We’ve seen cases where FedEx shipments are being charged incorrect import duties - in some cases up to 30,000 USD.
FedEx told us that duties are set by customs and asked customers to contact them directly. However, we believe this may be due to currency conversion errors, as all our shipments are declared in JPY. We haven’t seen this issue with DHL so far.
With help from Smart Doll owner Rich Carrasco, we found the following FedEx dispute form:
Please complete one form per shipment, check “Currency Conversion Error,” and send it to dutytaxdisputes@fedex.com.
While FedEx initially asks customers to contact customs, the existence of this form suggests they can submit the dispute on your behalf, which is currently the most effective route we’ve found.
In some cases, FedEx may provide a case number and place the invoice on hold while the dispute is under review. Resolution can take several months, but during this time, the charge is typically not sent to collections.
Sorry for the hassle - we know this is frustrating. If you choose FedEx, you may need to go through this process for the time being. If you’d prefer to avoid the risk, DHL has not shown this issue so far.
Please note that the accompanying photo is for illustrative purposes only and is not related to the content of this article. Any resemblance to brands is purely coincidental.
