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How not to pay UPS/DHL/Fedex Brokerage fees
UPS/Fedex/DHL/etc... participates in a CBSA program called LVS or The Courier Low Value Shipment Program.
This means you can pay the duties yourself on any parcel with a value of less than $1600 and not pay any brokerage fees!
You can pay all government fees outstanding for an international shipment in any CBSA office offering the service of Inland Customs Office. It is legal and in no way restricted. Once all government fees are paid, the shipment can be cleared for delivery by UPS with no need for further CBSA involvement.
UPS/FEDEX/DHL/.... are now cooperating with this process as people have gotten wise to it.
How to do this:
You need 2 (possibly 3) documents to present to the CBSA.
Call the shipping service, reference the tracking number and tell them you want to Self Clear, OR if you are talking to the driver, tell the driver in person. CBSA says you can self clear within 1 month of your parcel arriving in Canada (or as long as the shipping service keeps it in the warehouse).
To Call the UPS brokerage department directly, bypassing the normal agents and long wait time, Dial the the main UPS 1-800 number and select option 3 to got to international shipments and brokerage.
Shipping company people may try to tell you it's impossible to self clear or mislead you on the process or give you conflicting information. If they aren't cooperating with the process ask for the supervisor or hang up and call again until you get a person who will help you.
1 - The document you need is a commercial invoice. This is a form usually filled out by the shipper with item details and value amounts.
The optional document you may be get is called a manifest or cargo control document. UPS may call it a "SUMMARY SHEET". If you can't get the cargo control document it's ok as CBSA will let you clear with just the commercial invoice.
Get the document(s) emailed or faxed to you.
2 - The second document is the Paypal (or whatever form of payment) receipt.
Print all documents out on paper! CBSA does not accept emails or pictures on your phone.
Go to the CBSA office present your forms and pay the couple of dollars of duties required.
They will give you another form. The form given to you by the Border Services Agent is called a B-15 and proves that all required taxes, duties and fees have been paid to the government for your shipment. You need to provide this document to UPS and ask them to release your shipment and schedule it for immediate delivery.
Scan/Fax the B-15 to the UPS warehouse fax number, It's very important that you quote the UPS tracking number on this fax.
Then ask them to deliver your parcel!
This means you can pay the duties yourself on any parcel with a value of less than $1600 and not pay any brokerage fees!
You can pay all government fees outstanding for an international shipment in any CBSA office offering the service of Inland Customs Office. It is legal and in no way restricted. Once all government fees are paid, the shipment can be cleared for delivery by UPS with no need for further CBSA involvement.
UPS/FEDEX/DHL/.... are now cooperating with this process as people have gotten wise to it.
How to do this:
You need 2 (possibly 3) documents to present to the CBSA.
Call the shipping service, reference the tracking number and tell them you want to Self Clear, OR if you are talking to the driver, tell the driver in person. CBSA says you can self clear within 1 month of your parcel arriving in Canada (or as long as the shipping service keeps it in the warehouse).
To Call the UPS brokerage department directly, bypassing the normal agents and long wait time, Dial the the main UPS 1-800 number and select option 3 to got to international shipments and brokerage.
Shipping company people may try to tell you it's impossible to self clear or mislead you on the process or give you conflicting information. If they aren't cooperating with the process ask for the supervisor or hang up and call again until you get a person who will help you.
1 - The document you need is a commercial invoice. This is a form usually filled out by the shipper with item details and value amounts.
The optional document you may be get is called a manifest or cargo control document. UPS may call it a "SUMMARY SHEET". If you can't get the cargo control document it's ok as CBSA will let you clear with just the commercial invoice.
Get the document(s) emailed or faxed to you.
2 - The second document is the Paypal (or whatever form of payment) receipt.
Print all documents out on paper! CBSA does not accept emails or pictures on your phone.
Go to the CBSA office present your forms and pay the couple of dollars of duties required.
They will give you another form. The form given to you by the Border Services Agent is called a B-15 and proves that all required taxes, duties and fees have been paid to the government for your shipment. You need to provide this document to UPS and ask them to release your shipment and schedule it for immediate delivery.
Scan/Fax the B-15 to the UPS warehouse fax number, It's very important that you quote the UPS tracking number on this fax.
Then ask them to deliver your parcel!
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