Incorrect import duties and tax

[Mikey G]

I ordered an electronic part from the USA, its a diagnostic dongle for my car. It was very quickly despatched and the next day the courier text me to inform me of the duty and tax that is required to be paid, fairs fair, I knew it was coming. But I questioned the amount as it didnt add up to what I expected as it was approx £50-£60 more than I thought. I contacted the courier and they said they would send out the bill on paper for me to digest. Anyway the item was delivered even though I hadnt paid the bill, this give me a chance to investigate further.
Now the sender had supplied an incorrect HS code on the paperwork, not only was it incorrect it was non existent. The courier on the other hand noticed this and chose a number of there own close to the original number, A little digging and I found a HS code more relevant to the item in question. This also added up to a potential slip of the keyboard when the sender entered the code as it was a simple swap of 2 numbers. This also means I would only have to pay the VAT and not the extra 14% of duty from the incorrect code, and ties with a figure I was expecting to pay having ordered such goods before.
So, first thing contact sender, no response.. escalate it to higher up in company, no response... So in the meantime I get a demand again from courier, I have already opened and used parcel and it was signed for by a neighbour so rejection would have been difficult.
I contact courier, explain it, he seems to see the sense and has sympathy, informs me to contact xyz department and they'll sort it, great.
I did, they acknowledge receipt, expect reply in 10 days, over 3 weeks later I get the response:-

Dear Mikey G

Thank you for your enquiry regarding Invoice 123456789. Please accept our apologies for the delayed response.

We would advise that you speak to the tariff classification department at HMRC to obtain the full commodity code as 1234 is insufficient. Once received, we will review for amendment.

Please be aware that claims for non-xyz caused clearance errors will incur an administration fee of £53 + VAT per shipment.

We hope this answers your query and look forward to hearing from you shortly. Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us direct.

---

I will not bore you with my response informing them of the error of their ways and/or the system, but they are going to charge me £53+VAT to eventually reduce the bill by £50, I may as well pay the incorrect duty or I face the sheriffs knocking my door being all intimidating and threatening to confiscate my telly until I pay.....

I dont know what to do now.. Anyone had similar and can offer advice?

Cheers

[MrJuice]

Cut your losses and live happily ever after. The aggro involved in getting your £50 back is disproportionately high

[essayer]

I'd pay it and apply directly to HMRC for the refund. I think you need to fill out a form C285PI

[Mikey G]

Thats my thinking at the moment, I dont want to give them the pleasure of the fee, I would be stupid to pay more to pay less..

There is a way of contesting the duty at HMRC, I cannot see a fee this way, has anyone been succesful?
Its not about the money anymore, I feel determined to get it right out of principle, it could have been something much more expensive resulting in a £500 mistake not 50 quid.

[The Moose]

As has been said, pay it as it stands and then claim it back from HMRC with the appropriate form. Fairly straight forward to do.

[TooMany2cvs]

Mikey G said:

Please be aware that claims for non-xyz caused clearance errors will incur an administration fee of £53 + VAT per shipment.

I will not bore you with my response informing them of the error of their ways and/or the system, but they are going to charge me £53+VAT to eventually reduce the bill by £50, I may as well pay the incorrect duty or I face the sheriffs knocking my door being all intimidating and threatening to confiscate my telly until I pay.....

I dont know what to do now.. Anyone had similar and can offer advice?

Seems like you've got two choices.

Shrug and leave it there.
Pay the fee, get the refund, then ask the supplier - whose error it was - to refund you the fee.

The supplier made the error, not the customs handler, after all. Duty is your responsibility, but if their error cost you more, then that's their problem. Whether they'll see it like that, and what you can do about it if they don't - that's all a whole other question...

[essayer]

Whatever happens you're on the hook for their clearance fee, which presumably is £10/20 or so. That's just a necessary cost of importing stuff by airmail from outside the EU; in theory you could have handled all the customs clearance etc yourself.
So the £50 becomes £30 which for the price of a stamp you could probably reclaim a portion of from HMRC by filling out the C285 and scanning in the clearance documentation.