Walmart Accounts Payable deductions are typically withheld from an invoice payment and are visible in Walmart's Accounts Payable Inquiry System (APIS). When it comes to disputing invalid AP deductions, the most common path is to file a dispute in Walmart's Accounts Payable Dispute Portal (APDP), but certain deduction codes have other dispute processes.
APDP Disputes
The APDP portal allows disputes to be created in most scenarios for the following deduction codes:
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 87, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 120, 150, 151
Codes 10, 11, 13, 87, 92, 94 are encouraged for store claims only
Deductions with any other reason codes are unable to be disputed in APDP at all (the deduction will not be visible or there will be no dispute action).
Even though disputes for the above codes can technically be submitted in APDP, there are certain codes that Walmart has indicated are unlikely to be approved in APDP. Those are:
Codes 50-59, 150, 151
Buyer Disputes
In scenarios where APDP will not accept a dispute or a deduction is rejected outright, the only recourse is to request repayment from your buyer. Deduction codes that are often required be disputed through your buyer include:
10, 11, 13, 50-59, 150, 151
While your buyer has the authority to approve paybacks, they are under no obligation to do so. When disputing deductions with your buyer, it is advisable to:
consider your relationship with your buyer and the social capital/goodwill cost of approaching them for payback
only request payback for deductions you know to be invalid
compile all proof documentation showing why deductions are invalid
when possible, bundle similar deductions and bring them en masse to your buyer for approval, rather than taking them one-by-one
Return Center Disputes
Returns originating from Walmart's Return Center (location 9462) are not able to be disputed through APDP. These have a separate process which Walmart outlines here. In summary, to dispute these deductions you must:
Download and review the backup details and documentation from APIS.
Fill out the Defective Merchandise, Handling Fee, and RTV Freight Claim Form with the claim number, invoice date, amount you are disputing, and the reason for the dispute.
Include the backup details and documentation for each claim.
Submit your claim by creating a case with Partner Support and selecting Returns > Returns Chargebacks > Defective Merchandise, Handling, and RTV Freight Expense Claims. You must include the documentation and forms mentioned above for your claim to be reviewed.
Cannot be Disputed
If more than 2 years have elapsed from the original claim date, a deduction can no longer be disputed.
Why is APDP Making Me Submit Claim Codes Together?
When certain claim code combinations occur within the same claim, APDP expects those codes to be disputed together. In Deductions Navigator, we will flag these for you and will ask if you would like to submit them all.
Here is the list of claim codes that must be submitted together:
Parent Claim Code: 94
Child Claim Codes: 44, 60, 120
Parent Claim Code: 13
Child Claim Codes: 21, 22, 24