⚠️ Go World Cargo (Vancouver) took my $525 refund and has ignored me for over a year, plus a €23,000 tax bill they promised would be $3,000 Posting this so nobody else goes through what I did.
The setup: I hired World Cargo (Vancouver, BC) to ship my car from Toronto to Budapest. I dealt with a rep named Ian throughout; Matthew appears to be the owner. Ian told me the car would go to the Netherlands first and that he would arrange onward transport to Budapest. Quoted: ~$2,500 for the shipping, ~$1,000 for the leg to Budapest.
Where it went wrong: My car was worth roughly $30,000 CAD. Ian told me he would declare the value as $20,000 so I'd pay less tax in the Netherlands, estimating $3,000–$4,000. I questioned this and he confirmed it, so I trusted him as the expert.
The bill: When the car landed, a company called "Auto America" contacted me saying they work with World Cargo to release the vehicle. Days later I was hit with €23,000 in tax. Euro. Not dollars. More than the car itself was worth. ⚠️
When I asked Ian how a $3–4k estimate became €23,000, he told me Auto America is "a different company" and then went silent. I never contracted Auto America. I contracted World Cargo. I had no choice but to pay to get my own car released.
It got worse:
World Cargo promised me that Ian will help arrange my cars transport from Netherlands→Budapest. He Never arranged. No effort, no updates, nothing. He didnt even answer my emails!! I organized and paid for the entire thing myself.
World Cargo overcharged me $525 CAD on insurance for the transportation of the car. Ian himself admitted in writing it was owed and said it'd appear "in 1–2 months." for it to appear in myb bank account. It has now been over a year. No refund. It was all lies!!! Ive tried reaching out until today by calling the company many times. They now recognize my voice and hang up on me when I call about it. Emails go unanswered. what a shame!!!!
Where I'm at: I'm filing with BC's Civil Resolution Tribunal for the $525 they stole from me and filing complaints with Consumer Protection BC and the BBB. Posting here so the next person searching this company name finds something before they hand over a vehicle.
⚠️ If you're considering World Cargo (Vancouver) for vehicle shipping: get every quote, every declared value, and every promise in writing before you send anything. ⚠️
Happy to answer questions. I have the email chain.