UPS Customs Brokerage fees I didn't authorize

[inguru]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? MN

I purchased something on eBay from someone in Canada. They shipped it UPS. It was delivered, and several weeks later I got a bill from UPS for clearing it through customs. No actual customs fees, just a bill for their brokerage services. I contacted them and said I never asked you to do that, and never agreed to pay you. They said we performed a service for you and expect to be paid. Then they turned it over to a collection agency.

If I never asked them to do it, never authorized it, and never agreed to pay them, what are my rights? Am I stuck paying this, is there some law that allows them to do it? They're charging almost $50, which is almost as much as what I bought.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[CraigFL]

I went through almost the same thing recently except I was the seller. My buyer had agreed to pay the fee except when it came time to actually pay it, he didn't. The fine print of the shipping agreement that I signed said that I (seller) was responsible for the money in the end. Because he wouldn't pay it (after several threatening letters) I had to because I was the only one who really signed an agreement with Fed-Ex. The problem I see with things like this are that the billing isn't usually very timely, most people aren't aware of these kinds of import costs and there are no surefire ways to make the buyer pay.