How to dispute Walmart deduction code 22 (Merchandise billed not shipped).
A step-by-step guide for CPG operators: what triggers Walmart code 22, the exact evidence required, the filing window in APDP (Accounts Payable Disputes Portal), the typical success rate, and the SOP fix that prevents repeats.
- Walmart code 22 (Merchandise billed not shipped) — Walmart's DC scanned receipts and could not match line items on the invoice to merchandise on the trailer. Often caused by short-pick at origin, pallet mis-label, or split shipments invoiced as one.
- File in APDP (Accounts Payable Disputes Portal) within 30 days from deduction post date in apdp.
- Required evidence: Signed Bill of Lading (BOL), proof of delivery (POD) with retailer DC stamp, packing list, and outbound weight ticket from your 3PL. If the shipment was split, both BOLs.
- Typical success rate when evidence is complete: 70–85% when full POD packet is filed within window.
- Prevent repeats by: Reconcile pick-list to packing-list to BOL at origin; require driver-signed BOL with carton count before trailer leaves.
What Walmart code 22 actually means
Walmart's DC scanned receipts and could not match line items on the invoice to merchandise on the trailer. Often caused by short-pick at origin, pallet mis-label, or split shipments invoiced as one. On the remittance it appears as code 22 — Merchandise billed not shipped. Disputes are filed in APDP (Accounts Payable Disputes Portal), and the filing window is 30 days from deduction post date in apdp.
Source: Walmart Supplier Performance Standards; APDP reason-code dictionary. Last reviewed: 2026-04-17.
Step-by-step: how to dispute Walmart code 22
- 1
Confirm the deduction is in scope
Locate the deduction on your Walmart remittance and confirm the reason matches code 22 (Merchandise billed not shipped). Note the deduction post date — your filing window starts there.
- 2
Pull the evidence packet
Gather: Signed Bill of Lading (BOL), proof of delivery (POD) with retailer DC stamp, packing list, and outbound weight ticket from your 3PL. If the shipment was split, both BOLs.
- 3
File the dispute in APDP (Accounts Payable Disputes Portal)
Open APDP (Accounts Payable Disputes Portal), locate the deduction, and attach your evidence packet. Filing window: 30 days from deduction post date in APDP. Late filings are auto-denied — file as soon as the packet is complete.
- 4
Track the response
Most Walmart dispute responses land in 30–60 days. Approved disputes are credited on the next remittance cycle. Denied disputes can be re-filed once with additional evidence; track the re-file deadline.
- 5
Fix the root cause
Reconcile pick-list to packing-list to BOL at origin; require driver-signed BOL with carton count before trailer leaves.
Required evidence
Signed Bill of Lading (BOL), proof of delivery (POD) with retailer DC stamp, packing list, and outbound weight ticket from your 3PL. If the shipment was split, both BOLs.
Build the packet once — most Walmart disputes lose because the evidence arrives incomplete, not because the underlying dispute is weak.
Timeline & deadlines
- Filing window
- 30 days from deduction post date in APDP
- Response window
- Most Walmart responses land in 30–60 days from filing.
- Typical success rate
- 70–85% when full POD packet is filed within window
Why Walmart code 22 deductions happen
Walmart's DC scanned receipts and could not match line items on the invoice to merchandise on the trailer. Often caused by short-pick at origin, pallet mis-label, or split shipments invoiced as one. In practice, this is rarely a single root cause. Walmart's receiving and audit systems flag merchandise billed not shipped the moment a discrepancy hits the threshold — so even a clean shipment can take a deduction if the paperwork or the EDI handshake doesn't reconcile cleanly on the retailer's side. That's why almost every code 22 packet hinges on documentation timing, not on whether the shipment was actually correct.
How to prevent Walmart code 22 going forward
Reconcile pick-list to packing-list to BOL at origin; require driver-signed BOL with carton count before trailer leaves.
Filing wins back the dollars; the SOP fix is what stops you from filing the same dispute again next quarter.
Want this filed for you?
ClearChain runs Walmart dispute filing end-to-end. Flat $5,000/month, no percentage of recoveries. If we don't recover at least 3x your fee, you get your money back.
Flat $5,000/month, month-to-month. If we don't recover at least 3x your fee, you get your money back.
Typical response: same business day.