Appalling Service

DHL South Africa is an absolute joke! I bought an item from Canada, on E-Bay in Dec 2017. SADLY, the seller decided to send it via DHL, instead of our unreliable Post Office. THAT was when my problems began. Using the DHL tracking system, I tracked the package, which arrived in Cape Town on 13 Dec. I was on holiday in Durban, expecting the package to take the usual 8 to 12 weeks that our Post office takes to deliver.

I then had a phone call informing me that I had to complete an ITAC importation Permit application in order to import the item (which was already in Cape Town). I have bought MANY items off E-Bay in the past, that have been delivered through the Post Office, WITHOUT having to apply for an importation permit. I then pay the duty fee as directed by SARS. DHL sent me the application form, as I had no idea what they were talking about. I finally received the blank application on 12 January 2018. I sent the completed application to ITAC, and received the reply, that as my item was more than 100 years old (closer to 150), that NO Tax was due on it. I sent this letter on to DHL on 7 February.

On 11 February, I E-Mailed them again to find out when I could expect to receive my package. On 12 February, they informed me that I had to send them a "Certificate of age". I rep**** that this was not possible, as I had l only had contact with him through E-Bay, and that the message window had expired. On 19 February, I again contacted them for an update in this matter, and have STILL not had a reply.

As a result of this debacle, I will NEVER make use of DHL for ANY of the items that I receive from, or send to, fellow collectors. I will also continue to provide negative publicity for them at EVERY opportunity!