Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

I've often had to pay import duty on items received, and frequently a month or so after getting the goods. Part of living in Canada.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

But the stuff was goods to follow was it not. Surely you shouldn't pay duty on those items?
If the op sent a copy of his document to UPS it sounds like they have processed the import wrong which wouldn't surprise me. Tell them to stick their bill and get them to sort it. There's definitely no brokerage fee's or ancillary fee's on there too?

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

No you wouldnt pay on those items but if they werent declared as GTF and entered as such on the UPS consist sheet then how would they know.
I agree UPS messed up the declaration.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

Hmm I read through some interesting comments here.

UPS say they had to charge and that I need to take the issue up with customs.

So this is ok by me as I can get a refund.
The UPS brokerage fee was actually only $10 then $49 for what they call additional tariff lines. I'm not too sure if this is a UPS charge or a customs charge.

The following day I called customs and they said they would have already been paid by UPS as the goods had been delivered and that I should submit a refund.

The thing which annoys me is that we received a call from UPS asking to send my casual goods accounting document as I had written "GOODS TO FOLLOW, PERSONAL EFFECTS" all over the commercial invoice. We emailed the documents and UPS emailed back saying the goods would now be released.

We were heading out to Newfoundland the next day and UPS said verbally they could deliver the following week. However when we returned the neighbor came round saying he had two parcels for me and took them inside the previous week as they were dumped on the door step and it looked like rain.

So these goods have never actually been signed for either.

I am going to write to UPS so I can slow down paying them. Even if I have to pay them and claim from customs I will drag my feet. When they reply to this I may well write back asking them to provide me with a proof of delivery.

I'm not too sure how they will be able to do that. Especially when we were out of province.

Thanks for all the responses.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

Context indeed, I thought you were the person who initiated the post and tied your comments into their scenario, which makes more sense. If it's a gift from a family member I can see your concern, it then falls on that family member to ensure they've prepared the documents correctly and warn you in advance (if necessary). Always nice to receive those gifts face to face but thats not always the case eh. My Grandma, bless her, still mail's cash because everyone in the world in a trustworthy law abiding citizen/employee, lol.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

You'll only get the duty back. Brokerage, terminal and other fees are not refunded when you claim, so looks like you'll not get the $59 you refer to refunded. Even GTF would attract brokerage and other tariff items anyway to clear through customs, so you'll end up no worse off once you get the duty back and any sales tax back.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

The $49 for additional tariff lines is an ancillary charge by UPS its not Duty. You only get 5 tariff lines included with UPS before they start charging extra (A tariff line is just kind off courier jargon for the harmonized tariff codes, if you send lots of different items in different import categories then UPS use lots of tariff lines and charge around $4.50 a line)
http://www.ups.com/content/ca/en/shi...?WT.svl=SubNav

If this $49 and the $10 brokerage is all the bill is for then your issue is with UPS and not customs. I dont think you should have been charged the $10 brokerage since with worldwide UPS brokerage is included.

Call them and go ape **** at them, especially as they seem to be trying to pass the buck and are messing you around. They will often write off brokerage etc if you make a right fuss.

Here's some reading which might help ,read through the comments and links too as it shows how some people have handled UPS brokerage bills

http://trueler.com/2010/11/24/self-c...brokerage-fee/
:)

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

How much effort is it worth for $10, the time on the phone is worth more than that.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

There's also the other $49 though and it's the principle of being ripped off. How many of them $10 do other people just pay because it's the easy option, bet it add's up to millions for UPS. Either way the op is going to have to call UPS to dispute the charges or to pay them :)

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

If using couriers like UPS or FedEx one can always tell them you will SELF CLEAR the shipment. This means driving to the UPS brokerage office where the goods are and picking up the tracking document along with any invoice sent.
You then drive to the nearest CBSA office (not the airport offices) and present those documents. You will pay any applicable duties and taxes but no brokerage fees. If no taxes applicable say on a GTF shipment then documentation is just stamped by Customs. You then drive back to the UPS warehouse and present the stamped documents and they give you your package.
Bearing in mind if you live in Calgary you may have to drive to Winnipeg to pick up those documents as Winnipeg handles most UPS shipments shipped from the US.
Of course UPS will tell you that you cant do this.
If you dont tell the courier you want to clear the goods yourself then they automatically clear the goods on your behalf hence the brokerage fees.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

All,

Sorry for hijacking this thread however I have a very specific question that I am hoping the experts on here can offer me some sounds advice on. Essentially, myself and my wife will be heading out to Canada on an IEC visa next month and we have a few personal items that we are planning on shipping over (extra clothes, household items etc).

So, long story short, I have called Transglobalexpress.co.uk and they have offered me a 'reasonable price' to send a few extra cases via air freight using their door2door service. They have stated the usual "we cannot comment on any potential customs taxes/duty etc that may apply when clearing customs in Canada." I have therefore printed out the customs docs and understand that if we clearly mark on the GTF list that these items are for personal use, will be exported out of Canada (if/when) we leave etc, then we should not incur any duty on these - can someone confirm that this is correct?

Also, I am concerned with the fact that they cannot advise me on what the brokerage fees may be for UPS to clear customs on our behalf and deliver the cases to an address in TO (they will be using UPS to ship the items) - does anyone know how to avoid this (I have tried telling them that we will self clear but they are saying that this isn't possible). They have said that I can instruct a different company to clear customs on our behalf - again, is this correct?

Lastly, if we have to pay the brokerage fee - any ideas on how I can find out an approx. cost so that we can budget for this extra expense accordingly?

Many thanks in advance.

LDN2TO

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

People coming over on IEC work permits or other work permits less than 36 months should have a list of GTF if they are shipping goods that dont arrive with them as per this memo.
http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publicati...d2-1-1-eng.pdf
Although the memo doesnt mention GTF its only common sense that one is provided on 1st entry so when they arrive CBSA have been made aware of them and what they are and do they need examining.
As for sending them by courier that is something you need to talk to them about because as for Customs purposes there are no taxes on them providing they are for personal use and will be exported.
I believe on your IEC LOI there should be a U prefix followed by 9 numbers.
On the declaration form put personal effects IEC work permit number
U123456789.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

Much appreciated, FL!

My major concern is that the brokerage fees seem to be an unknown quantity - I have tried calling UPS and I cannot seem to get a definitive answer from them!

Really do not want to get hit with a bill that we have no way of budgeting for!

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

Whats wrong with the Royal Mail/Canada Post route. Sure it might be slower but no brokerage fees to think about unless you are in a rush for those items.

Re: Unexpected Customs Bill
 

Is it possible to send two suitcases c. 25kg each by RM or CP?