Which retailers publish a response time for deduction disputes?

Two of the eight retailers we cover. Dollar General's Accounts Payable aims to answer short-paid invoice inquiries within 60 days, and Burlington answers shortage disputes within 60 business days. These are response times, not filing windows.

Can you escalate a denied deduction dispute?

Only where a retailer publishes a route. Dollar General names its Accounts Payable Manager for inquiries past its response goal. Burlington names Vendor Relations as its single point of contact. The other sources we cover state no escalation route.

After a denial

Denied Deduction Disputes: What to Do Next

Refile only if the window is open and your records still contradict the claim, then check what each retailer publishes about escalating.

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A denial does not end the dispute if your own records still contradict the claim and the retailer's window is open. Refile with what the first filing lacked.

If your records confirm the deduction, or the window has closed, accept it.

Should you refile, accept, or raise it with the retailer?

Two checks decide it: do your records still contradict the claim, and is the window open? The table maps each result to a next step in our guides.

Two checks decide it: do your records still contradict the claim, and is the window open?

After the denial	Next step	Guide
Your records still contradict the claim and the window is open.	Refile with what the first filing lacked.	How to dispute a retailer deduction
Your records confirm the deduction, or the window has closed.	Accept it and record the reason.	When to write off a deduction
A compliance charge cites a requirement the retailer's manual does not state.	Argue from the retailer's own published document.	Hard-to-prove chargebacks
The same reason code keeps coming after you fixed your side.	Raise it with the retailer instead of writing it off again.	When to write off a deduction
A factor holds the receivable.	Check the factoring agreement before you contact the retailer.	Deductions and invoice factoring

What does each retailer publish after you file?

Few of the eight retailers we cover publish a response time or an escalation contact. "Not published" means our guide does not state it, not that the retailer has no rule. A response time is not a filing window.

"Not published" means our guide does not state it, not that the retailer has no rule. A response time is not a filing window.

Retailer	Response	Escalation or contact
Dollar General	Response time goal of 60 days: Accounts Payable aims to answer short-paid invoice inquiries within it. Vendor performance and post audit disputes are answered in the order received.	Inquiries past the 60 day goal may go to the Accounts Payable Manager.
Kohl's	Not published.	Not published.
Burlington	Response time of 60 business days: shortage disputes are researched and answered within it.	Vendor Relations is the single point of contact between the vendor and Burlington's internal departments.
Macy's	Answers are emailed to the macysnet profile address of the person who filed. Cost difference and markdown allowance answers come from the merchant.	General questions go to a Vendor Standards mailbox or an analyst line.
Bealls	Not published.	Not published.
Kroger	Not published.	Not published.
TJX	Not published.	Not published.
Ross Stores	Not published.	Not published.

How do retailers group filings?

Each retailer sets its own unit for a filing, so check its current vendor guide before you refile.

Retailer	Published rule
Dollar General	Vendor performance: one chargeback per email, unless several share a PO. Post audit: one chargeback per email. Repeat disputes on one post audit chargeback slow the research. For claims created outside an invoice, disputes sent to several contacts are answered only by the appointed contact.
Burlington	Put all undisputed shortage claims on one Shortage Dispute Form. Do not hold them back to batch by month, quarter, season or year.
Macy's	Invoice disputes: the document numbers for one shipment can share one inquiry. Return disputes: one bill of lading per inquiry. Other types: one spreadsheet by division and dispute type.
Kohl's, Bealls, Kroger, TJX, Ross Stores	Not published.

Sources: Dollar General Domestic Vendor Guide (April 2026); Burlington Domestic Vendor Partnership Manual (May 2026); Macy's 2023 Vendor Standards. The first table and the summary come from our own guides.

Questions

Which retailers publish a response time for deduction disputes?: Two of the eight retailers we cover. Dollar General's Accounts Payable aims to answer short-paid invoice inquiries within 60 days, and Burlington answers shortage disputes within 60 business days. These are response times, not filing windows.
Can you escalate a denied deduction dispute?: Only where a retailer publishes a route. Dollar General names its Accounts Payable Manager for inquiries past its response goal. Burlington names Vendor Relations as its single point of contact. The other sources we cover state no escalation route.

Next steps

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