EXPRESS mail could end up being very slow in arriving if handled by companies misrepresenting reputable courier services like Federal Express (FedEx).

But reports say these illegal services are now rampant in Shenzhen.

A search of the Internet revealed a number of free service hotlines of FedEx imposters, who claimed to be FedEx agents, a Shenzhen Special Zone Daily report said yesterday.

They proved to be illegal and were charging customers high prices and then delivering the mail to the real FedEx which delivered the mail at much lower prices according to signed contracts, a Fedex manager who identified herself as Huang said.

"We offer favorable prices to big customers," Huang said. "The illegal companies use this (policy) to cheat customers without revealing the higher charges. They then make a profit out of the price differences."

Wu, a staff member with a Shenzhen electronics company in Bao'an District, had a taste of a service claiming to be FedEx when two articles were to be delivered by express mail to Japan on March 22.

"I searched on baidu.com for a FedEx hotline and found a number," Wu said.

She was charged 4,000 yuan (US$563) and the deliveryman promised the mail would reach Japan the next day.

"It sounded a little bit too expensive," Wu said. "But he promised it would be delivered on time. I never doubted it."

But the mail did not reach its destination until March 26.

"I called to ask why, but was treated rudely," she said. "The receiver refused to apologize or tell me where their office was. He later hung up on me."

Huang checked mail delivery records of her company and confirmed Wu's mail was among them.

"The company who charged her transferred her mail to us days later," Huang said. "That explained why the mail was late in arriving."

She said Wu was somehow lucky in that her mail had arrived safely.

"Sometimes mail couldn't be found if it was sent through illegal companies," she said.

Huang suggested people to take precautions against the imposters."Always ask for a receipt after paying for the delivery service. (Li Jing)

(Li Jing)