Oh good! You must be sick of paying made-up, ridiculous UPS broker fees too! So was I, so I figured out how to legally avoid paying them to scammy courier companies. It's easy and all the instructions on how to do it are right here.
Yep. This post is especially for my Canadian readers or anyone else who is subject to UPS "broker fees" on online items you've shopped for and had shipped to your house.
How to Avoid Paying Broker Fees to Courier Companies
Broker fees are a scam and I want everyone to stop paying them right now. In this post I'm going to teach you how to avoid paying any and all broker fees. Legally. Because I hate them. And I like you.
Here we go.
(if you'd like the quick cheat sheet so you can see how easy it is, skip to the bottom of the post, then come back up here to read exactly how to do everything)
I'm happy to pay UPS or any other company whatever fee they charge to deliver my package but when they want to randomly charge some arbitrary amount to "broker" my package as it crosses the border I start to get my back up.
And when I get my back up, I get angry and start typing furiously on the computer looking for answers.
in 2015 ... I got my back up.
I had ordered (yet another) chicken door opener off of the Internet from a nice man somewhere in The United States.
Before it made it to my door I got this email from UPS.
When I got the email my first thought was I'M NOT PAYING IT. I'll send the stupid chicken door BACK. Broker fees are a scam. A complete scam.
#1. What the fine folks at UPS don't tell you is what exactly these broker fees are going to be. As soon as you allow them to be your "broker" by saying "yes go ahead" in your reply email they can charge you any amount they want.
#2. What the fine folks at UPS also don't tell you is YOU can broker your own package. It's called "self clearing". And it's ridiculously easy.
This is how I responded to the UPS email.
The first email I got in return was basically ... "Um ... I'm not sure about that. You're gonna have to call this number". I did not call the number. I emailed them again. A day later I got what I needed from UPS to "self clear" my package.
- Instructions on where and how to self clear the package including phone numbers and fax numbers (cause this is 1982) which has a spot for stamping by customs.
- The commercial invoice which also has a place for stamping by customs.
- And the regular invoice provided by whoever shipped you the item.
Here's the email they sent me and all the documents that came with it so you can see what they look like:
Legally they have to give you this information. They cannot say no. They cannot claim it can't be done (although they have done exactly this in the past). In my case after my email got to the right person I got a very prompt and efficient response from UPS. No hassles.
If you get an email like the one I got just copy and paste the body of my email and include your shipment order number. (I blurred mine out).
If you don't get an email first and someone from UPS brings your package to your door asking you for the broker fees say no. SAY NO. Say you're going to self clear your package and send them on their way. The second you sign anything, you can't go back. You will have agreed (knowingly or not) to UPS acting as your broker.
Once they leave call UPS and at 1-800-742-5877 and press "3". You will be connected to broker services. Tell them you're going to self clear your item and you'd like the documents you need for that emailed to you. Make sure you have your tracking number handy.
Once you have the documents you need you just take them to your nearest CBSA office. That's the Canada Border Services Agency. You've probably never noticed a CBSA office before but they're all around us in Canada. We're filthy with CBSA offices. You just didn't know it. What you need is a CBSA office that handles self clearing of items. Those are Inland offices and they're fewer and farther between than regular CBSA offices. They're usually at airports but can also be found other places.
If you're lucky there's an inland office near you. Mine was at my local small airport, a 20 minute drive away.
Here's a link that will take you to a map of all the Inland Offices in Canada so you can check right away if one is near you.
How far you want to drive will probably depend on how much money your broker fees with UPS would be. So let's talk about that a tiny little bit.
UPS has decided that they will charge you a percentage of whatever the value of your package is. So if you have a package that's worth between $40-$60 UPS has randomly decided they will charge you $16.75. If your item was $40, then you'll be paying almost 40% in broker fees. 40%!!!!!!!
The higher the value of your package, the lower the percentage you pay for your broker fees BUT they still charge more money based on how much your package is worth.
So you pay $16.75 for a $40 package, $30.40 for a $150 package, $71.80 for a $750 package and so on. The higher the value of your package, the more money you'll be paying.
EVEN THOUGH THEY ALL TAKE THE EXACT SAME AMOUNT OF WORK by UPS. Scam.
You can see the full list of the UPS broker fees here.
I took my documents to my local CBSA office and told them I was self clearing an item. I was one of two people there by the way. No waiting in line, no paying for parking even! I didn't have to explain what I was doing to them, didn't have to convince them I was allowed to do this, I just gave them my documents and they said, thank you ma'am, I'll be back in a second.
And in a second they were back with my forms (now stamped), an additional form, and a bill for my duty and taxes to pay. In this case there was no duty because the item was made in the U.S.A. and I just had to pay my Canadian taxes on it. I paid my bill and they brought me my B-15 form. That's the form you need to send to UPS to prove you paid your duty and taxes.
Your item is now self cleared.
Self clearing just means you pay the duty and taxes yourself. That's all it means. That's it. There's no brokerage office, no mounds of paperwork, no nothin'. Instead of UPS paying your duty and taxes ahead of time, you pay them when your item arrives in Canada.
Yup.
Broker fees. Scam.
When you get home, scan the B-15 form that border services gave you along with the form titled "self accounting procedures" and email it to UPS.
By the next morning my package was delivered.
Is it a pain? A tiny bit but I felt GREAT after doing it. Suck it UPS. I'll self clear my own items. Also, I'm confident that the Canada Services Border Agency is up to date on when or when not to apply duty. UPS has been known to apply duty to things they shouldn't. Like paper goods. Instruction manuals, books, concert tickets should all be duty free.
Other online buying tips for Canadians? If you have the option, don't use UPS or Fedex. Instead have your item shipped by USPS which is The United States Postal Service. No scammy broker fees there.
If you are ordering items under $20 then UPS is fine. There are no broker fees on items that range in price from $0 - $20.
How to Avoid Broker Fees
How to avoid the scam UPS broker fees when receiving online shopping orders.
Instructions
- Do NOT agree to UPS acting as your broker. Not through email or when they’re at your door. Just say no and do NOT accept your package.
- Email or call UPS and say you are going to self clear your item. Ask them to email you the necessary documents.
- Bring those documents to your nearest Canada Border Services Agency (must be Inland offices)
- Pay your actual taxes and get your stamped forms back along with the B-15 form they provide.
- Email the forms back to UPS to prove you paid your owing taxes.
- Wait for your package to arrive free of charge.
Notes
UPS will try to avoid doing this. They'll pretend not to know what you're talking about. They'll avoid emailing or calling you back.
PESTER them if you have to because they DO know what you're talking about and they HAVE TO by law give you the information you're asking for.
- Do NOT agree to UPS acting as your broker. Not through email or when they're at your door.
- Email or call UPS and say you are going to self clear your item. Ask them to email you the necessary documents.
- Bring those documents to your nearest Canada Border Services Agency (must be Inland offices)
- Pay your taxes and get your stamped forms back along with the B-15 form they provide.
- Email the forms back to UPS to prove you paid your owing taxes.
- Wait for your package to arrive free of charge.
I've used this technique several time since this post and I've received countless emails from happy Internet searchers who found my post. This isn't easily found information. But it is important information as far as sticking it to companies that already make obscene amounts of money goes.
Happy online shopping and everyone say it with me one last time. UPS can suck it.
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Aldrin
Such a wonderful information blog post on this topic decking contractors near me
Li Yu
oh my god that is really helpful I have buy some children colors from erouop they charge me over $330 to duty fee that is make me feel so Bad! So I can do self clear!
Karen
Hi Li Yu! Yes you can but you have to really bug them! I've had a lot of people recently say that UPS has been making the process as difficult as possible by not emailing people the documents they need. So if they refuse, or if they don't send you what you need - keep calling and bothering them. ~ karen!
tonnic
I have a $11.64 charge that I have and they said to change to self-clearing that there is a UPS fee of $15 to transfer it... WHAT THE ACTUAL F&CK
Karen
I've heard from other readers of this post that they're making it harder and hard to self clear although not impossible. Things like not sending documents when they say they will, not calling people back, saying that self-clearing is not a thing ... So my guess is now they've implemented a fee. Or, maybe they haven't and are just saying that. It's hard to say with UPS since they're so unscrupulous. I"m not sure what to recommend at this point other than to keep trying by calling back. ~ karen!
Jay
FYI: The email address you need to send your CBSA documentation to at UPS is:
canadabrokeragecs(@)ups.com
Angela
***If you are currently embroiled in a battle ti get your package with UPS, here's a tip that might help:
• They tell you to call 1-800-PICK-UPS. From what I'm reading, this is the main line that everyone calls, and it seems the customer service agents are told to hard-line customers, because literally everyone ends up getting push-back and resistance re: brokerage stuff.
• Instead, try calling 1-800-335-8763. My local UPS store gave me this # when I called after being on hold forever, having the call dropped, etc. - it was brutal. He said I should get through right away here, and I did! No selecting from a menu, no waiting, just straight to an actual person.
• I think these customer service people (on the alternate number I provided above) are not the same customer service reps who answer calls on the main phone #, and have the authority to actually do things to help you.
• After having trouble locating the invoice needed to send me (not the commercial invoice, but the invoice from the sender of the package that they would've used to clear the package themselves), the customer service rep simply apologized for the issue and offered to waive my brokerage fee all together. I held for 10 mins while he got ahold of my driver to let him know, since the package was en route (again, I rejected it yesterday and asked them to come back today) and now I have my package.
• Tip: don't get mad at the customer service rep (or, to rephrase, don't let them know you're angry, haha). Stay calm and professional, and each time they give you an excuse, politely explain again that you need the paperwork and it's illegal to withhold it, since that amounts to holding your package hostage for the brokerage fees, and not allowing you to clear it yourself. Focus on the "illegal" part. And if all else fails, just ask them to wave the brokerage fees. If you've had a decent repertoire with the customer service agent, you might get the cost dropped.
• Tip for dealing ANY customer service line/representative: if the first person you call - no matter which company you're calling - sounds snotty, rude, ambivalent, or is just giving you trouble, just hang up and call back. Play phone roulette until you get someone who sounds decent and who actually wants to help, and explain the issue you're having from the top without referencing the fact that you've already called (once, twice, three times?) and had no luck. It works!
Gavin
Thanks for the tips Angela. I called 1-800-335-8763, got through to a polite person immediately. UPS knocked $20 off my $160 dollar amount ($80 plus tax was the brokerage fee). I would still avoid UPS to Canada at all costs but at least this was something.
Angela
So I was on the phone FOREVER with UPS & had the call drop after an hour, trying to get the email address to ask for/receive the forms. After holding again forever, I called the UPS store local to me and told them what was happening; they gave me a phone # that would have no wait time (in case whoever is reading it wants that # it's: 1-800-335-8763).
The customer service rep emailed me the commercial invoice, but couldn't find (somehow) the invoice from the shipper. They kept saying they didn't have it in their system. That's totally bogus though - they needed that invoice to clear my package themselves so that they could attempt to charge me ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN dollars for my package.
After refusing to give it to me for the fifth time, I told them it would be illegal not to provide it; they can't hold my package hostage unless I pay THEM for brokerage fees.
30 minutes into the call, after I started that last line of argument, I think I just wore them down. They just offered to remove the brokerage fees all together as a "one time complimentary service", so I could receive my package. Hurray!
I never would have known that I could fight back (so to speak) against these charges if I didn't find your post - so THANK YOU! I likely would've spent even more time holding, attempting to resolve this issue, so you saved me not only money but a lot of frustration and time.
Thanks again, super excited to have discovered this blog. Can't wait to check out what else you've written about! Cheers!
- Angela from Ontario
Angela
One thing I wanted to add that made me giggle:
When they insisted they didn't have the invoice from the shipper in their system (crazy how they had it when THEY did the brokerage service, eh?) I dropped all pretences and got super frank.
The following is how the conversation went:
ME: "You know how it sounds to me when you say you don't have the invoice anymore, but DID have it before, so you can charge me now and I can't just clear it myself, right?"
UPS: "I'm sorry ma'am it isn't in our system..." ( x 5)
ME: "Listen. I found a guide to self-clear my package when dealing with UPS, and you know what it said?"
UPS: "No, what?"
ME, reading from your website: "Ask UPS to email you the necessary documents to self clear. UPS will try to avoid doing this. They'll pretend not to know what you're talking about. They'll avoid emailing or calling you back."
*Silence*
ME: ...So can we get on with it then?
UPS: *sighs* okay. Why don't I just waive the brokerage fees for you?
Haha! Def gave me a laugh when it was clear they knew that I knew their game. So funny. (But also so annoying & wrong that they do this.)
Garth
Thank you for the great post! We recently had friends in Florida send us back 2 paintings we had originally given to someone down there that passed away. UPS arrived at the door asking a total of $175. for brokerage fees. Caught unawares and told they would be sent back to sender and only released if brokerage fees were paid. We were pressured into paying. I was so steamed up I searched the Internet on the relevance of Customs and Brokerages and found your post. I will definitely avoid UPS (scammers!!!!!!) and do the self clearing if presented with a similar situation in the future. Thanks again for your very useful information.
Karen
You're welcome Garth! UPS is becoming more and more evasive when people ask for documentation to self clear. So if it happens again be FIRM. ~ karen!
Ashley
Hi Karen!
Super appreciate this article. I've been trying to get the self-declare documents from UPS for 2 weeks now but they never send it to me. I've called them 5 times and talked to a supervisor, but I always get the same respond "You'll receive the email within 24 hours". I've lost hope that I can self declare my package and honestly have no idea what I can do...
Karen
Hi Ashley. I've had a lot of people say this is happening. UPS is doing it on purpose. In other words, they're screwing with you. Try to get someone on the phone and do not get off the phone until they have sent the email. There is no need for 24 hours. They have the records and everything right there to send. It's infuriating, I know!!! Good luck. I have NO idea why this behaviour by UPS isn't illegal. ~ karen!
Denis L
Wow, this actually worked! I called UPS knowing my package from the US was arriving soon, and they told me that they would send the forms, but never did. When UPS rang my door bell, I told them that I'd pay through CBSA... the driver did not care, and said he'll leave it here and I can pay. So I called UPS and told them that the package was left at my front door (never sign anything), and that I would "self-clearing". I had to fight with them, saying it got delivered, but I never signed anything. They told me I owed that money, fought back... after going back and forth, I said it's the law, where they said nothing and re-directed me somewhere else, where I was able to only pay the tax, and not the BS broker fees. Save $75, well worth the time. Thank you!!
Karen
Excellent! I'm so shocked they're still allowed to do this. ~ karen!
Amy C.
This is great news! I will give it a try too!
Garth
I feel that you have struck a blow for all of us that have been scammed by UPS and their BS brokerage fees.
Louise Caron
Hello,
I read online that the amount of money you can spend online as gone up to $150.00 before being charged brokers fees, a new bylaw that Trudeau changed not long ago, I'm I right?
Thank you for your great post
pete longman
I hate UPS, this should be Illegal, Today i got a message from UPS asking me to pay $69 CAD brojerage fee on my $305 CAD worth of goods...I wrote down the tracking # & called CBSA, first guy told me i can go to the nearest office & that this is the only option to "self clear" no emailing, faxing or over the phone options...he admitted he wasnt so familiar with this process and offered to transfer me to a supervisor so i did that, the supervisor said " You need the Cargo Control Document from UPS , that will tell you where your package is being held, bring that and your retail invoice to THAT Specific location only , present your documents, pay taxes , duty if any etc" I told her i lived a 45 minute ferry ($52 toll) and 1.5 hr drive away from the office where my package is and asked if there is another way to clear my package...She said again.."No you Must go to the location where your Package is , if it came in by air it will be Cargo at YVR Airport, if it came by land it will be Main Street"
Man this sucks........
Mike Lachaire
I just had a nightmare experience with this. I think that you should update your article with the word "self-accounting" instead of "self-clearing". I spent over an hour on the phone with UPS, transferred from person to person only to find out from a supervisor that "self-clearing" means that one goes to the port of entry and personally overseas the item arriving into Canada and filling out the customs form. What you described in this email is actually "self-accounting", which is that once UPS filled out the forms at the border, you get a copy of those and go to any CBSA and pay your own duty/taxes.
Karen
Hi Mike! That's an effort on UPS's part to confuse matters. It has always been self clearing. But now people are starting to clue into this fact they're doing anything they can to make it difficult, from not returning phone calls to saying they're emailed the documents, but not actually emailing them. They will do anythingggggg to make the process uncomfortable or impossible. I will add self-accounting as an additional term people can use if they're refused. ~ karen!
James
Thanks for this info!
I wish I read this advice 3 days ago.
I had Artwork I made returned to me from a Gallery. They extorted 180$ from me.
UPS threatened to return the Art shipment back to the sender if I didn’t pay within 24hrs.
UPS wouldn’t negotiate. I spoke to no less than 6 UPS operators and spent at least 2 1/2 hrs on hold or conversing with a UPS-employee who acted naive. By hook or crook they were taking this brokerage fee.
Nancy Bifolchi
That was extortion . Fortunately, I had a better experience today.
Yesterday , I received a vm from UPS suggesting they could be my broker.
By 9am today, I had received a $48.48 fee in an email from UPS.
I had been too busy to connect.
I decided to drive to the UPS location which is in the same building as the Inland CBSA. ( Ottawa Cargo Services) -Thad Johnson Rd.
Having never done this before, it was an excellent experience . Thanks to Karen for the clear and detailed information and photos.
UPS agent was kind and professional. I stated that I would like to self clear and provided my tracking no. I asked if she would reverse the fee. No problem.
I was given the paperwork and walked to Ottawa Cargo Services, paid the required duty and walked back to UPS with the B-15 paperwork. Photocopies given to me and shipment to come in a couple of days.
Wishing everyone could experience this.
Rachel
Hi, I am currently going through this - my parcel is set for delivery on Monday and I have been told that it was already released from customs and there is no way to do self-clearing, only self-accounting. I am not exactly sure what self-accounting is, but after brief research, it seems that I would have to take my paperwork to a customs office to receive a refund. I am pretty angry that they just cleared my package without my consent. I have called several times asking for the paperwork to self-clear and they just take my email address and then never get back to me. Anyways, due to covid, UPS seems to be just dropping off packages and bill later. I am wondering if I just take the commercial invoice off of my delivered package to the customs office, pay my own tax and then submit this to UPS when they come asking for my payment if this would work. Anyways, I might give it a try. Thanks for your great post!
Karen
Uch, I'm not sure Rachel. UPS has apparently got wind of people understanding they can self clear and of course - are now denying them that right. You can either call your closest customs office (usually an airport) and they might be able to tell you what to do. They don't like UPS either. ~ karen!
Rachel
Update: I did it! I kept calling and emailing. Over and over. They tried to tell me it wasn't possible using many different excuses but I persisted. I also had to send ups away with my delivery two days in a row. On day 3, I finally received the paperwork and luckily was able to drive to the customs office, pay my GST and get back home before the delivery. UPS wanted to charge me $46 on a $155 item. I only ended up paying $7.75 in GST. Thanks so much for all of your tips!
Cheverly
https://www.gif-vif.com/media/Delivery-guys.gif?fbclid=IwAR0HqQaSeW16zvIrS1TL3QcqksPdN8LhyrTuuH2Kl72kBqSos4C3ex1tm_w
Do gifs work in your comment section? Because I found this the other day and it is PERFECT. Know who delivers Prime packages (at least in the States)? USPS, that’s who. Those other two can totally suck it.
brenda
update on UPS ... I did this and got the forms and paid far less than they originally said it would be BUT that was a few years ago AND when I tried it again last year, ie asked for self clearing paperwork and was told it would come (it didn't) so I asked again (nada) ... the delivery person left note on my door with outrageous fees on the $600+ things I bought SO i called the company and said I'd be sending it back and they were in total agreement and we agreed I'd pay shipping again ... they got notice that it was being returned. We waited and waited and waited and waited and I got a bill for fees and called to say WTF ... I didn't even get it AND it was sent back. OKOKOK - ups Customer Service said and yes you asked for it to go back but we need the person that sent it to talk to us - we can't talk to you - and yes we know you asked for self clearing paperwork and no we didn't send it - THEY need to talk to us - not you. So I got back in touch with the place I paid $600+ to and they got in touch with UPS and were told the package had been sent to abandoned parcels and since it was 90 days (almost) it had been sold and now it was gone. I'd paid $600+ to Cool Tools and now someone else had all the stuff. Cool Tools reimbursed me because I'd kept in close touch with them throughout and they are a stand up company. I got VISA involved as well. The thing about UPS is that they are up to their eyebrows+ in class action suits like this and the courts can't keep up with the complaints and so I wouldn't recommend this anymore. Their customer service people are told one thing and their delivery people are told another thing and they don't communicate with one another and UPS pretends they've upheld the law and so they are burdened by the goods so they sell them and pocket the money! Seriously. I felt sorry for the customer service women who admitted they had records of all my calls and requests and apologized profusely even when I asked how they could work for such a conniving company with such a line up of lawsuits.
I told Cool Tools I promise I will show up in court for them no matter when the case comes up. I might be 96 or so but I will pull out all my notes and hold UPS' feet to the fire. Cool Tools took the hit and I paid shipping both ways. UPS sold the stuff and got money for our stuff! SoHelpMeDogThisIsTheTruth.
Karen
Oh I believe it. This method does still work they just do more to try to make it not work. Obviously things got very bad for you. It just makes me FURIOUS. I just had an email exchange with someone who was having trouble with UPS not answering their emails about the paperwork and then misleading them. I told them to just keep calling and calling and finally they were sent the paperwork. So as you say they're DEFINITELY trying their best to NOT allow this, but it's such a screwed up place that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I still recommend doing this. ~ karen!
Andrew
I ordered few items from Aliexpress and chose a Standard Aliexpress Shipping as usual. That way I had never ever paid any duties or brokerage fees. But for some reason the Seller shipped by UPS. In early June I received an email from UPS saying there was a shipment coming that had import fees due. I did a research and found out that I could do a self-clearing. So, I called UPS asking them to send me paperwork for that procedure. To cut long story short, I called three or four times but still did not have the papers even by the end of June. Last time I called, the guy on the other end said that they were not able to provide me with papers for self-clearing because they had not yet received the paperwork. But according to their website at that moment the package was already at their warehouse. Then he said I needed to check their website regularly and to give them another call once I see that the package was out for delivery. A couple of days later I just found the package at my door. I did not see UPS driver, nor signed for the package even though it was mentioned on UPS web site that signature is required. And I did not pay anything neither online or at the door. Well, I thought that probably they waved their fees. And few weeks later I received their bill to pay those f…….g brokerage fees I tried to avoid, and which is half of the price I paid for the item. Looks like they tricked me. Pure racket in my opinion. I think I will just ignore this bill.
Andrew
Does anyone know if I still can do self-clearing or to dispute UPS brokerage fees after package was delivered. The thing is I did not see UPS driver, nor signed for the package even though it was mentioned on UPS web site that signature is required. It was in early June when I received an email from UPS saying there is a shipment coming that has import fees due. I have read all recommendations on this site and called UPS asking them to send me paperwork for self-clearing. To cut long story short, I called three or four times but still did not have the papers even by the end of June. Last time I called, the guy on the other end said that they were not able to provide me with papers for self-clearing because they had not yet received the paperwork. But according to their website at that moment the package was already at their warehouse. Then he said I needed to check their website regularly and to give them another call once I see that the package was out for delivery. A couple of days late I just found the package at my door. Well, I thought that probably they waved their fees. And few weeks later I receive their bill to pay those f.......g brokerage fees I tried to avoid. Looks like they tricked me. Pure racket in my opinion. Is there anything I can do about it, or is it too late?
Karen
If you never signed to receive the package then they don't have a case. I've discovered that several people are saying the same thing recently. That UPS is claiming for whatever reason they can't send the paperwork. KEEP bugging them. Calling etc. I know it's a pain, but it's the only way. ~ karen!
Alana
Ugh, broker fees, how many times have I been scammed? Once again, am I ever so glad you write this blog, so good to know!
Desiree
This is great information, thank you for sharing it.
Though the statement that UPS doesn't charge brokerage fees if your item is under 20$ is not entirely correct.
The last time I ever bought anything that was shipped by them (I won't buy something if I can't have it shipped via another option) my item was 14$ the shipping was 5.50$ and despite that UPS demanded over 30$ in brokerage fees.