USA Mail Forwarding Company Short Changing

figan

Hello

Just been looking around - what a wonderful and supportive community, addressing all sorts of ills. I hope that you have the time to peruse my tale...

I was in Canada at the end of last year when I found a great deal on a new laptop that was only available in the USA. I discovered that there were companies that could receive goods that a customer purchases, and then would forward them on to the customer's overseas address.

I therefore paid for a personalised address for a year from such a company (call it . Having done that, I bought the goods from company A, let's call them, for $1,400 (discounted from $2,000). Company B received the goods and then declared the value for customs purposes as $400. This is their "best estimate". B then dispatches the goods using their choice of courier, let's call them C.

It is then that C loses the goods on their way to me. B seeks compensation from C and was successful (to what degree I do not know - $1,400 was implied); but B only refunds me the $400 declared by B.

Does anybody know of any way that I can get full recompense for the amount lost? I am not very knowledgeable about the law in any case (no pun intended), least of all when these things happen over the Atlantic.

Thank you for any interest or offers of advice. It's been a depressing experience and it would a wonderful consolation to get my money back.

Figan

Owain_Moneysaver

The declared value of $400 is all that the courier will repay.

You need to check the terms of your contract with B about forwarding goods of value. There may be set limits for different type of goods.

wealdroam

For things American, it might be worth consulting The Better Business Bureau.

bod1467

And bear in mind that you were operating in a murky area ... effectively having goods mis-classified to avoid/reduce import and VAT duties.

Looksguywalker

bod1467 wrote: »

And bear in mind that you were operating in a murky area ... effectively having goods mis-classified to avoid/reduce import and VAT duties.

Strangely the OP appears to be in China?!

bod1467

Looksguywalker wrote: »

Strangely the OP appears to be in China?!

Ooh! Didn't notice that. Doesn't mean they ARE in China though.

figan

Thanks all for your input: most useful, especially the guidance about the better business bureau. I've decided to have a final try with the business to see if they can remedy things for me; if not I'll take a complaint to the BBB; if not I'll get a lawyer I suppose.

I am indeed in China, and I too think it strange at times. When this all happened I was in Canada. But I'm a Brit.

Indeed, it is murky on the customs declaration side. Unfortunately I wasn't consulted at all on the customs declaration value, that being the company's policy.

Well, thank you very much again, and any further advice is welcome.

visidigi

If the reassessment of customs value is done by the mail forwarding company without consultation to the buyer or referring to an invoice then that's misrepresentation - Customs don't take kindly to that sort of behaviour...

jumpedtheshark

So, if the forwarding company chose to undervalue, shouldn't they be liable for the $1000 and the courier for the $400 (adding up to $1400 total spend)?

If it were me, I'd pursue the forwarder for the $1000, given that it was them and not you that chose to undervalue the item.

When I lived in Canada, my credit card came with very extensive purchase protection insurance. Have you checked that your purchasing credit card won't cover this?