Fed-Ex admin charge, pay up or do one
Discussion
FedEx need to up their game - imposing a charge after the event is not very clever.
I wouldn't pay either - threats of "debt collectors" are blackmail.
At the very least make sure FedEx incur a lot of time on this matter. I would write to them saying the debt is denied - and please provide evidence where you were informed about the 12.50 amount - perhaps they have some.
No wonder scams work so well, "it was only a few pounds..."
There was a court case a while ago, against Royal Mail I think, which I think resulted in the charge being unenforceable unless the courier first gave you the opportunity to settle the tax/vat due to HMRC direct.
Having said that, I wouldn't object to paying the courier £12.50 to avoid the aggravation of having to deal with HMRC personally.
Having said that, I wouldn't object to paying the courier £12.50 to avoid the aggravation of having to deal with HMRC personally.
InitialDave said:
ShredderXLE said:
No, have ordered quite a lot of parts from abroad but its the first time from Fedex. Previously Ive had cards left to pay the duty before they deliver the item or ive gone to the depot and paid the duty at the counter.
Were you also charged an admin fee on those deliveries? I would expect you were.
Fedex usually deal with businesses and their priority is their reputation for getting stuff from one side of the world to the other quickly.
Basically they're not setup for messers questioning whether they should pay them for the job they've done for them because 99.9% of their customers accept that getting stuff swiftly and effortlessly from A to B globally has a cost attached.
Basically they're not setup for messers questioning whether they should pay them for the job they've done for them because 99.9% of their customers accept that getting stuff swiftly and effortlessly from A to B globally has a cost attached.
GasEngineer said:
Parcelforce for example charge £12.00. What couriers delivered your other part OP?
Some were via Royalmail, have had Parcelforce previously and there used to be some outfit called UKMail that I doont think exist anymore (as they were utterly terrible) It used to be a card or letter was sent and then for me to pay the tax and either collect the item or they would then arrange the delivery.Mandat said:
I'm surprised that Fed-Ex delivered the parcel before collecting payment, as they are now having to chase the debt, with the OP having little motivation to pay.
I thought that all couriers required payment up front before delivery to avoid such a situation.
^^^^This is what normally happens.I thought that all couriers required payment up front before delivery to avoid such a situation.
ShredderXLE said:
Noted, and agreed in the grand scheme of things its a really piddly amount. What I feel is a bit off hand in this situation and what im curious about is if hypothetically the amount was substantial. Can any company be in a position where they can charge whatever fees they like to you and the implication is that I am legally obliged to pay it despite having no contract in place with them personally - the terms and conditions of the delivery were accepted by the seller. Where in previous instances like you mention above, I would have been able to refuse to accept the delivery if I had not wanted to accept their admin charges.
I suppose it was lucky it wasnt bin collection day as it would be in a recycling centre by now. Probably on fire.
Pretty much every auction site seller and most proper shops have a caveat saying they are not responsible for any import duties or fees when your item is delivered. Even many private sellers have a similar statement at the bottom of their listings.I suppose it was lucky it wasnt bin collection day as it would be in a recycling centre by now. Probably on fire.
As for admin fees they've been around for many years, some couriers just lump it in with the total on the invoice, some separate it out so you can see it.
ShredderXLE said:
GasEngineer said:
Parcelforce for example charge £12.00. What couriers delivered your other part OP?
Some were via Royalmail, have had Parcelforce previously and there used to be some outfit called UKMail that I doont think exist anymore (as they were utterly terrible) It used to be a card or letter was sent and then for me to pay the tax and either collect the item or they would then arrange the delivery.ShredderXLE said:
Can any company be in a position where they can charge whatever fees they like
No, they can only charge reasonable fees. £12.50 to pay the VAT and duty up front, and do all the paperwork, is well within reasonable.I would be astounded if there really was nothing in the seller's T&cs about you being responsible for all import costs.
What's happened is entirely normal, honest.
ShredderXLE said:
No, have ordered quite a lot of parts from abroad but its the first time from Fedex. Previously Ive had cards left to pay the duty before they deliver the item or ive gone to the depot and paid the duty at the counter.
So every company is going to charge you a admin fee the difference being Fedex have decided to get your item to you as quick as possible by collecting the fee after delivery rather than pre dely.Pretty much every other company have chosen to get your money first before delivering your goods as it avoids this situation .
I thought all logistics companies charged an admin fee for this and that £12-ish is fairly typical. I've not used FedEx so can't comment on how well or otherwise they make this known but the same order with pretty much any logistics outfit would have had the same sort of admin fee.
You didn't know about it and there's no shame in that but they are not ripping you off. You should take the advice offered here and pay it, then factor it into the overall price should you order something from overseas in future. The alternative is just not worth the grief over a sum of £12.50.
You didn't know about it and there's no shame in that but they are not ripping you off. You should take the advice offered here and pay it, then factor it into the overall price should you order something from overseas in future. The alternative is just not worth the grief over a sum of £12.50.
You're absolutely right. £12 today, £20 next month, £120 next year. The reason companies do this is because of the real melts on this thread who just cough up a random fee for a contract they never agreed to.
Tell them to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine. If they sue they will lose.
Tell them to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine. If they sue they will lose.
fatjon said:
You're absolutely right. £12 today, £20 next month, £120 next year. The reason companies do this is because of the real melts on this thread who just cough up a random fee for a contract they never agreed to.
Tell them to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine. If they sue they will lose.
It doesn't go up though as you state , it's a industry standard fee of around 12 quid .Tell them to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine. If they sue they will lose.
No different to any other company except they get you to pay up pre delivery which Fedex will end up doing to avoid non payment.
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