Excess baggage AQIS inspection fee of $127?

anonymous8 on 25/10/2015 - 11:20

Hi all, Recently got back from a trip to South Africa and sent around 100kg of excess baggage through a company called U-bag. I paid over a grand for a door to door service.The items arrived in Oz on the 6/10 and I was called to come into their agents office at Tullamarine to fill out some paperwork as something was wrong. Filled out the paper work everyone was smiles and was informed that there might be charged for a $127 quarantine inspection because of the inconsistencies in the paper work. Items were to be scheduled to be delivered on the 12/10.

The items were not delivered on that date and called them on the 21/10 for a please explain. Was informed that everything was good and delivery would be the next day and to have $127 ready to cover the quarantine inspection fee which is done randomly by AQIS. The driver showed up the next day asking for the money before delivery but could not provide any reference numbers or receipts from AQIS showing that an inspection had taken place and how much it cost. I called the agent in Melbourne asking for a reference number from AQIS and was informed that they do not have to give me that information.

They took my luggage back to Tullamarine and have informed me to pay the $127 inspection fee and come and pick up the goods myself or I will be incurring storage charges. I have pretty much said that I will not be paying anything unless they prove that AQIS really did inspect the goods. I'm I out of line or is this standard in the freight industry to pay trust me it happened invoices?

Travel

Comments

  • 2jzzzz on 25/10/2015 - 12:05

    What sort of goods were you shipping? Animals, wood, animal products??? You can ring a general quarantine phone number and ask them for more information.

    This does sound like a scam or the company has realised they underquoted you and are trying to recoup.

    • anonymous8 on 25/10/2015 - 12:13

      Nothing against the AQIS rules declared on the paperwork or in the baggage. I called AQIS but they said they could do nothing without a reference number which I the freight company wont give me. They did direct me a a link showing inspection charges:

      http://www.agriculture.gov.au/import/general-info/fees-charg…

      Usually it would only take 15 mins in office for an inspection which would be $40.

      • PVA on 25/10/2015 - 12:17

        but it isnt In-Office, they would have had to go to the U-bag company to inspect.

        which, I guess, is then…
        Out-office—per officer—1st ½ hour - ½ hour $90.00
        Out-office—per officer—additional ¼ hour - ¼ hour $45.00

        • anonymous8 on 25/10/2015 - 12:33

          In office is at the Customs bond facility at Melbourne airport. They inspect the goods before releasing them to U-bag. U-bag are using an agent called Jetta express to handle the Australian side of things. Even if I have to pay out of office fees I would like to know if the inspection took place. Not all shipments are inspected by AQIS.

  • KaTst3R on 25/10/2015 - 19:58

    Everything should have a reference number and documented. I don't think the quarantine guys would have done a quarantine check without putting the findings through the system. That's how they trace back in the event of a screw up.

  • anonymous8 on 09/11/2015 - 20:29

    Well its the 11.9 and still don't have my luggage.

    Jetta express were supposed to redeliver bags today and told me to have my $127 when they called me on Friday after ubag tried to sort this out for me. I agreed to have the supposed AQIS inspection fee cash ready for them as I need my frinking luggage.

    Then this morning a woman from Jetta express calls after their driver did a no show, said the driver was on the way and I needed to have $192 to get my stuff.

    Now the AQIS inspection fee is just an AQIS fee and they needed to do an additional AQIS inspection which cost $65 extra when by bags were returned to there warehouse. I only took out $ 127 at requested on Friday and told them not to deliver as I did not have $192.

    I wrote to u-bag again explaining that they wanted more money for my stuff and then got a call from the bigwig at Jetta express telling me that he has had enough of the South African "retards" hassling him and to pay up. He then hung up the phone on me which seems to be a standard response.

    I'm not willing to swallow my pride any more I have kind of resigned to the fact that I am not going to get my stuff. Any suggestions on how to proceed.

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