Collect on Delivery (COD)

Collect on Delivery (COD) is available for most domestic parcel shipments, for an additional fee. This option isn’t available at non-automated post offices. To select the COD option, you must prepare and transmit your parcel order using Canada Post’s Electronic Shipping Tools (EST), a third-party shipping system approved by Canada Post, or Canada Post’s Web Services. Before the item is handed over to the addressee, the addressee or the addressee’s representative must pay the COD amount as specified by the shipper on the Collect on Delivery form/shipping label. After collection, the COD funds are submitted to the shipper by cheque or electronic fund transfer and may be subject to a remittance delay of 10 business days. COD is available for transaction up to $999.99 at the post office or when using our COD tool. For commercial customers with a Standing Offer Agreement, COD is available for transactions of up to $5,000.

Maximum COD value depending on method of payment

Method of payment Value
Credit card Up to $100
Cash 1 Up to $1,000
Debit card 2 Up to $5,000
Certified cheque 3 Up to $5,000
Bank draft 3 Up to $5,000
Money order 4 Up to $5,000

1 Canadian or American currency.

 

2 Where available. You may need to call your bank to increase your limit.

 

3 Must be made payable to Canada Post.

 

4 The maximum amount per money order is $999.99. All money orders must be made payable to Canada Post Corporation.

Important information about Collect on Delivery

When selecting the COD option, the shipper must ensure that the COD amount does not exceed the actual value of the item shipped.

You can’t send items that the addressee hasn’t requested or use the COD option to collect funds owing to you (the shipper) from a previous transaction. All money orders, bank drafts, and certified cheques for the collected amount must be made payable to Canada Post.

The shipper assumes all risks associated with payments by:

  • Money order
  • Bank draft
  • Certified cheque

When the COD item is undeliverable 

If the addressee cannot be located, the addressee fails or refuses to pay the COD amount, or a manual shipping label is used, the item will be deemed undeliverable and will be returned to the shipper. Return charges will apply. The COD option fee will not be refunded.

COD service failure

If a COD item has been delivered but the COD funds were not submitted to the shipper, the shipper may submit a claim for COD service failure. Canada Post’s liability is limited to an amount equal to the lesser of the COD amount or the amount of Liability Coverage included or purchased. Exceptions and conditions apply.

If a shipper wants to maximize available Liability Coverage against COD service failure, the shipper may purchase additional Liability Coverage for their COD item so the total available Liability Coverage is equal to the COD amount. 2The COD amount should never be greater than the actual value of the item shipped. Canada Post will not refund the shipper for excess Liability Coverage purchased.

  1. The COD option is not available with Prepaid products or when using a manual shipping label (33-086-397 or 33-086-414)
  2. Exceptions and conditions apply. Refer to Terms and Conditions either online or at the post office for further details.

Please note:

  • Debit and credit cards aren’t an acceptable method of payment in non-automated post offices.
  • You can’t return or refund a COD item through us once the addressee accepts it.
  • Should the addressee want a refund for a Collect on Delivery item, this must be arranged between the sender and the addressee.
  • The hold period for COD items is 15 calendar days (30 calendar days for northern addresses). Once the holding period has ended, we deem unclaimed COD items undeliverable and return them to the sender.
  • The COD option isn’t available with Prepaid products or when using a manual shipping label (33-086-397 or 33-086-414).