[jo-and-jeff]

Here's some of their reasons for overcharging:

there is a significant amount of work done by our import co-ordinator to have your shipment processed from completing and submitting the BACC redirection, securing appointments, raising internal documentation, obtaining final clearances etc.
We have to put all our staff through a MAF accreditation course so they can do container inspections at residence where they have to undergo retraining every 2 years.
We have also just had to install a mechanical hoist under instruction from MAF at significant cost so they can inspect underneath vehicles.
Smiler is right -- your share of these expenses is covered by the shipping fee originally quoted to you by the moving company. Send them a letter telling them that, and tell them that if their moving affiliate isn't giving appropriate quotes, they need to take it up with them (include the address and phone information of the affiliate), but they're not going to get unjustified charges out of you.

[The Hodges]

This thread has been fantastic. We have just received our invoice from the removal comapany asking for $270 for the MAF inspection fee, for 9 items.

I called MAF and asked them their actually cost for our inspection and the cost was $145 including the zone fee.

I called our removal company and asked why are they charging us $270, and said I would like the MAF to inspect our shipment at home, but unfortunatley because it is a shared container I can not have this done. (Is this correct?)
They also said they have added on the extra cost for them to send someone out there to repack the boxes after they have been inspected. ??????

I mentioned that we have already paid our removal company to do all the packing door to door. At this point she got extremely angry and said "all of you coming out from the UK think the shipping companies are trying to rip you off'. I explained I would look into it further and call her back.:wah I was very surpised by her outburst....

I have just sent an email requesting and itemised bill after the inspection has been carried out. Do any of you know, because I have not paid the invoice prior to the inpsection if this will delay the process of it being delivered? I dont really know where to go from here other than pay the bill.

I look forward to receiving your replies.

[K&CS]

When our shipment arrived on 13 April last year, MAF took a few bits and pieces. We've never had them back (and yes we did pay!).

[marcia]

I would also get in touch with the company you used in the Uk to do the removals, explaining to them what the company here is charging an what MAF are charging, after all your original contract was with them, and they have the contract with the removals people here. Also ask them to get a breakdown of the fees for you from the comapnay this end.

We had a lot of hassle with ours they tried to charge us $600. when the MAF guy had told us it would only be $85!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We found out from the MAF guy that they couldn't even send the packers here an invoice since they lost all the original paper work, yet they were still trying to get $600 out of us!!We refused to pay them, but were lucky that the inspection had already taken place, and our stuff was safely in storage of our chosing!!!!! We ended up getting in contact with the removals company in the Uk asking them to sort it all out. They ended up waiving the fee 'as a gesture of goodwill' but I think all the hassle they had caused us Uk end with not supplying a case for my grandfather clock, made them decide we had probably had enough and if they weren't quick to sort it out they would be 'blacklisted' by adverse publicity on this forum!!!

Good luck, stand your ground if you can, but it will be a bit harder if they have your stuff!

[Ana&Steve]

I mentioned that we have already paid our removal company to do all the packing door to door. At this point she got extremely angry and said "all of you coming out from the UK think the shipping companies are trying to rip you off'. I explained I would look into it further and call her back.:wah I was very surpised by her outburst....
That's terrible! You were only following the advice from other immigrants and warnings in the media. If she wants to be angry, she can get angry at her fellow shipping companies for causing suspicion. Plus, is really is poor customer service to tack on fees after you've paid up. (besides the inevitable MAF fees, of course) I hope you come out on top.
Ana

[barryp]

My take is that paying that extra $125 isn't unreasonable. It does take effort to handle the process with MAF and Customs, especially with a shared container. And the NZ movers will incur extra labour costs onsite from the inspection. (I did the whole paperwork process myself and it took a couple of hours - not including the HUGE amount of time we both spent planning the shipment specifically so that no MAF inspection would be required.)

The advice given here often - try to get a house inspection if you can - is in fact not applicable to shared containers, and even if you have your own container MAF are no longer keen to do this anymore. (Fairly recent policy change.)

I would be very surprised if the packing fees you already paid include MAF charges. Every quote I've ever seen specifically excludes such charges for the simple reason that the shippers have no way of knowing how many items will be inspected or dutied.

I hope you get the money back, of course, but it doesn't sound to me like you're being ripped off. Just treated with very poor customer service....