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IFN Financial Protection Plan

Financial Protection for Freight Network Members: The IFN FPP

Non-payment is one of the most serious risks in international freight forwarding. IFN's Financial Protection Plan (FPP) gives every network member a structured, transparent safety net — so you can collaborate with confidence and grow without fear.

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Trusted by 235+ forwarders globally

THE PROBLEM

Why Financial Protection Matters

Independent freight forwarders route cargo to international partners every day. Most of the time, those partners pay on time. But sometimes they don't — and when they don't, the consequences can be severe. Chasing overdue invoices across borders is expensive, time-consuming, and often unsuccessful.

The IFN freight network was built on the principle that financial trust must be built into membership — not treated as an afterthought. That's why every IFN member receives baseline cargo payment protection as part of their membership, from day one.

The IFN Financial Protection Plan (FPP) covers members against unpaid freight invoices from fellow IFN network partners in cases of non-payment, fraud, or financial insolvency — giving you the security to build international partnerships without carrying all the risk yourself.

02 — The Framework

How the IFN Freight Forwarders Financial Protection Plan Works

The FPP covers transactions generated between IFN network members. Here is how the coverage framework is structured.

Basic FPP Coverage — Included With Every Membership

Every IFN member receives baseline financial protection at no additional cost.

Gold Membership
POPULAR
$5,000 USD
USD against bad debt per IFN network partner
Premium Membership
$2,000 USD
USD against bad debt per IFN network partner

This coverage activates from the moment your IFN membership is approved. No separate application required.

Full FPP Coverage — Optional Upgrade

Members who want enhanced protection can upgrade to Full FPP Coverage.

Year 1
$15,000 USD
aggregate coverage
Year 2
$20,000 $
aggregate coverage
Year 3
$30,000 USD
aggregate coverage
Full FPP Coverage costs USD $1000 per year — a fraction of what a single unrecovered invoice can cost your business.
03 — Coverage

What the IFN Financial Protection Plan Covers

The FPP is designed to protect against real-world non-payment scenarios between freight network members.

Covered

  • Non-payment of freight invoices by an IFN member within 90 days of agreed terms
  • Fraud by an IFN network partner
  • Financial insolvency of an IFN network partner
  • Freight charges on shipments generated by your IFN membership coverage territory

Not Covered

  • Interest, collection fees, or currency fluctuation losses
  • Disputes arising from operational errors or service quality issues
  • Invoices above USD $5,000 USD per single transaction
  • Claims below USD $500 USD minimum
  • Goodwill settlements or acts of God
  • Invoices not reported via the IFN FPP Alert system on a timely basis
FPP Alert System

The FPP Alert System — Freight Forwarders How to Protect Your Claim

IFN operates a fully automated FPP Alert system within the member portal. To remain eligible for FPP coverage, members must:

IFN sends a monthly reminder to all members to review open invoices from fellow network partners. If there are overdue amounts, IFN intervenes to assist in collection using the FPP Alert system.

Important: failure to report delinquencies through the FPP Alert system will render any coverage claim invalid. The system is in place to protect all members — use it promptly when issues arise.

  • 01
    Submit a statement of account at the end of every month
  • 02
    Report any overdue invoices promptly through the FPP Alert facility in the member area
  • 03
    Report delinquent debts within the eligible window — invoices must be reported within 60 days of the invoice date
Integrity

IFN's Approach to Network Financial Integrity

Financial protection doesn't just benefit the member making a claim — it benefits the entire freight network. When IFN members know that non-payment has consequences and that debts are monitored, the incentive to pay on time is built into membership itself. IFN's approach includes:

01

Monthly monitoring

IFN reviews payment behavior across the network monthly and contacts members with open invoices proactively.

02

Probation policy

Members who have had a payment issue resolved are placed on a 3-month probation period. IFN monitors their payment behavior closely during this time.

03

Blacklisted members register

Members who fail to meet their financial obligations are listed on IFN's public blacklisted members register — informing the entire network before any further transactions occur. This register is visible to all members and is updated regularly.

04

Credit terms guidance

IFN recommends that all transactions between members be settled within a maximum of 45 days after the end of the month in which the invoice is dated. IFN does not dictate credit terms but enforces the FPP Alert process when terms are exceeded.

06 — Compare

Financial Protection Across Membership Plans

Feature Gold Membership Premium Membership Full FPP Upgrade
Basic FPP Coverage
$5,000 USD
$2,000 USD
—
Full FPP Coverage
Optional ($1000 USD/yr)
Optional ($1000 USD/yr)
Up to $30,000 USD
FPP Alert System Access
Monthly Monitoring
Blacklist Protection
Probation Enforcement
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FAQ

Financial Protection — Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about Financial Protection

Financial protection in a freight network refers to a structured coverage program that protects members against non-payment, fraud, or insolvency by other members of the network. In the IFN freight network, this takes the form of the Financial Protection Plan (FPP) — a framework that covers unpaid freight invoices between IFN members, with basic coverage included in all memberships and enhanced coverage available as an optional upgrade.

IFN's basic FPP coverage provides Gold members with up to $5,000 and Premium members with up to $2,000 against bad debt per IFN network partner, included at no additional cost. Members can upgrade to Full FPP Coverage for $1000 USD/year, which provides aggregate coverage of up to $15,000 in year one, $20,000 in year two, and $30,000 in year three.

To make a claim under the IFN Financial Protection Plan, you must have reported the overdue invoice through the FPP Alert system in the IFN member portal — and the invoice must have been reported within 60 days of the invoice date. IFN reviews open invoices monthly and sends reminders. Members who fail to use the FPP Alert system on a timely basis are not eligible to claim. Contact IFN support to initiate the claim process.

No. Individual invoices above $5,000 per transaction are not claimable, and the minimum claimable amount is $500. The FPP also covers freight charges only — it does not cover disputes arising from service errors, interest charges, collection fees, or currency fluctuation losses.

IFN intervenes directly when payment issues arise. The member with the overdue invoice alerts IFN through the FPP Alert system. IFN contacts the non-paying member and facilitates collection. If the issue is resolved, the non-paying member enters a 3-month probation period with close monitoring. If the member continues to default, they are listed on IFN's publicly visible blacklisted members register — which alerts all other network members before doing business with them.

Basic FPP coverage is included with all IFN memberships at no additional cost — Gold members receive $5,000 coverage and Premium members receive $2,000 coverage. The optional Full FPP Coverage upgrade (up to $30,000) is available for an additional $1000 USD/year. The FPP fee is non-refundable if membership is terminated.

Join the Network

Join a Freight Network
With Real Financial Protection

IFN members don't just get access to a global directory. They get a freight network with financial accountability built in — where non-payment has consequences and every member is protected.

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