A consignee is the person who receives a shipment of goods and has legal rights and responsibilities. International law deals with consignees, but national law is more specific. The consignee is responsible for customs declarations, taxes, and duties. Shipping companies require a signature for delivery to protect the shipper from liability.
A consignee is a person to whom a shipment of goods is to be delivered. He or she has certain legal rights and responsibilities that are set out in the law. As goods are often transported internationally, international law deals with the specifics of consignees and their functioning, but within countries, national law is often more specific. The opposite role is a shipper, the person who ships the goods.
Often the sender is the seller and the receiver is the buyer, although this is not always the case. Since there are concerns about how the shipment will be tracked, they are documented with the assistance of a bill of lading, which is used to indicate who and where the package is coming from, and who and where it is going. The person to accept delivery is named on the bill of lading to ensure that the shipment is delivered to that person and only that person, unless he or she has an authorized agent. This reduces the risk of a shipment being intercepted by a third party.
The consignee is held legally responsible for the goods in terms of filling out customs declarations, paying taxes and duties and other legal matters. The sender retains title to the goods until paid for, at which point, however, title to the goods transfers. If the consignee fails to pay or fails to fulfill other contractual obligations, the sender can take action for satisfaction and repossess the goods.
Recipients are expected to abide by the law when it comes to what goods they receive. Individuals who knowingly receive packages containing illegal materials may be reported, although there may be instances where shipments are intercepted and altered. Shippers are required to document the contents of a shipment in detail to ensure that the person receiving it has a checklist that can be used to confirm that the shipment is complete. This documentation can also be used to prove that the shipment has changed between origin and destination.
Shipping companies usually will not deliver a package unless the intended recipient or recognized agent is present to sign for it. This is done to protect the shipper from legal liability that could arise from lost, stolen or damaged cargo. There may be circumstances where alternative arrangements can be made, however; Home delivery companies may deliver packages without a signature, for example, if the sender has stated that this is acceptable.
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