Unexpected Customs Bill
 

So I thought everything was going quite well since I have been in Canada and today I got a lovely letter form UPS for $202

On leaving home I decided to send a couple of extra parcels as goods to follow. UPS called once I was in Canada and asked if I could forward the stamped paperwork. This was done and then the goods were delivered on the 20th June.

All is well.

Then today I got landed with the bill. I called UPS but they state that its a Canada customs issue and that they had to charge. All the paperwork I have is stamped and the prices on the UPS invoice match the values I gave on the goods declaration / Commercial Invoice.

Has anyone had any experience of this or know about how I can get it resolved?

Thanks.

:confused:

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

This is typical UPS. UPS usually charge the same as the value of the items shipped and call it brokerage charges:thumbdown:

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

Is it GST?

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

No it's actual duty on the goods I declared. Going to have to call customs tomorrow. UPS say they just do what they are told.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

No good calling them. Fill in the form from customs for a refund and submit your paperwork. You won't get back any brokerage charges from UPS though, only they duty, if not duty was due. UPS brkerage charges are way higher than FedEx, so you may want to look at how much is duty and how much is other charges.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

I'd be interested to learn on what authority UPS can deliver something to your house, and then send you a bill for charges they incurred without your approval, and expect you to pay up.

The only time this has ever happened to me, the FedEx driver wouldnt let me sign for the stuff until I'd paid the amount- $70 ish in customs duty. In those circumstances, we had no option but to pay (IIRC it was receiving birthday presents from family for my 3yr old daughter).

However, in the OP's situation, he already has the stuff. I'd tell UPS to whistle for it if it was me. But I'm an awkward bugger...:D

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

i had a friend living in the states (boston) i was in uk

he told me about a good deal on a sony camera at the time so i looked it up on the internet on best buys website

i bought the camera and got it delivered to his house in boston with him then to post it on to me..

bout a week after he posted it i got a thing in threw the door from royal mail sayin i had to go to the GPO to collect a package

when i landed the post office charged me like 180 quid in customs fees for the camera

if i had of known that i would have got the camera in town cheaper in tesco or somewere

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

Are these your 'personal belongings'?

If yes, its just a matter of requesting UPS to revise/amend the entry with customs. Keep in mind, UPS may likely charge another brokerage fee to reclaim your money.

They may have charged you duty under the assumption it is a commercial transaction. On your invoice/packing slip, did you note "PERSONAL EFFECTS, NOT FOR RESALE, VALUE FOR CUSTOMS PURPOSES ONLY". Doing this would have changed the H.S Harmonized codes to one lump sum H.S for personal effects (non dutiable) instead of individual H.S codes for each item (with variable rates of duty) on your list.

Also the UPS invoice would likely include HST at the full 13% (Ontario, would vary by province) if UPS had reason to believe you were purchasing it for personal consumption (which they would because they likely only saw your personal name on the invoice and not a company name. Any inbound 'commercial imports' are only billed the 5% GST, the importer then bills 13% to their client and difference goes to the government at tax time.

The other persons comment is very true, review the UPS invoice to confirm the breakdown of the charges before issuing new instructions.

The brokerage fee itself may seem high, but a lot of paperwork goes into one time entries. Strangely, UPS overseas air shipments usually include the destination brokerage (meaning you may have paid the brokerage within your original freight cost at origin), its the UPS moves from USA to Canada where the brokerage amounts get out of control.

Good luck, let me know if you have any questions.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

You give them permission when it is shipped and you accept the goods. It happens often with imports. Couriers are fulfilling a legal requirement, they have no option but pay the tax and duties on your behalf. If one wants to be sure there will be none, don't accept the goods until you find out.

If you don't pay it, you likely won't hear from them again, nor will they deliver any packages to you in the future. There are only so many couriers you can do this with, before you run out of shipping options.

If the courier makes an error you can legitimately dispute the bill or claim a refund, if one can demonstrate the error was on the part of the courier.

When I buy camera kit out of the US, I pre pay taxes, duty and shipping, a lot cheaper than buying on delivery as there are no brokerage fees and lower shipping fees.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

Read this link re the courier programme and casual refund claim procedure.
One half of me sympathizes with people who use the couriers like UPS and Fedex etc especially when they get those bills for payment and the courier informs them thats its Customs fault and they are only doing their job.
The other half of me is laughing my ass off as people dont do their research or enquiries before doing their internet shopping frenzies and then are shocked when they are legally asked for payment of any applicable duties and taxes on items they bought and are being imported.

General rule if its over $20 Cad not inc shipping for the item and you purchased the item from outside Canada then legally CBSA and the couriers can collect.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/courier/menu-eng.html

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

How so? If I receive something from family back home (eg/ gifts for my daughters birthday), how am I giving anyone permission for anything?

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

By accepting the package and signing for it. Read the terms and conditions before you accept the package. When you sign for it, you are accepting the package along with the terms and conditions. If you don't accept the terms and conditions, don't accept the package.

Your friends or family can also send it where taxes and duty are billed to them, all depends how they fill in the shipping documents.

Many couriers won't leave it without payment as they have been stung so many times before.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

That's a cop out and you know it.

Which terms and conditions am I supposed to read? You usually get to sign in a little box on a handheld PDA.

But I've had stuff left at the door with no signature. I've signed for stuff addressed to my wife and vice versa- you sign to say you've received it. If there are terms and conditions attached, especially where you're assuming liability to pay taxes for someone else (is that even legal?:confused:), they need to make that clear.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

C'mon bud. Read the fine print on the waybill you signed at origin. Your being a wee bit naive and ignorant of the process, moving things internationally means dealing with businesses (money making entities, they are not your friends) and customs. Customs have more power than the police or even the wife. You've learned your lesson the hard way, next time you'll ask more questions (possibly on this forum), use a freight forwarder instead of a courier, the paperwork will be done right, and have a little more money in your pocket. No worries, you are not alone in your experience.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

I'm sorry, I think you must have completely ignored most of what I said, or you've quoted me by accident.

Nowhere have I said anything about using couriers, freight forwarders or moving anything internationally. My point was about receiving stuff from family- birthday presents etc.