I apologize if this is a little long, but it's a little complicated.

My wife and I traveled to Israel a month ago, and it was our first time overseas. When we arrived, I realized I had forgotten my battery charger at home. (My wife said I was an idiot, and I for once agreed.) I called B & H Photo, where I purchase all of my equipment, and ordered a new charger for my Fujifilm for $80.00. I asked them how fast they could get it to Israel, and they said three days by FEDEX, but informed me that the shipping would be an additional $23.00. That was fine with me, as I needed the charger. We were scheduled to spend 4 days in Jerusalem at the end of the tour, so I had them ship it there to my hotel. They were on the ball and it arrived three days later.

On the day we checked into our hotel, I received a text from FEDEX Israel saying that I had to send them a copy of my passport and agree to pay the VAT tax before they could deliver it to me. The clerk had included their phone number and his email address in the text. I tried calling him multiple times, but no one answered, so I sent him an email and readily agreed to pay any tax they wanted just to get the charger. I knew what the VAT tax was but had never dealt with it. I heard nothing from them, so I had the hotel scan my passport and send it to them by email.

The next day, I tried again repeatedly to contact FEDEX Israel, but once again no one answered the telephone. I also sent several emails telling them that I would pay the tax, but they needed to let me know how to go about that. I heard nothing from them that day.

On the third day, I couldn't reach anyone again. I noticed though that the FEDEX web site said my charger was out for delivery to my hotel. However, when we got back to the hotel late that evening there was not a package there.

The next day was our last day in Jerusalem, and we were flying out of the country that evening. We went out all day again, and about 2:00 pm I finally received an email from the same clerk, and he at last gave me a number to call at FEDEX. He stated he had received my emails but had not had time to contact me. He said if I had to leave the country without getting the package that FEDEX would go ahead and return the package to New York. I called the number and a lady said I could pay the tax through her, but that they could not deliver the charger that day because it was late in the afternoon. I explained that we were leaving Israel within 6 hours, and told her that since I would not be able to receive it, I wouldn't pay the tax. She said they would go ahead and ship it back to the shipper and said they could refund my money, less the shipping costs. So, we flew back to the U.S. without the charger.

We spent 6 days in New York after we returned to the U.S., and we went to B & H that afternoon and bought the charger. I spoke with customer service there and they said the package would be returned to them and they would credit my charge card.

After we returned home, I had not heard from anyone so I called FEDEX in New York. They checked the shipping number and said the package had been destroyed on May 26th in Israel. They said they had contacted B & H about the package and told them they would have to pay $85.00 to have it returned to them. Of course, B & H said no, so they destroyed it. According to FEDEX, B & H could file a claim for what happened and possibly FEDEX would then reimburse them for the package and I could get my refund. I explained to the lady that what happened was not the fault of B & H. They did everything I asked them to do. The fault lies with FEDEX Israel for not providing me with the information I needed in a timely manner to pay the VAT tax.

I believe that now I'm just out the money for the charger. I wanted to ask and see if this has happened to any fellow hoggers and see if they had any ideas on how to hold FEDEX accountable. Thank you for your time. I appreciate it.