I am having an ongoing problem with UPS and customs. Hope someone here has some insight, advice, or can drop the name of someone to help me through this tunnel. Sorry this is so long. Please bear with me.
When I was back in the US in November, I had an eye exam. The doc determined that I needed stronger lenses in my glasses. The glasses with new lenses were not ready by the time I returned here, so they UPS'ed them in mid December.
I was able to track their trip here until they reached Santiago. Then, an "exception" occurred which was labeled as "unable to resolve." A few days later, I received a call from a broker used by UPS. He said that I owed
10,500 pesos in duties. I assume this was determined because the doctor's office put the value of the glasses at $600 USD, even though they were my glasses and they only replaced the lenses.
I told the broker that those duties were not reasonable and asked what my alternative was. He said I should refuse the shipment and they would send it back. Knowing that my husband was coming for Christmas and he could bring them, I said okay.
A week or so later, the eye doctor called, asked why I refused the glasses and said the broker told them that they had to pay the 10,500 in duties to have them returned!
In the meantime, I returned to the U.S. and my glasses were here, stuck in customs. Now, I am back again in the DR. I have been talking by phone with the eye doctor 3 times a week. They have been communication with UPS International, who now say that the glasses will be tagged as unclaimed goods and auctioned off!
We all know that I could have gotten a completely new pair of glasses here for a fraction of the cost of what they want to charge me in duties. And they certainly don't charge other tourists duties on their glasses when they come through the airport.
I guess I need to talk with someone face to face in Santiago. Is it UPS? Is it Customs? Is it the broker? To whom do I speak? What is my recourse?
Please, I hope someone can set me on the right path.
Thanks-
Lindsey
When I was back in the US in November, I had an eye exam. The doc determined that I needed stronger lenses in my glasses. The glasses with new lenses were not ready by the time I returned here, so they UPS'ed them in mid December.
I was able to track their trip here until they reached Santiago. Then, an "exception" occurred which was labeled as "unable to resolve." A few days later, I received a call from a broker used by UPS. He said that I owed
10,500 pesos in duties. I assume this was determined because the doctor's office put the value of the glasses at $600 USD, even though they were my glasses and they only replaced the lenses.
I told the broker that those duties were not reasonable and asked what my alternative was. He said I should refuse the shipment and they would send it back. Knowing that my husband was coming for Christmas and he could bring them, I said okay.
A week or so later, the eye doctor called, asked why I refused the glasses and said the broker told them that they had to pay the 10,500 in duties to have them returned!
In the meantime, I returned to the U.S. and my glasses were here, stuck in customs. Now, I am back again in the DR. I have been talking by phone with the eye doctor 3 times a week. They have been communication with UPS International, who now say that the glasses will be tagged as unclaimed goods and auctioned off!
We all know that I could have gotten a completely new pair of glasses here for a fraction of the cost of what they want to charge me in duties. And they certainly don't charge other tourists duties on their glasses when they come through the airport.
I guess I need to talk with someone face to face in Santiago. Is it UPS? Is it Customs? Is it the broker? To whom do I speak? What is my recourse?
Please, I hope someone can set me on the right path.
Thanks-
Lindsey