[hugoromano]

DHL, FedEx, and UPS are experts in overcharging to process a form and not caring about customers. Duty and VAT are usually low compared to this processing fee, and shipping has already been paid. Here is the catch in the EU, this simple duty form can be processed by the receiver, an agent (some related to the carrier), or an attorney-in-fact of the receiver. The big three carriers (and many others) threaten you if you refuse to use them.

At the end of the day, they don't care if we get phished or scammed; it is all of customs confusion. Next time process your customs form, you will realise how much money you will save, and the form only has less than 8 fields, the Union Customs Code is easy to read.

[JackMcMack]

I've often felt frustrated by the processing fees. Can you elaborate on handling this yourself? Which EU country are you based in?

[AnssiH]

Does not answer your question, but related:

In Finland you can declare DHL/UPS/Fedex packages yourself with customs and pay directly to them, with no fees to carrier (it took a Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority decision in 2017 to get rid of the fees, though). But this is a bit different as it is not a hidden option but standard procedure (though you still get the option of paying the carrier to declare, instead).

Declaring inbound packages to Customs by yourself was already the standard here for postal parcels even before Customs internet services, so this was not a completely new way of working.

[hugoromano]

I'm in Portugal. If you put enough pressure, they release for you to process, it is the law.

[dddddaviddddd]

Same in Canada, though, if I understand correctly, you have to visit a customs checkpoint in person to make a declaration: https://goingawesomeplaces.com/how-to-avoid-paying-ups-broke...

[dghlsakjg]

The processing fee is as high as $35 when the taxes are as low as $10, and then you get charged tax on the fee too!

CBSA should require affirmative opt-in to use the shipper as the broker, and allow you to file the paperwork yourself on their site.

[bradley13]

This. They have been paid to ship an international package. Billing the recipient for delivery is just dishonest. I assume they do it, to make their price for the shipper look artificially low.

For this reason, whenever possible, I choose delivery through the post office.