This department is responsible for the receipt of goods for the
University of Houston-Clear Lake.
Receiving Dock personnel are responsible for the receipt, general inspection, and identification of all incoming shipments. Receiving is also responsible for promptly notifying all interested parties of the receipt and condition of incoming shipments by delivering the merchandise to requesting departments and providing a receiving report to verify delivery. To aid the Receiving Department be sure the purchase request has the building and room number of where the merchandise should be delivered. If there is more than one delivery location, be sure to type on your purchase request, the building and room number of where you want each item to be delivered.
The receiving procedure consists of unloading and checking the shipment; unpacking and inspecting the material; and generating a Receiving Report for the purchase requestor's signature upon delivery. If an item is received by the requesting department and a Receiving Report is not signed, please contact the Receiving Department via e-mail (click here) to request a Receiving Report be prepared for signature. Before the department signs a Receiving Report the merchandise should be checked to verify the items being delivered are the items that were ordered by the department. Once the receiving report is signed by the department, Accounts Payable has the authority to pay the invoice and if there is a problem with the order this needs to be reported before the invoice is paid.
If an item is picked up from the vendor, is for an advertisement, or for a repair or service that does not go through the Receiving Dock, contact Purchasing via e-mail (click here). They will prepare a Receiving Report and send three copies of this report to the department. The department keeps one copy for their records and sends the other two back to Purchasing, UHCL Box 137.
Vendors send invoices to Accounts Payable. After an item is received, a Receiving Report is generated. Payment is not made until the items on the receiving report and the invoice match exactly. If you receive an invoice from a vendor and a purchase order was issued, do not file the invoice. Forward the invoice to Accounts Payable.
DELIVERY BY RECEIVING DEPARTMENT
OVERNIGHT MAIL (FEDERAL EXPRESS, UPS)
Delivered within one hour of receipt
PURCHASE ORDERS
Delivered within three (3) days of receipt of merchandise
ITEMS ADDRESSED DIRECTLY TO PERSONNEL (NOT ON PURCHASE ORDER)
Example: Complimentary copies of books sent to faculty are delivered
same day
An attempt to deliver orders to the requesting office will be made within the above timeframe. If the Receiving personnel are not able to deliver because there is no one in the office, or the person who has authority to sign the Receiving Report is unavailable, a second delivery attempt will be made the following day.
The Receiving Department cannot store merchandise if the requesting department is not ready to have the items delivered. Before you order anything make sure that you can accept delivery of the items when they arrive. This is especially true for furniture items. The Receiving Dock does not have the space to store merchandise.
Furniture should be ordered assembled unless the requesting department is willing to do the assembly. No department at the University will do the assembly for you.
Items for personal use should not be delivered to the university for temporary or student workers. The receiving personnel are unable to locate these employees and have to send the orders back to the delivering company.
RETURN OF MERCHANDISE
The Receiving Dock will return any excess, damaged or incorrect items ordered on a purchase order and acquire replacement goods. All returns must be in the original box. A Returned Merchandise form accompanies merchandise being shipped to the vendor. Call the Receiving Dock if you receive the wrong item. Do not call the vendor to arrange an exchange. Accounts Payable will not pay the invoice when it arrives unless it is identical to the original purchase order, or to a corrected purchase order.
If you discover a problem with materials you have received on a purchase order:
1. Call Receiving at 281-283-2204, 2205 or 2206 within 24 hours of delivery. Explain your problem to them and they will generate a Returned Merchandise Form for you to sign. They will pick up the item within one working day, unless you stipulate otherwise.
2. If you requested an item in error, you may have to pay restocking charges and return freight charges. The dock can check this for you. These charges will be paid from the cost center on the original purchase order.
3. Receiving personnel cannot return personal items.
4. Returns must be made before the invoice is paid by Accounts Payable. If Accounts Payable has a returned merchandise form on file, they will not pay the invoice so contact Receiving as soon as you find a problem with your order.
