use our company account for courier services (domestic or internationally) there will be a small handling fee to expedite. For further details, please click here.
Important: ocean shipping and carrier rates change over time and are directly affected by market forces. As freight forwarder SEFCO performs forwarding services including processing of export documents (D/R, B/L, EEI) and we charge a handling fee for our time and professional attention. Our general schedule of rates for documents and handling is posted on our website. When there is an increase or change in underlying ocean freight / carrier charges, this remains for the account of the shipper/consignee. Any varience will be documented with a statement of account provided to the customer. Please read our service preambles and online advisories for an explanation of the many factors that impact on the cost of ocea/air/land freight fees.
Our customers are very important to us.
We want to achieve the highest level of customer satisfaction possible.
You are assured of our closest attention and care.
After everything is done,
please take a moment to
complete our Sefco Export
customer satisfaction survey.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Joseph T. Quinn
President
Export / Import Sales: Mr. Peter DeStefano (sales/rates/advice)
CONTACT OUR SALES DEPARTMENT: 718-268-6233
Listen to main menu, press option 1 for sales dept.
Give your full details and then press the # key.
For quality control, an instant email copy of your message
goes to our sales office for prompt attention.
Please be sure to provide your full contact information and details.
You will be contacted promptly.
Administration Tel: 888-268-0565 (all instructions must be confirmed in writing)
Fax: 718-732-2863 (main fax)
Communications: info@sefco-export.com
We recommend using FedEx for sending important documents. Meetings by prior appointment only.
Our customers are located across the USA and throughout the world...
Initial contact via email works best.
Our designated commercial forwarding offices, overseas agents, warehouses
and all the piers require advance appointments.
Remember: Always plan ahead and call the terminal before arriving.
SEFCO AGENTS LOCATED IN COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.
US Administration: 1 Ascan Avenue, Suite PH-74, Forest Hills Gardens (NYC), NY 11375 USANote: The streets of Forest Hills Gardens are private streets.
Our administrative office is not a public facility. Parking is restricted.
FOREST HILLS ADMIN. OFFICE: RECEIVES FEDEX / DHL / UPS COURIER DELIVERIES ONLY
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Purchasing Agency services
Consultation services
Conferences and meetings held
at our midtown Manhattan location
are by prior appointment.
3 West 51st Street
New York, New York 10019
Location and hourly consulting
service fees will apply.
SEFCO EXPORT
NEW YORK, NY USA
Your non-refundable deposit/retainer confirms that we will be working together.
Thank you very much for your cooperation
and for choosing Sefco.
www.sefco-export.com
