What Individuals Should Know Before Using a Shipping Agent

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When you send a parcel overseas through a shipping agent, how do you make sure you are not deceived by fraudsters posing as one?

Individuals who want to send parcels abroad can use a shipping agent. The agent acts as the middleman between you (the sender) and the courier company and takes care of getting your shipment safely to its destination. You don’t need to open a member account with the courier, and you don’t need export knowledge or fluent English for the paperwork — the agent handles everything for you, such as filling in the Air Waybill and describing the goods on the Commercial Invoice from the details you provide. If you would like insurance, the agent can arrange that too.

To avoid fraudsters who pose as shipping agents — taking your money for shipping and other charges while your parcel may never actually be sent — check the agent carefully before you use them.

6 things to check before you use a shipping agent:

1. A shipping service is a business, so a trustworthy agent should be a registered company (juristic person).

2. The agent must really exist, with a fixed address — a company office or a shop front that customers can see, visit and walk into.

3. The agent must have a real account with the courier company. You can check the agent’s company name with the courier for peace of mind.

4. The agent must be able to issue the shipping document — the Air Waybill — to you straight away, as proof that your parcel has been shipped correctly.

5. Once shipped, you must receive an Air Waybill showing the parcel’s tracking number, so you can check its status yourself.

6. The agent must be able to issue a receipt and a tax invoice.