Complaint Review:
IMEX Shipping Inc.
IMEX Shipping Inc. IMEX Tours Inc. Charged Hidden Fees, Sent Fees to be collected at destination, Refused to reemburse me for damages to my belongings, Refused to reemburse me all hidden fees and collect charges, refused to provide me NEWARK, New Jersey
Hello, I am submitting this report because I have a situation pertaining to a personal international moving scam/fraud that actually involve many different situations due to all customs and regulations pertaining to customs and other institutions in Argentina as well as in the US. I am an american / argentine citizen who moved to reside in Argentina, I gathered all the information needed to ship my belongings including my vehicle to Argentina from the Argentine Councelate in New York, the administrator processing all my documents needed to ship my personal effects which included an apostille marriage certificate, my vehicle's title, a certificate of residency among others. Once all was accredited and authorized I hired an International Shipping Co (IMEX Shipping Inc.) who charged me a total of US$ 1875.00 that included Ocean Freight, Insurance and handling of the shipment, he mentioned that I was only going to be charged a courier Port Fee of an approx. US$ 250.00. Short after that I moved to Argentina leaving my belongings stored at IMEX Shipping Inc.'s warehouse and received my container on November 17th 2010, I received a notice from MAERSK SA informing me that the container was scheduled to arrive at Terminal 4 (operated by AP Moller, MAERSK) of the Argentine Port, Buenos Aires in the notice I was told to go straight to the MAERSK SA office to retrieve the bill of lading to be able to retrieve my container from customs, when I got to the office a rep came out to the waiting area and in front of everyone there handed me a statement with a balance of US$981.00 which I was never told that I would be charged and so she proceeded to explained that they were charging me an outstanding balance that the Shipper had not paid MAERSK and instead had order them to collect from me directly, she also warned me that if I didn't pay the full amount I would not be able to retrieve my container and so I went ahead and paid since my container was already at Terminal 4 of the Bs As Port and went ahead to EMBA to retrieve an authorization to release the container with the paid statement from MAERSK. at EMBA I was told to go to Resgurado de Aduana (Custom's agency) since I needed an authorization to release the container because I was importing a car ok to shorten the story I was sent around the town more than 15 times in a matter of almost 2 weeks and nobody knew what they were doing, they had no idea how to start the procedure to nationalize my vehicle, they told me on many occasions that I wouldn't be able to nationalize my vehicle since I hadn't owned it for more than 3 months before traveling to Argentina, I was told by many workers that people at resguardo were giving me hard time and playing with me because they wanted my to offer them money "under the table", I can't tell you how sick I have been between Customs, MAERSK and IMEX Shipping Inc., I have paid over US$ 4,000.00 between Argentine Customs, The Port's Terminals (more so by Terminal 4 operated by MAERSK), MAERSK LINE itself and IMEX Shipping Inc. and still my container was retained at terminal 5's bounded warehouse out in the open and today I had all my documents reviewed by an EMBA manager who was shocked to see that Terminal 4 had moved my container to Terminal 5 because MAERSK LINE claims that they do no verify personal effects at their terminal therefor forcing meto have it moved to Terminal 5 which ended up costing me an extra US$ 1,300.00, the worker at EMBA told me that Terminal 4 did have a warehouse and they have always verified personal effects at Terminal 4 . I have the New Jersey consumer affairs, the bbb and The Federal Maritime Commission, US Custom Borders, Office Inspector General , The State of New Jersey Supreme Court and the USAID investigating on this, I have looked for help everywhere and thankfully the US is far more responsible in helping their citizens, I really need to retrieve some of my money back if not all since I have been a victim of IMEX Shipping Inc. and MAERSK LINE I think it's necessary and extremely important for a thorough investigation to be performed on this issue since it will help other victims avoid doing business with both of these fraudulent corporations, I have all documents and receipts to support my experience in this hell of a country. I would also like to mention that there were existing cargo damages to my belongings which includes my car's back windshield that was shattered, it's left optical light and many of my boxes containing expensive picture frames and ornaments, I reported my claim to MAERSK SA in Argentina and I can't even explain how unethical the MAERSK SA Reps are at that office, they refused to take my claim by telling me that they were not responsible for any damages to the cargo, they suggested I report this claim to the Shipper (IMEX Shipping Inc.), They are not willing to help out or even try making an effort, these people are very unprofessional and rude, they have a habit of discussing any and all personal business matters in open forums, in front of all other customers sitting in the waiting area without respecting an individual's privacy. As an outcome I am expecting to be reembursed of all financial and emotional damages caused to me by the mentioned Corporations and I would like this report to be kept public to warn anyone else that might be considering business with these Companies.