City Global SA Express Courier review: Service delivery

A friend of mine sent me a gift from Switzerland. I was contacted by a lady from Global Express Courier, who said that they had received the parcel. I had to deposit R4,700 into a Miss Swartz account in order for the package to be released at customs. She provided me with the account number, and I paid the money into the account. She said that the parcel would be delivered the same day before 16h00. She informed me the next day that I must pay an additional amount of R35,000 to obtain a release order certificate. I paid the monies into the account and was promised it was the last and final payment.

She then sent me a message saying that I must again pay R30 000 to obtain a release order certificate and industrialization. They found money in the parcel and said it would be the last and final payment, so they globalized R35 000. She said that the value of the parcel is worth more than what I am paying; how she calculated the value of the parcel, I don't know. I asked her why the money must be paid into a private person's account, and she said that it was the clearing agent's account.

I requested proof from her that the parcel is with customs, and she must provide me with the documentation. She told me that the parcel is in their warehouse, and since they don't send out any information, I must use the tracking number. She provided me with a security deposit receipt from customs for the customs duties.

I requested that she provide me with a statement of how much I paid and any outstanding balances. She said that they don't work with statements; they only work with invoices.

I made two separate payments of R15,000 and R20,000 to cover the R35,000. She told me that they will confirm if the money is reflecting in their account, and as soon as it does, they will do the delivery.

The next day, they sent me a message that I must pay an additional amount of R35,000 for the International Monetary Fund fee before the parcel can be released.

I told her that I do not have more money to pay and must refund my money. I asked her to return the parcel to the sender and refund my money.

She said that they do not return the parcel and also not refund the monies that was paid.

Till today I haven't received my parcel and the monies was not refunded so be aware of the company. I told her that I will open a case at Saps and she said that I must not threaten her.

Please be aware of the company