UPS (United Package Service) is violating Canadian’s privacy. Recently I had a package delivered from USA with duty owed. Without my permission UPS collected the duty owed from my bank account. I do not know how UPS has my bank account information.

Under PIPEDA, UPS can collect financial information which is “reasonable” to do their business. As I am the receiver of the package and can elect to pay Duty in other ways I do not believe UPS has the right to collect my bank account information. I believe it is reasonable that I have control of my bank account information.

Additional information.

A couple of years earlier I deleted my UPS, information only, account after UPS charged duty to a credit card used on a prior shipment - my assumption was that this would clear my personal information from UPS as I no longer had a relationship with them. I deleted the account when I found UPS collected HST on a shipment that had HST collected at checkout - HST was collected twice. Large US retailers are legally responsible for collecting HST on Canadian sales and remitting to Canada. UPS must be aware of this but refused to help clear properly. Their (expensive) brokerage service is a significant revenue generating so why make sure customer is paying correct amount.

As for this last shipment when UPS went to my bank account to collect duty with out my knowledge... I called UPS CSR as soon as I received the initial shipping notice. I talked to the CSR for over 10 minutes. During this time I explained that I wanted to self account my shipment and wanted the documentation to do so as allowed by the CBSA (Canadian Border Services Agency). I asked if they understood and was told yes they did and it would be forwarded to the correct department.

Their (expensive) brokerage service is a significant revenue generating so why not force customer to use it.

Days later my package was left on the front step with no attempt to contact me at the door. I would have had a second chance to request self accounting if the driver met me at the door. A couple of weeks later I had an already paid invoice from UPS stating the duties and payment from bank account.

UPS makes it difficult to self account (will tell people one of two methods to clear customs, the more difficult one), ignores self accounting instructions, and violates Canadian Privacy law. Make them stop these unethical practices.