IS THIS LEGITIMATE? - Customs Broker Email

h3h3 on 18/07/2017 - 09:07
Last edited 18/07/2017 - 09:08

Been waiting on bicycle parts in the mail for some time now, there has been a delay in the shipping, originally wiggle believe that my item was lost in the mail.. but then a month or so later i have been sent this email from a customs broker.. they seem to have all the right details, and know my address, name, email and who the package is from. also called the number and spoke with them and they have an abn.. so all seems legitimate.. but the tracking number shows nothing but pending, and aus post can't tell me anything about it.. they also only take payment by direct deposit. if it is.. is this the best way to pay for it to get through customs. or is there a way to to avoid the $95 in fees.

TIA

Good morning,

We have been forwarded your file from AustPost to contact you regarding a consignment ex Wiggle. The consignment has a value of over the threshold of A$1000 and has been flagged by Customs for formal clearance.

You can nominate your own broker or alternatively we can provide this service as a nominated broker of AustPost. Our fee is $95.00 plus gst
Australian Customs will assess your consignment: GST 10% and a customs processing levy of $83.00. the fees levied by customs are irrespective of who completes your clearance. Bicycle parts and accessories attract NIL duty.

Your tracking no. for delivery and consignment details with AustPost is: 2QV011006501000930209

We wait your instruction

Kind regards,

June Everingham
Regency Customs &
Forwarding Agency Pty Ltd
Unit 15 77-79 Bourke Road
Alexandria 2015
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: 02 9667 3094

General Discussion

Comments

  • Looking4Bargians on 18/07/2017 - 09:11
    -3

    SPAM. Don't even try to open URL Link or PDF. Unless you are expecting any delivery which is similar in the amount then call them instead of clicking anywhere.

    • h3h3 on 18/07/2017 - 09:12

      i am expecting delivery of this amount however, there are no url links and pdfs in the email either. Aus post confirmed that this is a usual process as well on the phone for items over $1000 that haven't paid get yet

      • Looking4Bargians on 18/07/2017 - 09:12

        So call them or visit the branch.

        • h3h3 on 18/07/2017 - 09:17

          called them, but when i told them i was unsure of their legitimacy, i just got "oh we get that all the time! well i am sitting here at work right now, so you know…" and also asked payments methods they said "esp and send bank statement only, sorry we can't do visa anymore, as we have had problems with it in the past." however, did ask them for an abn "75003409354" which does check out. I believe this is a legitimate service, the way they go about it however leads you to believe otherwise

  • spackbace on 18/07/2017 - 09:11
    +3

    Were they worth over $1000? If so it's completely legit. I thought everyone knows that anything over $1000 coming in gets GST…?

    Though bank transfer payment is kinda strange too :/

    • spackbace on 18/07/2017 - 09:15

      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/272692

      Oh dear you need life experience

      • h3h3 on 18/07/2017 - 09:18

        this is why i am on here now, rather than DD my money without checking ;)

        • enzioFirenze on 18/07/2017 - 09:28
          +1

          what happened to this btw? any joy?

    • enzioFirenze on 18/07/2017 - 09:15
      +1

      I knew the GST part but had no idea that we have to hire a broker to get the items released, damn!

      • spackbace on 18/07/2017 - 09:16

        Yeah nor did I. Hmm

        • enzioFirenze on 18/07/2017 - 09:18

          yup, always thought the postal service would take care of it (contact you before doing that) and you'll be liable for GST and admin fee, if you are hit with a broker fee as well, will have to think twice about grey importing stuff

        • h3h3 on 18/07/2017 - 09:22

          @enzioFirenze: this what i had thought as well, i wonder if anyone has advice on how avoid this fee? when i called, they said you could go with another company but as we are startrack's preferred broker we already have all your and the package details ready. you would need to source these yourself if you were to go with another company

  • Stewardo on 18/07/2017 - 09:16

    They are a real company, why not check there website and give them a call and ask.

  • apple2016 on 18/07/2017 - 09:42
    +1

    I have received had a few shipments come thru customs and was charged duty, but I never had to get a customs broker.
    Usually its customs who contact me directly or the shipping company. DHL once charged me about $25 as customs handling fee and they would not let me handle customs directly.

    customs processing levy of $83.00

    You should be able to clarify if this fee is legit by contacting customs directly.

  • rompastompa on 18/07/2017 - 09:45
    +1

    Your tracking no. for delivery and consignment details with AustPost is: 2QV011006501000930209

    I would be contacting auspost with your con note.

    They will tell you the legitimacy, and what you need to do to collect goods.

    • h3h3 on 18/07/2017 - 09:46

      they said they can't see who it is from with their system, but confirmed it is addressed to me.. they said they didn't have any more info than that.

  • websterp on 18/07/2017 - 10:35

    This happens all the time and seem to be of common practice. Auspost and most other shipping/courier/postal companies offload the customs clearance tasks for items declared $1000+ to these insurance brokers. Perhaps they have a list of "preferred" clearance agents and they will then contact you and handle the clearance (and sometimes delivery) of these items on your behalf.

    At my work we have an odd delivery or two every year of relatively large boxes from Europe and when we had the first ever delivery there was a phone call out of the blue from one of these clearance agents. We decided to go with them as he was ready to clear it on a Friday and store it over the weekend avoiding us paying an additional warehousing fee and wait for the payment to come through from us. We have used them ever since and had no issue.

    But everything they do, you can easily do yourself.

  • mini2 on 18/07/2017 - 19:17
    +1

    Shirley you can still lodge a N10 with DIBP before these vultures get to it? It's not that hard to fill in the form…just need a bit of mucking around to look up the appropriate tariff code.

    https://www.border.gov.au/Forms/Documents/B374.pdf

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join