FedEx Trade Networks asking for personal details for US customs?

I participated in an auction recently and the reputable auction house has shipped via FedEx. Auction house is located in the EU, I am in the USA. Value of the package is well under $10,000 that I have read is the limit without needing paperwork

I received a voicemail from an individual representing FedEx Trade Networks asking for the contents of the package, if it contains rare coins, and that I need to provide my SSN for customs clearance. He had mentioned the tracking number and the destination it is being mailed from. He then asked me to send an email to the email he mentioned in the voice message and referencing the tracking number to get started.

Has anyone experienced this? This is a first for me, I have purchased overseas many times but never have been asked to provide this sort of details. In my experience, the merchant has handled all aspects of the shipping process.

 

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Yes, this is normal even for coins below $10K (I believe the threshold is $2500). It's one reason I use dealers for most purchases as it can be a hassle to work through.

 

Thank you for clarifying! Reassuring to hear. Didn’t know this was the process.. I can see why you use a dealer!

 

i refuse to do bizz with anyone using fedex after the last episode of 30 days late and the package left on someone elses doorstep..

 

https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-31

 

Yes, I have done this before. Once you get the appropriate CBP form on file, you won’t have to do it again for the rest of the calendar year.

 

Oi! I just today had DHL say they dropped a package off on my door step... except they didn't
Not only was it not there on the porch step but I had to call, get told that I was mistaken and that the package was delivered to my exact address and there was no further action to take other than contact the shipper, ask for a supervisor (I STRONGLY DISLIKE asking for a supervisor) and finally have a supervisor call me back and eventually get in touch with a local office whom was able to get in touch with the driver who picked up my package (hehe) dropped it off, within about 1-2 hours of me talking to the supervisor (not ideal) just to recieve my latest Naumann numismatic order....
That's what I get for exposing this coin before it and some buddies arrived!

 

oh man...i got the same kind of deal...i was going to call my lawyer and they'd delivered it to a neigbor of mine about a mile and a half down the road..if he hadn't wanted to or not had been an honest oustanding citizen..he should have done what he wished with it...it's USPS or UPS(they haven't messed up yet..with me anyway)..or NO DICE!...ahaha....love the coin...that's what i got for fedex on the reverse...>< ( i still get so mad i can't type when i think about it~~!!!!!)

 

I did not send them one bit of info. The dealer/auction house gives
them all of the pertinent info. In my opinion I was not obligated
to answer them. FedEx tried this "Scam" twice with me, I contacted
the dealer and not another word from FedEx after the second time.
Four numismatic packages since then, all about or greater in value
than the first two.

 

and Ryro, i still have your original Christmas gift here in box...after seeing how they treated the packages in fedex and the uncertainty of usps at that time..i decided not to sent it then and got you a consolation gift of the book you received...so you still have a gift boxed and ready to sent here friend (its fragile and very breakable)

 

My goodness! That sure is kind of you. I really enjoyed reading about Alexander straight from the source and not a modern take on it...oh and don't ship it DHL! (jk, they did fix their mistake)

 

Just a caveat - I recently bought a coin overseas and had to answer numerous questions for the customs paperwork. Months later, I was contacted by our state revenue department to verify that I had paid sales tax on the purchase. Which I have (now).

 

Two items I want to mention:
First. The Social Security Administration warned us not to give our Social Security Number over the phone..NO MATTER WHAT IT IS! Social Security numbers are sold for thousands of dollars. If they ask for your Social Security number, ask them if there is an alternate way, i.e., send you a letter. It is better to delay the delivery for a bit than to find your Social Security number used to open credit card accounts and $50,000 in debt.
I have two homes. Some deliveries, I have asked to be delivered to my house in town and some in our country home. USPS in town and all others in the country.
However, at least every other month, something is delivered to a house with our same house number, our street is Wayne, the next street is Watauga. I have made it a practice to send items that are for the house on Watuaga, but it's hard as nails to get them to give us our mail.
Just a thought. Please be careful with your Social Security number.

 

What was the process for that, totally not your fault? Sounds like a mess

 

Apparently US Customs alerted the individual state's taxing authority so they can ensure that the state sales tax is paid. Filing the tax was relatively easy as it was just shortly after the filing deadline and the payment was sent to the state without penalty. You're right though, there was a hassle with Customs - it took multiple conversations with the agent to convince them that a denarius was silver coin (?). It took about a week before it was released.

 

Horrible, sorry you dealt with that. Won’t get political. But amazing how we the people went from protesting over 3% tax increase on tea to this!

 

Remember that our protest wasn't the amount of tax they paid, but that they fought against "Taxation without representation." All of the taxes collected, were sent to the King of England. None of the taxes paid were used to make improvements to roads, and other things that would help the residents of the "new" country. Yes, we do have to pay taxes..Sales Tax, Excise Tax, Federal Income Tax, State Income Tax, and other taxes. We are assuming that they are being used to make improvements and pay for services, Law Enforcement, Fire Departments, Schools, Libraries, Register of Deeds, etc....... I have never complained about paying taxes, but only how the taxes are used. Sometimes, government employees forget who their real supervisors are... As is said: "We the People"! I've lived in other countries, the worse one being France. After WW II, the United States spent Billions of dollars to help rebuild the nations that were destroyed by the War. I was in Germany in 1954-1057. I saw the destruction in Germany and my family went to France. It too, had been about completely destroyed. I returned to France and Germany in 1965-1967. Germany had been completely rebuilt (except East Germany). My view of France at that time, looked as if the country was still at war. The Billions and Trillions of dollars given to them to rebuild was put in private accounts of political officials to support their way of life. DeGualle emphasized that if it had not been for him, the Allied Forces would have lost the war. Europe has a high opinion of itself.
I am sorry. I have gotten totally off topic. My father was a career soldier and we lived in many countries and states of the union. I am proud of him. He always reminded me that he served at the pleasure of the President. He also reminded me that he was paid by tax dollars and that I should always remember that we live in the greatest nation in the world. Sometimes we tend to forget it when we complain about customs, postal systems, our law enforcement, fire departments and many other things that allow us to collect coins from all over the world (sometimes).

 

@Ryro So how many people are you going to EXPOSE to this coin ?

 

Funny enough, I just put him away in his coin drawer and that dirty satyr is currently exposing himself to Venus!