UPS - trouble with shipment from Britain to Jamaica - didn't have invoice to clear customs

Complaints.com received the following consumer message on March 29, 2002:

From: Dennis Stephens [Email User]

UPS - trouble with shipment from Britain to Jamaica - didn't have invoice to clear customs

I was sent a parcel from a company Past Times in Britain via UPS. They accepted the parcel for delivery but because there was no invoice in the parcel, which was detained by customs here in Jamaica, I sent back the papers to them indicating I could not clear the parcel without same.

( I was informed by a member of staff at UPS that I should ask customs to let me have the parcel without the invoice but they could not help me.) About two weeks later UPS again delivered the papers to me, this time including an invoice. I asked if they could help me clear the parcel but was told no.

This meant that I had to go to the International Airport and clear the parcel through customs, having no previous experience of this procedure. I am a senior citizen and this process I found very difficult as it took almost all morning.

I do not think UPS should have expected me to clear this parcel which they had undertaken to deliver to me, in fact the company sending the parcel usually send things via ordinary mail and I collect same at my Post Office where I have no problem paying the duties. I did not find the staff at UPS helpful.I have told the company never to send me anything by UPS again.

Margaret Stephens