posted on September 24, 2002 03:35:15 PM
I think I read on this board awhile back about this happening and never thought it could happen to me. I shipped a package to Canada FedEX back in July. Customer gave me her account # for charging the shipping.Today I get a bill in the mail from FexEx for the shipping which she declined to pay.This was for $57.40. I have contacted the customer and will see what she has to say.How can this happen? Just not fair at all.Yes as you can see I'm very upset over this.Not fair that I have to pay these shipping charges because she did not pay but yet she got her package.I have contacted FedEx and they say I do have to pay the charges if she doesn't.Some advise,If someone ever gives you their FedEX account # and wants you to charge the shipping DO NOT. If they decline to pay the shipping,you have to pay.(lesson learned).Is there anything I can do?Isn't this considered fraud?Any help would be appreciated.
posted on September 24, 2002 03:58:57 PM
You might try Safe Harbor, but I think you are stuck. Sorry, but you may have saved others the same problem. At least give them a neg. & tell why.
posted on September 24, 2002 04:12:34 PM
I need to ask some questions. Why wouldn't the Canadian buyer do her own payment from Fed Ex. Is it because they know that they can charge the seller if the seller uses the #. I hope I worded that right. It sounds like if something like that happens to one of use we will have to wait until the charges clear to send a package. What would happen if you would not pay this bill? Sorry about all the questions but this is very informational.
I think we are all guilty of "It will never happen to me" syndrom. I think that maybe we have to change our thinking and say no you are the buyer you do the paying. What does the buyers feedback look like. Has she done that before?
posted on September 24, 2002 04:27:26 PM
Get Fedex to freeze the guy's account. Tell them fraud was committed and it's between them and him since the guy agreed to pay Fedex shipping by supplying his account number, he did not say he'd pay you, so it's not between you and him.
posted on September 24, 2002 04:55:55 PM
Update on what has happened. First let me say that the customer did request that I mail this package ground.When I took the package to FedEx I was told it couldn't be mailed ground and I mailed it air not knowing what to do.I did send email to customer and told her that it was mailed air because couldn't be mailed ground. Never heard a word from her.FedEx has admitted that this was their error and it could have gone ground.Since this was their mistake they have agreed to reducing the shipping charges. I have heard from the customer.She claims that she has paid the bill but paid the part for shipping ground only since that is how she requested me to mail the package and that I will have to contact FedEx and work it work with them.The bill I got from FedEx is for the total amount for shipping. Will call FedEx again tomorrow and keep you guys posted to what is going on.Don't want this to happen to any of you. Will keep reading the boards and try to answer all the questions and comments. Right now have a real BIG headache.Thanks to everyone for all your suggestions.Sorry for any typos. Didn't proof read. Sue
posted on September 24, 2002 05:26:23 PM
STAY OFF THE PHONE LINES!!
For crimeny's sake! Yes there is a record of your making a call, but not all calls are recorded, and they use the same tapes, so they are not necessarily subpeonable. Conduct all of your matters with this situation via snail mail, or Email. Keep copies of everything. It is much easier for a telephone operator to say 'No', than it is for a person responding to email or mail. The written part has to be processed by the brain for longer in order to be written, this always can work to your advantage.
Always be respectable.
Include the comments that your customer has made at all times.
And never agree to pay anything. If you always state that you were unaware, even though you had to sign the form, then they may be kind to you.
posted on September 24, 2002 09:48:59 PM
Suelane...I don't blame your customer one bit. They gave you their account number for the sole purpose of shiping it by Fedex Ground. If there was no FEDEX Ground then you should have notified the customer of that fact and let them decide what to do.
What if there was no FEDEX Air to that location ??.....Would you have escalated it to emergency courier and expect them to pay the $900 in fees ??
Guess people have an easier time spending money when it's someone else's.
posted on September 26, 2002 01:37:04 PM
SueLane - It was me that got burned like this by a Canadian bidder for $263.00 from FedEx. To date, I have called Fed Ex & told them that I refused to pay it because the bidder was obligated per my emails. So far, I have not been rebilled. If they do send me another bill, I will go ahead and give them copies of the emails in which this person gave me authorization to charge her account for shipping.
FedEx says that they cannot rebill the account holder if they refuse payment. So it was my assumption if their computer is that stupid, then they can't rebill me either. We shall see.
Hope your Canadian bidder is not the same as mine!
