UPS - Is this Legit?

sloppydex

Right I have a few issues that I welcome any feedback on...
UPS came to my work address to deliver 3 packages from the US. 
There was a cod on the packages and they would not release them without payment; their admin fee and import charges. Now this is the first time I have ever been hit with import changes even with packages well in to the hundreds and funnily enough this is the first time UPS were used... I spoke to the driver and stated I was not happy with the charges and I was not accepting the package. He said, thats fine, it happens but legally he has make three attempts to deliver them. I told the receptionist to refuse each time (with the driver present) rather than ringing me and asking me down to reception. I explained to the seller that I was not accepting the charges and they were fine, they understood and were waiting the return of the goods.
A few weeks pass (2/3 weeks), I am away for a week on annual leave and return to one of the packages at reception. The driver had come to the office and told the receptionist that I must have paid the charges and she signed for one of them. Another week later UPS deliver the remaining packages to a different building and different receptionist without mentioning me at all (the receptionists just sign for anything that comes in). the packages have been at work ever since. 
Another week or two later I receive an invoice from UPS for the full total!
Where do I stand?
I reverted to UPS customer service and explained the above...ie I never signed for anything, the contract is between UPS and the seller, and the seller is expecting the goods back as there is no proof I have received them (no signature) and the delivery driver acted fraudently by stating that I paid for the goods..
UPS are insisting that I pay the import charges even if the goods are to be sent back and are asking me to arrange with the seller to send the goods back...(even though the initial delivery contact was between those parties)
Finally there is a caveat; I purchased the goods on sale but the seller put the original retail price on the package so I am getting hit with double the charge even though the goods are only worth 50% of the stated value. Now I would be willing to pay the import charge based on what I paid for the goods but I am not happy about the way UPS have gone about this....
Any guidance is so appreciated.
Thanks in advance

OU812

<SNIP>
MOD: Don't go down this route

whiterebel

Your seller should be organising things from their side with UPS. Once they organise a return it would be up to UPS to cancel the import documentation. Not UPS's fault that the shipper put the full amount on the paperwork, but everything after the first delivery attempt is shambolic. Not the usual from UPS in my experience.

sloppydex

Thanks for the replies. I actually read some stuff online re UPS about this (where they deliver the goods and sometimes months later issue the invoice) so I was expecting it - that is why I didn't take the goods home or use them! I think thats what they were expecting me to do...
I will keep this thread updated with the responses, as no doubt if this is now common practice someone else may be affected in the future, if not already.

whiterebel

You'll probably find that a lot of people don't expect to be charged VAT/Duty,and if they rang the customer with the charges ahead of delivery, they would refuse, leaving the couriers with a backlog of things to have returned, or blocking up the warehouse. Also people don't expect to pay the courier charges and are normally shocked when they find it costs a lost to ship on an express service, which has to be included in the calculations for VAT/Duty. Anyone who does customs clearance should pre-advise the charges accrued, but I can see why they wouldn't.
Couriers probably have someone monitoring their performance on delivery times, clearance times etc, which would be seriously skewed by the scenarios outlined above.

rubadub

I would have absolutely no qualms about doing the same as they did to you. Absolute scumbags.

In future make a point of not using them, if you find sellers who only use them email and tell them why you are not going to do business with them.

PirateShampoo

rubadub wrote: »

I would have absolutely no qualms about doing the same as they did to you. Absolute scumbags.

In future make a point of not using them, if you find sellers who only use them email and tell them why you are not going to do business with them.

Why are they scumbags? It's not their fault custom charges have been added. You have a choice to either pay or refuse the package.

rubadub

PirateShampoo wrote: »

Why are they scumbags? It's not their fault custom charges have been added.

Maybe read his post again, I am not referring to that.

stronglikebull

PirateShampoo wrote: »

ou have a choice to either pay or refuse the package.

But he did refuse the package, and UPS came back, lied about the charges, and delivered them anyway.

OP, respond to the seller and tell him you have refused the packages and that he needs to get UPS to return them. Do not deal with UPS yourself. Let them swing for their charges.

The only trouble for you is that you have paid for these items, and may not get refunded until they are returned.

PirateShampoo

stronglikebull wrote: »

But he did refuse the package, and UPS came back, lied about the charges, and delivered them anyway.

OP, respond to the seller and tell him you have refused the packages and that he needs to get UPS to return them. Do not deal with UPS yourself. Let them swing for their charges.

The only trouble for you is that you have paid for these items, and may not get refunded until they are returned.

More likely the package was put back on the line up with the CoD removed. The driver probably assumed it had been paid and delivered it as normal.

sloppydex

Update - I went back to UPS and categorically said that I did not want them and they were to be sent back as the charges were incorrect and it was within my rights to do that. UPS came back still seeking an import fee as the goods were shipped into the country. 
I then reverted to say I had not got a contract with UPS and i had not got the goods as they were still in the post room awaiting collection. I also enquired about the complaints procedure.
CS then reverted to say that the goods will be picked up from my office at X date and time (4 days later) to be returned to sender. I was also told the billing dept would be in contact re the import fee.
On the date the goods were to be picked up I received an email by a different employee of UPS to say that the packages were originally delivered to me  as the seller had paid the import charges and that UPS were not requesting payment which is why they were delivered with no cash delivered. 
I left it at that as I was lucky and on to a good thing....What still winds me up was that I received the invoice from UPS after the goods were delivered seeking the full cost of the taxes/import fees....so, were they seeking double payment on the goods if the seller had already paid for them or were they lying, letting the fees slide and just trying to save face....