After this e-mail I called CBSA @ 1-800-461-9999 > Option 1 (english) > Option 1 (Personal matter) > Option 0(Agent)
The agent confirmed that the tracking number of the pakage + the commercial invoice is enough as far as the package documentation is concerned.
I also would like to mention that the first email with the commercial invoice said that I could bring the B15 form right to the pick-up facility and they could remove the COD tag right there. This is a new procedure and the facility may not know it yet very well. In that case I should ask for the supervisor and explain what I need.
The UPS representative that was helping me over e-mail was very profesional. I am very satisfied and surprised. You may have noticed that I keep saying here about the great UPS service. It was, indeed. And I am surprised myself, because compared to my experience from 2 years ago, when the UPS supervisor was literally insulting me over the phone, saying that I was stubborn and lacking any knowlege, and that I was frustrating everyone.... there is a huge difference.
So tomorrow, I am waking up at 6:00AM and going to the Airport because this is where the local CBSA office is. I have printed out the Commercial Invoice with the tracking number, checked my ID and money =)
Wish me luck!
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Max T24 January 2013 at 09:36
01/24/13
I am holding in my hands th form "B15-1(FLAT) (07)"! Finally.
In case anyone from Edmonton reads this - the CBSA office that you need to go to is NOT IN THE AIRPORT BUILDING. Save your time and outrageous parking costs. I spent 10-15 min in the airport to learn that there were 2 CBSA offices - one for travellers and another one, called "commercial", located outside the building, where the warehouses are.
After finding the office, I had to wait approximately 15 min although I was the only one there. The officer was finishing some other procedures.
So I brought with me only one document - the Commercial Invoice sent to me by UPS.
Also The UPS tracking number is required. It starts with 1Z 404 XXX XX XXXX XXXX. In my case the UPS tracking number was printed on the Commercial invoice itself.
The officer explained to me that indeed, there is a difference between the 2 scenarios that I mentioned above - when the package is at the UPS warehouse and when it is in the port of entry. From what I understood, if the package is in the port of entry and you self-clear the package, then you also need to provide the manifest with the unique shipment ID, so it can be sent to the port of entry. In my case however, UPS has already provided that document at the port of entry when the package was being imported. So now, all I needed to do is pay taxes and GST and "report" to UPS that all was taken care of so they could remove the COD charge.
This is what I am going to do right now. Scan and e-mail the B15 form.. Or, as my email from UPS rep said, I could just take the form to the warehouse and remove the COD and pick the package right there, at once..
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Max T24 January 2013 at 09:37
Just to add - for my 10-15 min in the airpot I payed $4.00
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nobrokerage24 January 2013 at 09:55
Hey Max, thanks a lot for taking the time to document your story. It sounds like you're almost there!
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Max T24 January 2013 at 21:31
Thanks nobrokerage! And I have the package!!! Yay!
01/24/2013
I arrived at UPS at 6:00PM, one hour before it closed.
I could have emailed the B15 to the UPS Brokerage Department throughout my work hours, but I decided to take the risk and try out their new UPS procedure which, according to UPS email to me, allowed us to bring the B15 document right to the pick-up facility. The local agents were supposed to photocopy/scan the B15 document, fax or email it to UPS Brokerage Department, remove the COD label themselves and hand the package to the customer.
As my gut was whispering to me the whole day, nobody at the facility knew about this new procedure. After presenting the tracking number, B15 and my ID the person at the counter said that I should have emailed/faxed the B15 to UPS Brok Dept so they could release the package from COD.
Since I was expecting such scenario, before leaving my work, I decided to print my email conversation with the UPS Brokerage Dept agent, where she was describing the procedure and what needed to be done if noone at pickup depot would know what to do (ask for the supervisor or contact the UPS Brok Dept).
I presented that email to the person at the counter and he called the UPS Brok Dept explaining the situation.
At one point the guy says "could you please explain this to the customer himself because I have a lineup growing here?" and passes the phone to me.
Now that was unexpected. Central UPS office not knowing the new procedure... oops!
The Brokerage Dept agent introdused himself and tried to explain me the old procedure. I told him about the new procedure and made the reference to my previous e-mail conversations, also giving the name of the person I was talking to. He asked me to wait on hold and got back to me after 2 minutes.
Then he said the following. This is important because the wrong interpretaion of the procedures on UPS side can lead to a lot of confusion. So he said:
"we don't hae any updates or new procedures in our system yet, but according to our current porocedures you should bring your B15 to CBSA and they must fax/email it to us and we will remove the COD charge". Doen't make too much sense, does it? Bringing the B15 to CBSA when I just got it from them? And then CBSA faxing/emailing UPS???
I explained this to the agent and he deicded to read (cite) the procedure as it was written in their system:
"the customer should bring the B15 to CENTER and the CENTER must fax/email it to UPS Brok Dept and remove the COD".
The CENTER... To me it clearly sounded that they meant the "ick-up Center", not "CBSA"! Once I suggested that to the agent, he stopped for a sec and then asked me to pass the phone to the guy over the counter.
In another minute the phone conversation was over, my B15 was photocopied, COD label removed and package handed out to me.
The only thing I needed to provide was.. my signature =)
So now the package is with me and I am very happy that I finally made it. All thanks to you nobrokerage!
This is the end of my story, but it's just the beginning of plenty other self-clearance procedures, because now that I know it works, I hope I will never ever pay COD's anymore!
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Joshua Ma11 February 2013 at 11:41
Hi thank you for this site, I've learnt quite a bit. I just got a UPS InfoNotice informing me that I have to pay $101 in brokerage COD due. My package was worth $350. Outrageous!
I called UPS asking to self clear but they informed me of the cost break down of the COD due: $45 for tax, $40 for customs, and $16 for UPS. Is that right? Am I really paying that much for customs and that little for UPS?
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nobrokerage11 February 2013 at 12:02
Hi Joshua, all that is required for an item to be legally imported into Canada is that you have paid (and can show proof of payment of) the taxes and duties required by CBSA. I would assume that what they mean is that the tax amount due is calculated at $45, the duties are $40 and they say their fee is $16.
I don't know what you are shipping but to come up with the ACTUAL amounts, you should calculate the expected taxes and duties and see if they line up. In actual fact, there are very few items that incur a duty so pay particular attention to that number. If your research shows that no duty is required for your shipment, then everything apart from the tax is actually a UPS fee and their breakdown including the $45 'customs fee' seems to be in error.
Good luck!
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TorontoGirl14 March 2014 at 06:16
Hi! I wanted to say thank you for this blog post - it helped me out just recently. I hadn't had issues with UPS brokerage fees in a long time (the last time it happened I paid not knowing I had other options) but a package I ordered from the States arrived this past week with a $90 COD from UPS (value of package around $200). I was surprised but remembered that I'd heard if you refuse to pay and then call UPS may lower their fees. Then I googled it and found your post! I followed the instructions starting with calling the UPS brokerage department - they gave me no trouble at all! They had someone call me and then email me the required invoice with a page of instructions to follow. I then called CBSA to confirm which office could process my request - there is one downtown Toronto - so convenient! I dropped in, paid my HST, emailed the stamped B15 back to UPS and then called to follow up (without my call the package may have sat at the local UPS office for a while awaiting my pickup - but I have no way of driving there): I confirmed that my paid duty had been processed and the package will now arrive Monday with no money owing! I'm so impressed that this went so smoothly. Thanks for your help!
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Unknown17 May 2014 at 22:45
Does this work for CanadaPost as well?
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