Problem with FedEx and customs

[BRB 6]

Thought I would relay a problem I recently had with FedEx and customs. I know some people send money and gifts to the Philippines and wanted you to have a heads up. I recently sent copies of all the visa documents to my wife and the package was held up in customs and at FedEx. It just makes me wonder why the people in the Philippines put up with so much corruption in their govenment. My wife was not allowed to have the package delivered until she agreed to pay a very high so called customs fee which amounted to over 3,000 pesos. Much more than the value of the package which was mostly just documents and pictures. This was on top of the cost of sending the package in the first place. Of course she got a very plain looking receipt that really does not show anything and does not say who the "customs offical" was that assigned the charges.

It appears that no matter what we have had to do to get paperwork, marriage Lic or whatever someone always is asking for a hand out or else they will not give it to us.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

If you put "Documents Only" on the envelope, you generally don't have a problem, even using the USPS. Otherwise, you have to fill out the appropriate customs forms, or you might require the services of a "fixer" to get past customs. Rumor has it that these "special custom fees" supplement the otherwise meager salary paid to postal workers (and customs officials).

"In house" delivery services like LBC already have fixers to handle customs problems, and that is all part of the service, which is quite reasonable compared to the international carriers.

Edited January 4, 2010 by Lone Ranger

[Kevin-n-Merlaine 14]

I'd read a lot of horror stories here about fedex and ups in the phils. They use forwarders there so they don't have any of their own employees. You're pretty much at the mercy of the forwarder when you use their services. I just sent a package to my wife just before Christmas (they delivered it on the 23rd). It had a professional microphone, wrist watch, necklace, lots of chocolates and all the interview documents I'd been working on. It weighed 17 lbs and when it was delivered she paid P500 for customs. I'm definitely convinced that DHL is the only way to go sending anything important.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Did you send your docs and pics in the FedEx envelope or box? The envelope clearly says it is documents inside.

I was fearful of sending the docs and pics in a box, 'cause I knew that would increase the chance it being opened and delayed and fined. So I crammed every piece of paper I could into the envelope.

For you, Maybe it was a random security check. But sounds more like a shakedown, sorry to say.

I sent my docs and pics last last month thru manila. Stuffed a full 2 Lbs worth in the FedEx envelope ($100 bucks), and declared docs and pics on the outside. The envelope arrived right on time, 5 days later. For value, I put the cost of the copies and pics, about $12.95

Somehow, putting "Priceless" would not have flown with them.

Edited January 4, 2010 by Hopp

[ebmm 0]

Thought I would relay a problem I recently had with FedEx and customs. I know some people send money and gifts to the Philippines and wanted you to have a heads up. I recently sent copies of all the visa documents to my wife and the package was held up in customs and at FedEx. It just makes me wonder why the people in the Philippines put up with so much corruption in their govenment. My wife was not allowed to have the package delivered until she agreed to pay a very high so called customs fee which amounted to over 3,000 pesos. Much more than the value of the package which was mostly just documents and pictures. This was on top of the cost of sending the package in the first place. Of course she got a very plain looking receipt that really does not show anything and does not say who the "customs offical" was that assigned the charges.

It appears that no matter what we have had to do to get paperwork, marriage Lic or whatever someone always is asking for a hand out or else they will not give it to us.

yes were the same thing i send a package to my bro like clothes and candys before xmas what the heck stupid fedex asking a 4,000 pesos to my sister in law and my bro. and they dont delivered until u agreed and give it. did you know what i did i just called the phil. fedex and F**** #$%^ i was so mad at that time i called bec. if u r abusing them nothing happen they just keeping doing it. which is wrong soon and later they released it. it was so rip off and scammmmm......dont let them do it to your self fight the right thing. gudluck

[TripleG 3]

Customs in the RP is notorious for being corrupt. I have seen them do alot worse then this scenario. A Filipino's worst enemy is another Filipino. 3000 pesos is a good chunk of money, but try and chalk it up as the cost of love in the RP. Anyone else sending items that are not documents, like clothes etc... I will say it again. Use a Balikbayan box...there is typically no custom inspection and the shipping price for a jumbo box is typically around $110. There is no weight restriction, you can put as much as you like until the box is full.

Wyatt

[loveaboo 0]

yes were the same thing i send a package to my bro like clothes and candys before xmas what the heck stupid fedex asking a 4,000 pesos to my sister in law and my bro. and they dont delivered until u agreed and give it. did you know what i did i just called the phil. fedex and F**** #$%^ i was so mad at that time i called bec. if u r abusing them nothing happen they just keeping doing it. which is wrong soon and later they released it. it was so rip off and scammmmm......dont let them do it to your self fight the right thing. gudluck

Diplomacy worked for me. When my fiance sent me a pay to go phone, FedEx/Air21 was asking for P1200 even though my fiance(now my hubby) noted that all fees will be paid by HIM. He also talked to FedEx Main Office for them to charge him the fees. Still, the courier didn't want to give the package to me. I told him if he won't give it to me that day, he can return it to sender since the following day was my flight. He said he would call the office. He returned after a few minutes and gave the package to me. As soon as I got the package, I contacted FedEx/Air21 Customer Service and complained why the custom taxes and duties amount was ridiculous. I demanded for the full computation of how they came up with the amount. The computation was totally made-up. It showed so much redundancy, etc. I questioned them about it. Well, they stopped responding to my last e-mail. I think they gave up on trying to convince me that they have the right computation. They probably realized that I'm too difficult to extort from and that they can get more money from others but not from me or my fiance (hubby now). Anyways, 2 months passed, they didn't charge me nor my hubby a single cent for the Custom taxes and duties.

I wonder how DHL can protect their customers from extortion while FedEx cannot?

[Kevin-n-Merlaine 14]

Diplomacy worked for me. When my fiance sent me a pay to go phone, FedEx/Air21 was asking for P1200 even though my fiance(now my hubby) noted that all fees will be paid by HIM. He also talked to FedEx Main Office for them to charge him the fees. Still, the courier didn't want to give the package to me. I told him if he won't give it to me that day, he can return it to sender since the following day was my flight. He said he would call the office. He returned after a few minutes and gave the package to me. As soon as I got the package, I contacted FedEx/Air21 Customer Service and complained why the custom taxes and duties amount was ridiculous. I demanded for the full computation of how they came up with the amount. The computation was totally made-up. It showed so much redundancy, etc. I questioned them about it. Well, they stopped responding to my last e-mail. I think they gave up on trying to convince me that they have the right computation. They probably realized that I'm too difficult to extort from and that they can get more money from others but not from me or my fiance (hubby now). Anyways, 2 months passed, they didn't charge me nor my hubby a single cent for the Custom taxes and duties.

I wonder how DHL can protect their customers from extortion while FedEx cannot?

There's a post here somewhere from Bob 4 Anna where he told about DHL going to bat for him there. They tried to charge him P12,000 and it wound up being reduced to P600 or something like that. It's because DHL has employees there in the Phils. Fedex uses Air21 and UPS uses Delbros (I think). Anytime you get a 3rd party forwarder involved you're gonna have problems. DHL doesn't allow food or jewelry to be shipped according to the rules. The shipper at our local drop point here called the help desk and they were happy to allow 4 bags of chocolate and "costume" jewelry to be sent. I'm very sure from reading other horror stories here that Merlaine would have paid a lot more than P500 if I'd shipped with anyone but DHL. Fedex and UPS are very reputable here and abroad. It's out of their hands, literally, once they hand it over to Air21 or Delbros for final delivery. You're at their mercy then.

[Brian and Dona 0]

Thought I would relay a problem I recently had with FedEx and customs. I know some people send money and gifts to the Philippines and wanted you to have a heads up. I recently sent copies of all the visa documents to my wife and the package was held up in customs and at FedEx. It just makes me wonder why the people in the Philippines put up with so much corruption in their govenment. My wife was not allowed to have the package delivered until she agreed to pay a very high so called customs fee which amounted to over 3,000 pesos. Much more than the value of the package which was mostly just documents and pictures. This was on top of the cost of sending the package in the first place. Of course she got a very plain looking receipt that really does not show anything and does not say who the "customs offical" was that assigned the charges.

It appears that no matter what we have had to do to get paperwork, marriage Lic or whatever someone always is asking for a hand out or else they will not give it to us.

Unless I am missing something, sending documents are not supposed to need a customs delcaration, just goods or or merchandise. If you marked documents when you shipped the papers, yes something is fishy there.

[Deputy Purple 1,294]

Exactly,

DHL is a true International Shipper. They have employees (even if they are locals they collect a DHL Paycheck) at the destination and it makes a big difference. UPS, FedEx etc generally contract with local companies and there is no leverage what-so-ever from the home offices in the US.

We even used DHL to ship 2 packages from the PH to the US when Anna came here in November. Anna was impressed with the level of professionalism & customer service at the local DHL office. We made a mistake and used UPS once, I will never repeat that.

If it isn't time sensitive then use the Baylak Bayan Box (we call them BB Boxes) otherwise DHL is worth every cent.

There's a post here somewhere from Bob 4 Anna where he told about DHL going to bat for him there. They tried to charge him P12,000 and it wound up being reduced to P600 or something like that. It's because DHL has employees there in the Phils. Fedex uses Air21 and UPS uses Delbros (I think). Anytime you get a 3rd party forwarder involved you're gonna have problems. DHL doesn't allow food or jewelry to be shipped according to the rules. The shipper at our local drop point here called the help desk and they were happy to allow 4 bags of chocolate and "costume" jewelry to be sent. I'm very sure from reading other horror stories here that Merlaine would have paid a lot more than P500 if I'd shipped with anyone but DHL. Fedex and UPS are very reputable here and abroad. It's out of their hands, literally, once they hand it over to Air21 or Delbros for final delivery. You're at their mercy then.