It's not a scam it's just slightly shady.
This is basically how EVERY shipping company works (Post Offices not included). In the fine print any charges the consignee does not pay will be charged back to the shipper.
Of course most companies would rather collect the money on the spot and avoid the hassle but UPS is not one of them. They generally don't even inform the recipient at delivery that an additional charge will be billed later.
When shipping International via UPS or FedEx it's best to include the brokerage charge in your handling total and send the package "free domicile" (all charges billed to shipper). I'm not really sure what the situation is with duties and taxes you may need to find out about these as well to be completely covered.
The easiest solution is to only ship via Canada Post, only ship under $200 (UPS Ground to USA is has no brokerage charge if value under US$200) or use something like FedEx Premium service where the brokerage charges are included (I think UPS Express is also that way).
Ben
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
This is basically how EVERY shipping company works (Post Offices not included). In the fine print any charges the consignee does not pay will be charged back to the shipper.
Of course most companies would rather collect the money on the spot and avoid the hassle but UPS is not one of them. They generally don't even inform the recipient at delivery that an additional charge will be billed later.
When shipping International via UPS or FedEx it's best to include the brokerage charge in your handling total and send the package "free domicile" (all charges billed to shipper). I'm not really sure what the situation is with duties and taxes you may need to find out about these as well to be completely covered.
The easiest solution is to only ship via Canada Post, only ship under $200 (UPS Ground to USA is has no brokerage charge if value under US$200) or use something like FedEx Premium service where the brokerage charges are included (I think UPS Express is also that way).
Ben
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
If you don't have an account with them, don't pay the bill. It will go away
If you operate as a company it will probably "go away", if you operate under your personal name it will also go away BUT will likely appear on your credit report eventually as a "default".
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
If you operate as a company it will probably "go away", if you operate under your personal name it will also go away BUT will likely appear on your credit report eventually as a "default".
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
BUT will likely appear on your credit report eventually as a "default".
You may be right, but I think it is unlikely.
I have been in a dispute with the 407 over a bill from 1996 for 9 years now. Yep, it's on my credit report. Nope, never caused me a problem or affected the interest rates offered on my mortgage or car loans.
If you have excellent credit than something like this doesn't even register. Particularly if your flag the "default" as a disputed claim. My bank manager told me that most lenders view "defaults" of this type as credit blackmail, which is essentially what they are.
You may be right, but I think it is unlikely.
I have been in a dispute with the 407 over a bill from 1996 for 9 years now. Yep, it's on my credit report. Nope, never caused me a problem or affected the interest rates offered on my mortgage or car loans.
If you have excellent credit than something like this doesn't even register. Particularly if your flag the "default" as a disputed claim. My bank manager told me that most lenders view "defaults" of this type as credit blackmail, which is essentially what they are.
