Shipping Really Confused With Added Fees A Month After Package Arrival

It sounds like a complete scam. Don't bother paying it. Really, what could they do? Ban you from using their fail brown mini van for future deliveries? Definitely a scam.

 

Gosh I don't know...I wonder how they even wound up with the package in the first place. Did you try the all powerful Google to look up their company information? They might've just stolen your shipping info from the real Canada post office--maybe contacting them would help?

I wouldn't pay a single cent until they explain themselves though. You paid to have it ship EMS, it's not your responsibility that it wound up in some other carrier's hands!

 

Really EMS or Canada Post should be held liable. This fake/shady shipping company got a hold of your package somehow, and I don't think that would have been in the doll company's control. If you could contact EMS, or get the doll company to contact EMS on your behalf that might at least get you started down the right track.

Either way, what a crap situation to find yourself in! The sacrifices we make for these lovely dollies...

 

Canada Post has recently been contracting out to other couriers like DHL, Purolator, and (I suppose now after seeing your post) TNT when they have been busy with processing parcels. Satyrsmoon mentions it in this thread. However, if you are concerned that the customs forms do not look legit, you might want to contact Canada Customs as well as TNT directly. From talking to Canada Post representatives, they could basically care less for what services you have paid for and what charges may be incurred from them suddenly contracting out to other couriers to do Canada Post's job. I hate to say this, but if it is legitimate brokerage fees then you will have to pay them. However, I would still file a complaint against Canada Post if I were you.

 

I have run into this same situation before actually, it wasn't on something doll related though. There was an email address on the invoice slip TNT sent me. I paid them because it was something trivial like $13, but I definitely contemplated simply not paying it because yeah, what are they gonna do ban me from using their stupid brokerage charging service. EMS isn't supposed to have extra charges because all it is is another regular mail shipping option. it's called Xpresspost here in canada.

 

I would never pay charges I didn't agree to.

I would definitely follow up with Canada Post, and fight the hell out of this thing. I've had lots of phone companies, cable companies, magazine publishers, even dentists "sign me up" to services without my knowledge and then send me a bill. I refused to pay them, canceled the services and eventually never heard from them again. If it's not the government charging you money, and it's not enough to sue over, then just don't pay it.

That's just what I would do of course hopefully you will make the best decision for what you will do with this situation!

 

It sounds like they have been using TNT all along rather than using regular EMS then. That's unfortunate because EMS is what you paid for (not TNT which is EMS Premium). Courier companies wouldn't sue you over something like that and debt collectors usually don't pursue for costs under $100 (unless it's related to something like student loans).

 

Yeah, I can't imagine you could be held responsible for paying for fees you never agreed to, for a service you didn't ask for. The old fashioned term is highway robbery. I think without a credit raiding to even worry about, these TNT people will just commit highway fail.

 

That's just bizarre. =__=! Well, hopefully it all works out for you.

 

Just a quick note, you may want to keep any receipts or anything dealing with the shipping order and write down all information pertaining to the transaction just in case they sell your account to a collections agency. If the company has no claim then the agencies will usually leave you alone. Also, I'd definitely contact EMS and ask them about it. It seems very shady and you wouldn't want it to get out of hand. Even if you don't have a credit history now, you don't want to start with any black marks.

 

Absolutely dodgy! That is bizarre. But yeah, I would definitely see to the bottom of it. I've never dealt with TNT ever in conjunction with Canada Post/EMS shipments (only Purolator which would indeed send a bill 1-2 months later for brokerage fees). That is their normal practice at Purolator, but this sounds like a scam. O_O

 

To tell you the truth this smells suspiciously like a scam.
Any brokerage/shipping company will make you pay any outstanding funds before they hand over a package to you.

There seems to be a lot of internet compaints about them, so I recommend documenting everything.

 

Since it's obviously a scam, I am wondering how TNT is getting your information and information about your package. Canada Post clearly has some loose ends that need to be addressed as TNT seems to chronically get away with stealing your information from them...

In the end, at least they aren't stealing your parcels

 

That's not true - FedEx, for example, will deliver the package to you, but then send you the letter with the customs fees/brokerage fees (in the UK, at any rate).

I'm not sure the charge is fair in this case, but it doesn't sound like a scam. I would pay it, to avoid getting a black mark on my credit rating. Besides, if the next EMS parcel you receive is routed through TNT, you may find that they refuse to deliver to you because of your outstanding charges.

I think you should certainly complain as loudly as you can about it to TNT - but if I were you, I wouldn't just ignore the bill.

 

It seems though from the link in previous posts that TNT's "bills" and such are actually phony, and are blacklisted with various law enforcement agencies. They more than likely stole the information in order to send the bill.

 

If no contact info was left by TNT and all they wanted was credit card information, It reeks of scam to me.

I would contact TNT and ask if they know about this mysterious bill and if they can confirm they actually handled the doll package in the first place. They would have the doll company's address and such, so I would just ask them to confirm where and who shipped you the doll.

I do a lot of online banking, one morning, I couldn't log into my account... the site looked like my bank but it was asking my cc number, my pin, social security and mailing address to confirm my identity.
I immediately called my bank and found out the site was hacked and it was a scam. I'm glad I was suspicious enough to find out, because my boyfriend would have filled all that crap out without question.

 

It might be really difficult to make dolly purchases in the future if you don't use EMS

I'm sure this TNT company is a scam, with the front in Canada and it's home base in Africa or China. Hopefully once you prove you won't be suckered in by them they will leave you be.

 

Well, if I were you, I'd call them up - I did a quick Google and their Canadian number is here. TNT is a real company, and while I suppose it's possible the letter is fake, the company itself is a real (and reputable) one - although evidently about as reputable in Canada as the UK's Parcelforce (or, as we call it ParcelFarce!).

 

TNT is a real company (it's often called 'EMS Premium' on a number of websites), but I think it's suspicious that the "TNT" notice received doesn't have anything other than a mailing address and only accepts CC information. I would contact the official TNT representatives directly through the info on the website and ask them about it.

 

Yes, that's why I suggested the OP call them up and verify before paying But to me it does sound as if this is a real bill, which is why I'm suggesting that the OP not ignore it - ignoring a bill and hoping it goes away is never a good idea, even if you're ignoring it because you dispute it.

 

TNT is obviously poorly managed, so much that people doing even know, or totally aren't sure who the heck they are and what their business even if. I wasn't aware about EMS premium being TNT routed, but certainly if that's not what you paid for there is no reason you should be paying this, the company messed that one up, and now you're being punished for it.
EMS is excellent shopping on it's own there's no reason to have to pay for extra, so if TNT refuses to ship to you because of this that's business lost to then for being a poorly advertised company that people trust. It's unlikely that you'll get sued for that, it would be terribly wasteful of resources for them to do so.
Hope you get all this sorted out soon.

 

Yes, I mentioned the same thing on the first page about checking in with TNT directly. As for ignoring it, I think the OP found through correspondence with the company who shipped their stuff that they think it's fraudulent as well. Puzzling! Either way, first course of action is to check with TNT if this is a legit bill or not. If it is indeed legit, then the OP needs to take it up with the company who sent the items incorrectly by TNT rather than by regular EMS. Thirdly, if it's legit and the company doesn't want to deal with it, the OP should probably pay it (not only for future credit rating), but also because most courier services will tack on interest on charges you have left unpaid (as the interest rate climbs the closer they can get to having a collections agency pursue you).

As for brokerage fees in Canada, many couriers like Purolator do send bills 1-2 months after delivery. It's not abnormal whatsoever, so it's likely similar to the UK. In the late 90s and early 2000s, Purolator used to be the company handling EMS shipments here and their brokerage fees along with Canada Customs forms would arrive several months after shipment.

 

Ah I think I just saw the OP's post in the doll site in question. Funny thing is that when I ordered from them, my parcel arrived via Purolator (so I'm just waiting for the fees to come in the mail as per previous experience with them, even though they are not the courier service I paid for).

But see this is the very thing that I'm kinda up in arms a bit in the thread about EMS tracking/courier changes: you're told shipping is by EMS, and so of course that's gonna be the regular courier that you're gonna be expecting (in our case, Canada Post). But I've come to the conclusion that "EMS" is used because it's a recognized brand; a lot of doll companies use this service, therefore it's one that a lot of buyers would definitely go for because it's what's familiar. But then the term is used as much as a lot of people still call all BJDs "Super Dollfies". Even though EMS can be claimed to have been used, it really refers to any type of express mail service.

Did you by any chance look at the waybill included with the parcel? Does it have the "EMS" logo on it? If it doesn't, then that means they used a different method of service, hence this whole debacle with TNT. At least, that's my take on it. (I just shipped a package to the Czech Republic via ExpressPost, and the form I had to sign had the EMS logo on it instead of the ExpressPost logo. Also too, I noticed that when using Expedited Parcel to the US, it has the Priority Mail logo on it).

I hope some form of resolution can be found regarding this. That whole ordeal sounds downright dodgy, and it's not helped that the site referred to last page has a list of people who have been scammed. Talk about a huge breach of the Privacy Act.

 

Might want to try these guys too. http://www.bbb.org/
I certainly would not pay, regardless. As long as you have your receipts to prove you should not be getting bills from a company that you did not intend to do business with, legally they can't do anything but threaten you. And if they DO threaten you, contact the authorities. Make sure you keep note of every time you contact them or they contact you, write down any names of customer service people and whatnot. The more information you have the better off you'll be. :3

 

EDIT again: I think I found them:

http://www.bbb.org/kitchener/busine.../tnt-express-canada-in-mississauga-on-1164238

Found this too:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Shipping-Companies/TNT-Shipping/tnt-shippingtnt-shipping-ripof-8y2yy.htm

 

Ekonsine -- If it is legit, then TNT is not to blame. As a courier company, it's their job to collect items and deliver them quickly and safely in an agreed time frame (in order to expedite parcels brokerage fees are charged)--which they must have if you got your item(s) safely. As far as they are concerned, they have done their job and the sender chose them specifically as the courier. The company you bought your item(s) from is responsible because you paid for and agreed to EMS shipping. They should take accountability for shipping through a courier service you did not approve of.

 

I really hope they admit to their mistake and sort it out with the courier. I do understand that with language and cultural issues, sometimes these mistakes do happen. But, if you asked for regular EMS, then that is what you should have received.

 

TNT is NOT a legitimate company. They are a front for a multi-national monetary scam. DO NOT pay any bills or fees incurred from them. The Law firm that they mention is a REAL ESTATE firm. They do nothing with shipping fees. They only operate in a single county in NJ and have no juristdiction in Canada or otherwise. You should report any further harassment to your local police station.

 

There is the TNT scam being run and then there is also the real Dutch TNT worldwide courier company. The company also controls the national mailing/postal system in the Netherlands.

 

Yes they do (much like other worldwide couriers). I've never really seen people using TNT here (I live in a western province and UPS and DHL are more commonly used), but I know for a fact they do operate in the eastern provinces.

 

I know that TNT is the University of British Columbia's officially contracted courier. I just haven't really seen TNT around my town (which is waaaaaaaay smaller than Vancouver, but is also located in BC). I would imagine that their office would most likely be somewhere closer to Richmond as that is where many couriers are based out of (closest to the airport).

 

I have a real problem with paying fees I don't agree to--Like I said, I've had phone companies sign me up for extra stuff, dentists take extra xrays, magazines that mysteriously start showing up, and then I get a bill. They all gave me products and services, but since they were nothing I requested then I refused to pay and they eventually got the message. If a homeless man comes up and washes your windshield without you asking him to, then demands you pay him, you wouldn't have to. Companies are no different than individuals. To hell with TNT and the bills they sent you. If they want to take you to court over it, all you have to do is say "show me any documentation where I agreed to use your service or pay your fees" and you'll win. They KNOW this too, which is why you have nothing to worry about from them.

Old fashioned highway robbery. If someone came up to me and punched me in the face, and then told me I had to pay them because they were an professional face-puncher, then I'd definitely have a few choice words that wouldn't include anything along the lines of "yes sir, here's my credit card number."

 

Good luck!

 

Hi Ekonsine,

I hope you don't mind me wading into the discussion at this point. With respect to the other members who have commented on this thread, I think it is entirely possible that the invoice you have received from TNT is legitimate. I will try to explain why.

Whenever anyone buys goods from outside Canada that are being brought into the country,

whether by post or other means, that person is considered an importer under Canadian Law and so has responsibility to meet certain rules and regulations.

The Canada Border Services Agency is the federal government agency responsible for managing the access of people and goods to and from Canada. The CBSA would be a good place to start if you have questions about this invoice, since they are the ones who assess all packages coming into the country to determine duties and taxes owing. They have a lot of good info on their site, including info for Canadians who are importing goods by post.

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

When a package enters Canada, the carrier (usually Canada Post, but not always), is

required to report the package to CBSA. CBSA will assess the package and determine what

duties and taxes are owed.

Duties are determined by the Canada Tariff. As it happens, there are no duties on

importing dolls and doll parts into Canada (Section XX, Sub. 95). http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/trade-commerce/tariff-tarif/2009/t2009-06/ch95-eng.pdf

There are, however, taxes owing. If your parcel is flagged by CBSA, they will apply the

applicable GST/PST or HST for your province or territory, based on the declared value of

the doll converted into Canadian dollars + a $5 or $8 handling fee (depending on the

carrier). The $5 handling fee, according to the CBSA web site, is to offset the brokerage fees for your package.

Example:
If you live in BC and import a doll with a declared value of $500 USD:
Currency conversion: $500 USD at an exchange rate of $1USD = $1.05 CAD = $525 CAD
Applied tax rate: $525 x 12 %HST = $63 CAD + $5 handling fee
Total owing = $68 CAD


masala_chai-tea is absolutely correct that Canada Post subcontracts delivery of packages to

various courier companies. I have no idea if your invoice is a scam or comes from the real

TNT. I can tell you that TNT is a bona fide courier/brokerage company working in Canada.
http://www.tnt.com/express/en_ca/site/home.html They are members of the Canadian Society of Customs Brokers, which is the licensing body for Canadian customs brokers. http://www.cscb.ca/

The role of a customs broker, among other things, is to take care of all of the paperwork required to import goods into Canada. If Canada Post directly handles the importation of your package, and it gets flagged by CBSA, then your package will arrive COD with that big white and yellow sticky form explaining the taxes owed. If Canada Post hands your package off to a courier/customs broker, then the broker will shepherd your package thru customs according to their own policies.

If the amount of taxes owing on your package is not too great, the Customs Broker may pay the fees in advance and collect from you later. This is possibly what has happened to you with TNT. Your invoice would represent the total of the sales tax owing to the Gov't of Canada for your package + the broker's fees. I've received invoices like yours on more than one occasion. I even had a situation once where I got notification in the mail that CBSA was holding my package awaiting all of the paperwork necessary for importation. I had to hire a brokerage firm of my own in Vancouver (I don't even live in BC) to go retrieve my package for me and get it through customs. True!

TNT has a contact number on their website: 1-800-558-5555

It seems crazy that the package would be delivered to you before you have paid the fees, but it happens. I know it is a HUGE drag to get a bill like you did. I hope you get it sorted out without more stress. Good-luck

 

I'm with Kiltie, try to take all infos necessary,first of all call the toll number of TNT and ask enquire about your tax,try even to give them all infos about shipment reference number,tracking whatever.

Becaus if the tax is legit and you're ingnore to pay it then TNT could take legal action against you.

First of all try to find out if this is a concrete scam or not,because i woulden't suggest to not pay.
No offence to members that suggested you to do in that way.

 

Just a quick point of clarification bcause you asked:

Items under $20 CAD are exempt from duties and taxes.
Gifts under $60 CAD are exempt, but it is up to CBSA to decide if your package qualifies as a gift. It must be from a friend or relative and include a gift card.

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/postal-postale/duty-droits-eng.html#c1

Glad you got your problem sorted.

 

Yeah, the CBSA will re-evaluate upon entry into customs whether or not they think it's actually a gift or not. Marking something as a "gift" really doesn't prove to them that it actually is one. Sometimes items will slide through customs without charges and other times you will be charged applicable PST and GST (as well as a handling charge ranging from $5-$8). If there were merchant receipts with the parcel, then they will evaluate it as merchandise regardless of it being marked as a "gift". If it looks like merchandise in packaging, again it will be evaluated as merchandise. If you get something marked down, then it has to be marked as being worth $20CAD- (or the equivalent of $20CAD in USD)--the default currency as EMS forms I've had from Korea, Japan, China, etc the value is marked in USD.

EDIT: That's good you got it worked out though!

 

Brokerage fee are related to shipping company dealing with government custom service. Normally this only happens if your pacakge is declared at a very high value like $1000. Charging $30 on a $20 package is total BS.