UPS is hitting customers with late fees and collection threats as they contest tariff bills

"Oregon father Evan Scheessele told Business Insider he ordered a German analog computer kit for his son's birthday present, only to be hit with a 250% tariff when UPS deemed it to be made entirely of copper and, somehow, entirely of Russian aluminum. The charges meant UPS expected Evan's son - named as the intended recipient - owed about $1,400 in duties on a parcel worth $550 in order to complete the shipment, according to invoices and shipping updates viewed by Business Insider."

"Scheessele is not the only UPS customer to be hit with such fees - or threats to be referred to collections agencies. Three other people told Business Insider that they've faced similar late fees from UPS as they contest the service's tariff bills. On a Reddit page dedicated to UPS issues, some posts describe receiving similar bills with late payment fees - in some cases, after a recipient refused delivery due to UPS's tariff bill."

UPS applied a 250% tariff to an imported German analog computer kit by classifying it as entirely copper and Russian aluminum, creating roughly $1,400 in duties on a $550 parcel. The intended recipient refused to pay, the package was returned to a local facility, and a $142.50 late fee was later issued to the high-school-aged recipient. Multiple other customers report similar late fees and threats of collections while disputing tariff bills. Online forums contain accounts of high duties, disposal notices, and billing surprises tied to international shipments. Consumers now confront tariff classifications and billing practices once handled by brokers and specialists.

Read at Business Insider