DHL Disappointment.

Where do I even begin; My mother sent me a parcel from New Zealand in August this year. I heard nothing from DHL until (suspiciously) 3 months later, in November. I was sent an email stating I needed to pay a customs amount, the email did not give me the exact amount I needed to pay. I have to send multiple emails to various staff to get the exact amount I was needing to pay. I paid that amount on the same day I finally received the amount via email from them. To my surprise I then received a further email to tell me that my parcel had been in storage for 3 months and they had been trying to contact me since then, and I am now liable for a fine and a daily storgae fee which was R1500 about a week or so ago, and I assume it has escalated since.

I was not contacted before early November this year, and I find it incredibly suspicious that I could suddenly be contacted multiple times via email and cellphone once this period of 3 months had lapsed, in fact, I was contacted almost exactly to the day of 3 months.

I do not understand why I am being fined where I was never contacted. I keep getting responses back that they have been trying to contact me, but then I just fail to see how they suddenly have my cellphone number, my email and my address now after 3 months.

Are the purposely waiting 3 months so they could fine me?

All I want is the parcel I’ve been waiting for since August and already paid customs taxes for.