UNFI deduction codes
MCB & free-fill deductions
MCB (manufacturer chargeback) and free-fill codes bill back promotions, scans and free-goods requirements you agreed to fund. Valid, authorized programs are legitimate; duplicates, off-window claims and unauthorized deductions are recoverable when each MCB is matched to an approved deal.
OverDeduct Deduction Recovery Team · Deduction recovery specialists working with emerging & mid-market CPG brands
Last reviewed: August 4, 2026
Educational content — not legal, tax, or accounting advice. Verify deadlines and fee details against your current distributor agreement before disputing.
What these codes are
UNFI MCB codes pass promotional and trade charges through on your remittance — scans, off-invoice discounts, sales-velocity report fees and program-based charges tied to deals you agreed to fund. Free-fill codes cover free-goods requirements, often at launch.
These are partly disputable. The charge is legitimate when it matches an approved deal; it's recoverable when it's duplicated, applied outside the agreed window, applied to the wrong SKUs or rate, or claimed with no authorization on file. The work is reconciling each MCB code to the deal it claims to represent.
UNFI provides MCB backup on request — supporting detail you need to reconcile what you actually approved. It is typically sent on a weekly cadence to one recipient per supplier account.
Is it disputable?
Often disputable — MCB (manufacturer chargeback) and free-fill codes bill back promotions, scans and free-goods requirements you agreed to fund. Valid, authorized programs are legitimate; duplicates, off-window claims and unauthorized deductions are recoverable when each MCB is matched to an approved deal.
What evidence wins
- The signed promotion / deal authorization with SKUs, dates and rates
- Your trade calendar for the period
- UNFI MCB backup (request via [email protected])
- Prior remittances, to catch a duplicated MCB
Filing window
60 days recommended (up to 12 months for most disputes).
How to file
- Request MCB backup from UNFI and match each MCB code to an approved deal.
- Flag duplicates, off-window claims, wrong SKUs/rates, or charges with no authorization.
- File the exceptions in the UNFI Dispute Center with the deal authorization attached.
This maps to the broader deduction type explainer — read that for the distributor-agnostic definition, then use this page for the UNFI-specific codes and dispute path.
UNFI mcb & free-fill deductions — codes in this category
| Code | What it is |
|---|---|
| (invoice#)29CM | Manufacturer chargeback (MCB) pass-through tied to an invoice — a promotion or program billed back to you. |
| MCB Free Fill | Free-goods (free-fill) requirement billed back as a manufacturer chargeback, commonly at item launch. |
| ACPTO | Accepted-promotion chargeback — a promotional deduction passed through on the remittance. |
| (invoice#)SCAN | Scan-based promotional deduction billed back against the referenced invoice. |
Code strings vary by agreement and region. Always confirm against your current UNFI remittance and agreement.
Recover what's yours
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Analyze your UNFI remittance →Frequently asked questions
How do I get UNFI MCB backup for a code?
Email [email protected] to be set up to receive MCB documents. They're sent on a weekly cadence with supporting detail, and are what you use to reconcile each MCB code to a deal you actually approved.
When is a UNFI MCB or free-fill code disputable?
When it's billed twice, applied outside the agreed dates or to the wrong SKUs, or claimed with no authorization on file. Authorized programs billed as agreed are valid costs.
Related UNFI pages
- UNFI code libraryEvery UNFI deduction code, searchable.
- How to read a UNFI remittanceDecode the whole statement.
- How to dispute in the UNFI Dispute Center
- 3rd-party billing (pass-through) deductionsA 3rd-party billing deduction is a charge that originates with an end retailer — not UNFI — and is passed through to you on your UNFI remittance, usually coded with the invoice number plus a customer marker. You typically verify and dispute it against the originating retailer's program, not UNFI.
- Recall & withdrawal deductionsRecall and withdrawal codes charge back the cost of pulling affected product from UNFI's network, plus handling. When the recall is genuinely yours the core cost is usually valid; the disputable part is scope — quantities, SKUs, dates and handling rates beyond what the recall actually covered.
- Compliance & Weights-and-Measures finesCompliance codes fine suppliers for shipping, labeling, pallet, ASN/EDI, or weights-and-measures violations against UNFI's routing and vendor requirements. Fines for genuine violations are usually valid; those applied in error, duplicated, or for requirements you demonstrably met are recoverable.