[Naughtysnakey]

Freedom Shipping offers great rates to NZ & Aus right? Well don't be so sure, it seems that it is common practice for local charges to be added to the 'Door to Door' service paid for in the UK.

Now let me explain, when obtaining a quote you will be advised that there is potential for local charges to cover inspection by Customs and MAF (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, not sure what the Aussie equivalent is) of between $65 - $150 dollars.

This is confirmed by the following extract from the Freedom Shipping website....

The service offered by Freedom Shipping includes everything that can possibly be included in advance, so you won't find any hidden costs from our side.

However, some countries insist that you pay certain charges directly to their officials, these may be for things like import duty (based on the value of certain goods), or any other local taxes, quarantine charges or the like. It is not possible for us to include these type of charges in our quotation to you, but we can give you an idea of what to expect at the time of booking. Our experienced sales staff will advise you at the time of booking if there are any likely local charges for your destination.

I've asked a few of my mates and they have all been charged the maximum local rate, this includes Aus as well.

When I asked Freedom Shipping to justify the charges is was informed "The destination charges include goods examination fee, agents service charges, hangling fee and delivery charges, as all these are handled by our local agent. The price is quoted by them"

Door to Door Service? No Hidden Costs? Not by the look of it.

What makes matters worse is that there is no way you can reason with anyone, Freedom Shipping are in the UK, which is a long way from NZ, Seven Seas pass on costs and they couldn't care less what I paid for in the UK. If I want to get my boxes back I have to pay up.

My only come back is posting this ad to warn others every day until I find a job. And between you, me, the golf course and the current economic climate this could be some time.

Bottom line...Please use someone else, anyone but Freedom Shipping

[RedHotChiliNerd]

Wouldn't have seen this if the retard above hadn't posted his spam/crap.

So let me get this straight: there's a recession on, so you can't find a job, and you need to have some stuff - enough to require a specialist shipper - shipped overseas?

Requirements seem to be:

a) Courier must do it for nothing
b) Ideally, courier should pay you for the privilege of handling your stuff
c) Courier should attempt to bypass all Customs and other bye-laws which may apply across the border involved
d) Courier is not affected by recession and should stand all losses and local fees.

You need to do a reality check. Try sending one of your boxes home using standard mail and see what extra you'll be charged when it arrives at your door - if it gets there, of course (one penknife or odd metal item; one nut or blade of grass and it'll be tied up in Customs for months, and you'll have to chase it).

Paying £40-70 to get a few crates of stuff through customs on top of £170 quid to ship almost a quarter of a tonne of junk is peanuts (well, not to a jobless student, admittedly). And their website IS actually quite clear:

[KiwisCanFly]

I totally agree with the first poster. Use Freedom at your own risk. They turned up without phoning me first, then charged me 40pounds for not being there. They refused to refund this, even though they state that they will let you know of a time to be around.
Then they didnt come when they said they would to pick it up .. I waited an extra hour ... but apparently the charges dont work in reverse.
i ended up having to haul my boxes to work, and have them picked up from there, as I had already taken a half day to be there the first time when they didnt come.

Now, I get an email demanding $160 within 7 days for them looking through my book box in NZ!! All that was in it was books and clothes!!! If I dont pay this within the 7 days they will charge me more fees on top.

Last year I sent three big boxes home with a different company, was cheaper and had no charge at the other end. I think it was Anglo-Pacific, but Im not sure.

Never using these guys again. Total rip off. And they were INCREDIBLY rude and arrogant on the phone. Not at all apologetic for either of the times they stuffed me around.

Use FREEDOM at your own peril - plus, they are FAR slower than anyone I have used in the past.