Customs charges... for hop rubbers?

[Gaffa]

I laughed when I saw this:

Date	          Time	Location	                     Tracking Event

20-10-2009	 09:08	Liverpool South Depot	   Awaiting payment of charges
20-10-2009	 05:12	Liverpool South Depot	   Arrived at delivery depot
20-10-2009	 02:14	National Hub	           Scanned at Hub
19-10-2009	 23:56	International Hub	   RELEASED WITH CHARGES
19-10-2009	 18:55	International Hub	   AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGING
19-10-2009	 18:55	International Hub	   AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGES
19-10-2009	 18:54	International Hub	   Arrived in destination country
14-10-2009	 21:07	Heathrow Airport	   Arrived at destination country
13-10-2009	 22:39	Delivery Agent - HONG KONG - PTT	Left origin country
13-10-2009	 21:09	Delivery Agent - HONG KONG	Collected from customer

What sort of customs charges am I looking at (package cost £70)?

I haven't had a letter from them yet, but it made me laugh when I saw that there would be charges on hop rubbers.... Ludicrous.

[jenko]

Re: Customs charges... for hop rubbers?

If the item is of a total value of £36 including shipping you will be liable for the 22% import tax (This is inclusive of VAT). You may also be liable depending on the courrier used for a brokeridge charge this is usually £10 + VAT

[sj_asc]

Re: Customs charges... for hop rubbers?

hahaha, £70 worth of hop rubbers?
I doubt the customs charges them selves wiuld be any more than £15, is just wether or not you get stung by the handling fees.

[Fizzy]

Re: Customs charges... for hop rubbers?

it made me laugh when I saw that there would be charges on hop rubbers.... Ludicrous.

It's not the item though, it's the value. Might well work out expensive too, if you have to pay Parcelforce's £13.50 handling fee (unless it's coming through Royal Mail?). However, if you pay the VAT owed they are supposed to release your parcel, and you can pay the 'handling fee' at a later date:
http://www.moneysupermarket.com/comm...px?PageIndex=3

[random-guy]

Re: Customs charges... for hop rubbers?

yeah about 15 maybe 20 quid, ive orded band merch from the us, value of some of the packages were about 35, got charged 11, when i order from hong kong, which i do quite alot, i always ask them to send it as a gift, ive orderd a vest from there, total value of 65 and didnt get charged anything, mags, other parts that were valued at like 30 - 40 each order, ddint get charged anything, everything has arrived through royal mail, only got charged customs on some packages form the us, others were sent as gifts and no charges

[Gaffa]

Re: Customs charges... for hop rubbers?

Interesting what you've said there Fizzy... this is somebody elses post on that website you linked me to...

I have recently received a letter from Parcelforce for payment of VAT and their Clearance Fee.

I got advice on this from Consumer Direct.

I rang the depot to say I would pay VAT, but not the clearance fee, they told me to ring another number. I rang that number who said that I had to pay the VAT and clearance fee, and then told me to ring the Managing Director's office.

Today I spoke to a woman in the MD's office who said that the full fee was payable, and that if I did not pay it the parcel would be returned to the seller. I told her that I would pay the VAT, and pointed out that it would be a criminal offence to not deliver my parcel. She finally agreed that the parcel would be sent to me on payment of VAT and they would invoice me for the clearance fee.

I repeatedly asked her where the right to charge the Clearance Fee arose from, we both agreed it was not contractual as their contract was with the sender (I suggested they pursue the sender for this fee), and if not contractual it must arise from statute. She told me she did not no where it arose from, but all postal delivery companies levied it and were entitled to. At the end of the converation she said it was levied under S.89 Postal Services Act 2000, which does allow postal service providers to charge for their service, but cannot surely be intended to include charging people with whom there is no contract and who have no prior knowledge that they are to be charged.

Oh, and just to add, I've been posted my letter, asking for £25 - £11 for the VAT, £13.50 for the handling fee which, according to the above, shouldn't be paid in legal terms.

[ThatblokewiththeScar.]

Re: Customs charges... for hop rubbers?

You have to keep the value of goods below £36 (it used to be £32) and it be marked as a gift. The last time it happend to me I asked TNT to bill me directly, they sent the goods and I ignored the bill, 18 month's and still nothing...

[Taylorb]

Re: Customs charges... for hop rubbers?

You have to keep the value of goods below £36 (it used to be £32) and it be marked as a gift. The last time it happend to me I asked TNT to bill me directly, they sent the goods and I ignored the bill, 18 month's and still nothing...

That's very interesting, could you please elaborate for me?

I assume you got a letter through the door from TNT, asking you to pay import charge, VAT and their handling fee? Or was the letter form HMRC? Could you please explain the process you went through.

thanks

[ThatblokewiththeScar.]

Re: Customs charges... for hop rubbers?

That's very interesting, could you please elaborate for me?

I assume you got a letter through the door from TNT, asking you to pay import charge, VAT and their handling fee? Or was the letter form HMRC? Could you please explain the process you went through.

thanks

I would first like to point out that incase you work for either TNT or HMRC that both my previous post and this one are completly fictious and are the imaginings of a disturbed mind.

That being the case then I shall avail you of the story of the TNT Bill.

As the story goes (apparently) a brave prince was sent a gift from a far away land, upon it's arriving on these shores the custom troll's did feel it wise to sit upon said box less a fine be paid. Not wanting to anger the trolls a number of gold peice's were sent and the trolls were happy. However the evil stable boy who was to deliver the box wanted many more gold coins and unjustly said he would keep the box untill gold filled his pockets. A bargain was struck and he agreed to send the box upon the wings of fairy's and a stork would deliver a magical parchment that would remove the gold from a secret hiding place. However the first parchment was forgot'n about and a second parchment never arrived, thus the brave prince continued about his business caring not for a forgot'n greedy stable boy...

[shooter88]

Re: Customs charges... for hop rubbers?

It will be more than £30, you can ring up and ask them anyway last time I bough something that worth $39 and they charged me £25....very rip off but I have no choice but to pay for it

[Taylorb]

Re: Customs charges... for hop rubbers?

I would first like to point out that incase you work for either TNT or HMRC that both my previous post and this one are completly fictious and are the imaginings of a disturbed mind.

That being the case then I shall avail you of the story of the TNT Bill.

As the story goes (apparently) a brave prince was sent a gift from a far away land, upon it's arriving on these shores the custom troll's did feel it wise to sit upon said box less a fine be paid. Not wanting to anger the trolls a number of gold peice's were sent and the trolls were happy. However the evil stable boy who was to deliver the box wanted many more gold coins and unjustly said he would keep the box untill gold filled his pockets. A bargain was struck and he agreed to send the box upon the wings of fairy's and a stork would deliver a magical parchment that would remove the gold from a secret hiding place. However the first parchment was forgot'n about and a second parchment never arrived, thus the brave prince continued about his business caring not for a forgot'n greedy stable boy...

I don't work in any sort of postal system so no connections whatsoever

That said, the above is priceless! :D

many thanks

[random-guy]

Re: Customs charges... for hop rubbers?

damn those trolls

[Panoptes]

Re: Customs charges... for hop rubbers?

The "handling charge" is illegal.

[Garf3r]

Re: Customs charges... for hop rubbers?

Official HM Customs Charge

I have been charged VAT and duty for goods bought over the Internet, why is this?

All goods imported into the UK from countries outside the European Union are subject to import duty and VAT at the rates applicable. However, import VAT is not payable on commercial consignments if the total value of the goods in the consignment does not exceed £18. This limit is raised to £36 for personal gifts between private individuals. If this tax was not applied, there would clearly be an unfair advantage to foreign businesses over UK trade.

With effect from 1 December 2008, customs duty will not be applied on goods with a value less than £105.

For further information see:

Shopping on the Internet

Notice 143 A guide for International post users

Notice 144 Trade imports by post: how to complete customs documents

What do I do if I think I have been overcharged customs duty on my parcels/goods?

Once you have confirmed that you are entitled to a refund (ie by checking the duty and VAT rates or available duty reliefs), your next action will depend on who delivered your parcels/goods, as follows:

For Parcelforce and Royal Mail deliveries you need to contact the customs office that dealt with your parcel so that they can advise you how to make your claim. Their contact details will be on the charge label attached to the parcel, along with the charge number. You do not have to take delivery in order to make your claim, in which case the Parcelforce or Royal Mail local delivery depot will be able to provide you with the customs office details and charge number information from the parcel.

For all other deliveries you need to complete a C285 (available from the NAS) and send this together with any supporting evidence to:

HM Revenue & Customs
National Repayments Unit
Priory Court
St Johns Road
Dover
CT17 9SH

Tel: 01304 664482

Hope this helps?

[Caveira]

Re: Customs charges... for hop rubbers?

From the site quoted above:

3.5 Why do I have to pay a handling fee to Royal Mail?

If customs charges are payable upon importation, Royal Mail charge a handling fee to cover the costs for carrying out customs procedures paying any customs duties or VAT due and collecting it from you. If customs examination is required, or if information is missing from the declaration, Royal Mail open, repack and reseal the package. Royal Mail fees are itemised separately on the charge label and are collected at the same time as customs charges. As they are completely separate from any customs charges, any queries about them should be raised with Royal Mail or Parcelforce Worldwide as appropriate.

I really can't see the inland revenue saying that charges can be made by the carrier, if they are actually illegal. Having said that, I'll still argue the toss if I get charged them in the future.