Rip off England: Import duties and fees
Discussion
jaybkay said:
It will be interesting to see what reasoning Fedex will give as to why you have to pay, .
The reasoning is the law. They have had to pay UK customs in order to get the parcel to you and fulfill their contract to deliver the item as they were paid to do. All you are doing is repaying them the money they have paid on your behalf.do you seriously think a world wide company would pay out money if they did not have the law on their side ? I could be wong but I recon FEDEX has a larger legal department than you do
Pesty said:
jaybkay said:
It will be interesting to see what reasoning Fedex will give as to why you have to pay, .
The reasoning is the law. They have had to pay UK customs in order to get the parcel to you and fulfill their contract to deliver the item as they were paid to do. All you are doing is repaying them the money they have paid on your behalf.do you seriously think a world wide company would pay out money if they did not have the law on their side ? I could be wong but I recon FEDEX has a larger legal department than you do
It will all be in the small print of the paperwork/delivery docket, but you probably will need a magnifying glass.................................
tubbystu said:
Pesty said:
jaybkay said:
It will be interesting to see what reasoning Fedex will give as to why you have to pay, .
The reasoning is the law. They have had to pay UK customs in order to get the parcel to you and fulfill their contract to deliver the item as they were paid to do. All you are doing is repaying them the money they have paid on your behalf.do you seriously think a world wide company would pay out money if they did not have the law on their side ? I could be wong but I recon FEDEX has a larger legal department than you do
It will all be in the small print of the paperwork/delivery docket, but you probably will need a magnifying glass.................................
jaybkay said:
I would be tempted not to pay Fedex - at the moment. They appear to have made a mistake by delivering the goods without collecting any taxes, so they should live with it. Imagine buying something in a shop and them coming to collect the VAT a month later - don't think so.
As far as I am aware, the only company who insist on payment upfront before receipt of the parcel is the Royal Mail. All of the others that I have dealt with typically invoice about a month later.King Herald said:
tubbystu said:
Pesty said:
jaybkay said:
It will be interesting to see what reasoning Fedex will give as to why you have to pay, .
The reasoning is the law. They have had to pay UK customs in order to get the parcel to you and fulfill their contract to deliver the item as they were paid to do. All you are doing is repaying them the money they have paid on your behalf.do you seriously think a world wide company would pay out money if they did not have the law on their side ? I could be wong but I recon FEDEX has a larger legal department than you do
It will all be in the small print of the paperwork/delivery docket, but you probably will need a magnifying glass.................................
jaybkay said:
Another tip for importing goods is to get them sent to a VAT registered company. The amount on the single cheque for duties, fees, VAT etc could end up on a VAT reclaim form and all get reclaimed. In the extremely unlikely event a VAT inspection picks it up it will look like an administration mistake without penalties.
Hmmm.... I think that's called criminal fraud and rather unwise advice, I would say.That it it a rip off is obvious.
But nothing to the rip of you get in the high street every day.
The wife's christmas pressie.
Swararovski cristal. Made in Austria. Shipped to the USA. Bought on Ebay for about £400 (seller must have been charged about £30 by paypal).
Repacked and shipped to England by the seller.
£87 total customs fees. So total cost to me £487
Price in a UK Swarovski shop? £535
Now if this isn't rip off Britain, How can it get shipped all the way from Austria to the USA, then back to here. Customs paid in the US. All the charges to ship back to europe where it came from in the first place.
It just shows how much is put on to every single thing we buy in rip off Britain
But nothing to the rip of you get in the high street every day.
The wife's christmas pressie.
Swararovski cristal. Made in Austria. Shipped to the USA. Bought on Ebay for about £400 (seller must have been charged about £30 by paypal).
Repacked and shipped to England by the seller.
£87 total customs fees. So total cost to me £487
Price in a UK Swarovski shop? £535
Now if this isn't rip off Britain, How can it get shipped all the way from Austria to the USA, then back to here. Customs paid in the US. All the charges to ship back to europe where it came from in the first place.
It just shows how much is put on to every single thing we buy in rip off Britain
siscar said:
It's a fact of life pretty much everywhere in the world, if you think it is a rip off here try importing something valuable like a car into many countries around the world and see what duties you have to pay.
110% VED
10% Port Handling Fees
7%GST applied OMV+VED+PHF
all applied to the OMV (origional Market Value) of the car out here.
Let's get some things straight. If Fedex (or anyone else) turns up at your door with some imported goods, they don't ask for any money, so you sign for them in good faith. The person receiving and signing for the goods is not registered for VAT - so when a demand for payment arrives a month later.........why should he have to pay? In this case it appears that if the costs were stated at the time the goods would not have been accepted. Then what happens? What would Fedex do? Send them back? Make you pay? Take you to court?
Getting an individual to sign for goods then try and charge extra later on looks like a scam to me, what incentive do Fedex have for minimising "additional" charges. For a company that knows about VAT and reclaiming etc etc these sorts of things don't matter, it's all part of running a business. In this case the goods were unsolicited (ie a gift), if the OP feels like doing anything I would suggest writing to Fedex and tell them to come and collect the parcel, but wait a month or two.
Imagine going into shop to buy a new suite - you agree the price...then there is an extra 4% because you want to pay with a credit card, and a credit card processing fee, and don't forget the VAT to be added on, and of course a fee for adding it on. Not forgetting a charge for printing a receipt. With you told about all these extras a month later.
Fedex delivered a parcel without making it clear there were additional costs - I would do precisely nothing.
Getting an individual to sign for goods then try and charge extra later on looks like a scam to me, what incentive do Fedex have for minimising "additional" charges. For a company that knows about VAT and reclaiming etc etc these sorts of things don't matter, it's all part of running a business. In this case the goods were unsolicited (ie a gift), if the OP feels like doing anything I would suggest writing to Fedex and tell them to come and collect the parcel, but wait a month or two.
Imagine going into shop to buy a new suite - you agree the price...then there is an extra 4% because you want to pay with a credit card, and a credit card processing fee, and don't forget the VAT to be added on, and of course a fee for adding it on. Not forgetting a charge for printing a receipt. With you told about all these extras a month later.
Fedex delivered a parcel without making it clear there were additional costs - I would do precisely nothing.
The person receiving goods from abroad is liable for duties and taxes. It's the law. It may not seem fair but it's the only way it can work.
Fedex are in the middle here, all they have done is what was asked of them and deliver something. So you could have refused to accept the parcel, you'd still have been liable for the duties and the taxes, if you don't pay them who does? Fedex? For simply doing what was asked of them and delivering the parcel?
If you think the duty is calculated wrongly you can appeal to customs, but the person you should have a gripe with is the person who sent you this stuff, not the people in the middle who are just doing what was asked of them.
Fedex are in the middle here, all they have done is what was asked of them and deliver something. So you could have refused to accept the parcel, you'd still have been liable for the duties and the taxes, if you don't pay them who does? Fedex? For simply doing what was asked of them and delivering the parcel?
If you think the duty is calculated wrongly you can appeal to customs, but the person you should have a gripe with is the person who sent you this stuff, not the people in the middle who are just doing what was asked of them.
siscar said:
The person receiving goods from abroad is liable for duties and taxes. It's the law. It may not seem fair but it's the only way it can work.
Fedex are in the middle here, all they have done is what was asked of them and deliver something. So you could have refused to accept the parcel, you'd still have been liable for the duties and the taxes, if you don't pay them who does?
The sender probably when Fedex return the package to them with return freight and 5hit loads of extra admin fees added.Fedex are in the middle here, all they have done is what was asked of them and deliver something. So you could have refused to accept the parcel, you'd still have been liable for the duties and the taxes, if you don't pay them who does?
siscar said:
If you think the duty is calculated wrongly you can appeal to customs, but the person you should have a gripe with is the person who sent you this stuff, not the people in the middle who are just doing what was asked of them.
I've never bothered to ask, but I am sure Fedex and the like will give an estimate of possible charges before commiting to shipment - the sender enters into a contract that either allows charges to be made back to them or that the recipient will pay. The OP's sister as sender entered into a contract with liability on behalf of the OP as receipient. tubbystu said:
siscar said:
The person receiving goods from abroad is liable for duties and taxes. It's the law. It may not seem fair but it's the only way it can work.
Fedex are in the middle here, all they have done is what was asked of them and deliver something. So you could have refused to accept the parcel, you'd still have been liable for the duties and the taxes, if you don't pay them who does?
The sender probably when Fedex return the package to them with return freight and 5hit loads of extra admin fees added.Fedex are in the middle here, all they have done is what was asked of them and deliver something. So you could have refused to accept the parcel, you'd still have been liable for the duties and the taxes, if you don't pay them who does?
siscar said:
If you think the duty is calculated wrongly you can appeal to customs, but the person you should have a gripe with is the person who sent you this stuff, not the people in the middle who are just doing what was asked of them.
I've never bothered to ask, but I am sure Fedex and the like will give an estimate of possible charges before commiting to shipment - the sender enters into a contract that either allows charges to be made back to them or that the recipient will pay. The OP's sister as sender entered into a contract with liability on behalf of the OP as receipient. Oh well....
At least if I import anything myself I will know to keep a tube of KY jelly close to hand, ready for the financial reaming I'll probably get from customs/excise/Fedex.
King Herald said:
tubbystu said:
siscar said:
The person receiving goods from abroad is liable for duties and taxes. It's the law. It may not seem fair but it's the only way it can work.
Fedex are in the middle here, all they have done is what was asked of them and deliver something. So you could have refused to accept the parcel, you'd still have been liable for the duties and the taxes, if you don't pay them who does?
The sender probably when Fedex return the package to them with return freight and 5hit loads of extra admin fees added.Fedex are in the middle here, all they have done is what was asked of them and deliver something. So you could have refused to accept the parcel, you'd still have been liable for the duties and the taxes, if you don't pay them who does?
siscar said:
If you think the duty is calculated wrongly you can appeal to customs, but the person you should have a gripe with is the person who sent you this stuff, not the people in the middle who are just doing what was asked of them.
I've never bothered to ask, but I am sure Fedex and the like will give an estimate of possible charges before commiting to shipment - the sender enters into a contract that either allows charges to be made back to them or that the recipient will pay. The OP's sister as sender entered into a contract with liability on behalf of the OP as receipient. Oh well....
At least if I import anything myself I will know to keep a tube of KY jelly close to hand, ready for the financial reaming I'll probably get from customs/excise/Fedex.
IMHO I would suggest that domestic stuff is better sent via USPS and Parcel Farce as this can be regarded as domestic. Couriers are regarded as far more likely to be for commercial purposes and nearly everything they carry will attract the attentions of customs etc. If buying on-line from a trader then duties and taxes are part and parcel of the purchase and if you don't get charged it should be a bonus.
A top tip - if the sender is less than careful when completing the green self-adhesive US declaration of value and were to sloppily put a value of $200 with the $2 in the dollars box and the 00 in the cents box this can be "often" perceived as a value of $2.00 by the handlers - its worked for me on several occasions. It works better with even higher figures, giving values of $25 for $2,500 etc.
tubbystu said:
King Herald said:
tubbystu said:
siscar said:
The person receiving goods from abroad is liable for duties and taxes. It's the law. It may not seem fair but it's the only way it can work.
Fedex are in the middle here, all they have done is what was asked of them and deliver something. So you could have refused to accept the parcel, you'd still have been liable for the duties and the taxes, if you don't pay them who does?
The sender probably when Fedex return the package to them with return freight and 5hit loads of extra admin fees added.Fedex are in the middle here, all they have done is what was asked of them and deliver something. So you could have refused to accept the parcel, you'd still have been liable for the duties and the taxes, if you don't pay them who does?
siscar said:
If you think the duty is calculated wrongly you can appeal to customs, but the person you should have a gripe with is the person who sent you this stuff, not the people in the middle who are just doing what was asked of them.
I've never bothered to ask, but I am sure Fedex and the like will give an estimate of possible charges before commiting to shipment - the sender enters into a contract that either allows charges to be made back to them or that the recipient will pay. The OP's sister as sender entered into a contract with liability on behalf of the OP as receipient. Oh well....
At least if I import anything myself I will know to keep a tube of KY jelly close to hand, ready for the financial reaming I'll probably get from customs/excise/Fedex.
IMHO I would suggest that domestic stuff is better sent via USPS and Parcel Farce as this can be regarded as domestic. Couriers are regarded as far more likely to be for commercial purposes and nearly everything they carry will attract the attentions of customs etc. If buying on-line from a trader then duties and taxes are part and parcel of the purchase and if you don't get charged it should be a bonus.
A top tip - if the sender is less than careful when completing the green self-adhesive US declaration of value and were to sloppily put a value of $200 with the $2 in the dollars box and the 00 in the cents box this can be "often" perceived as a value of $2.00 by the handlers - its worked for me on several occasions. It works better with even higher figures, giving values of $25 for $2,500 etc.
peterguk said:
branflakes said:
Don't pay Fedex!
Stupid advice! They have paid duty and VAT to Customs & Excise on the recipient's behalf and have every right to recover it!Hopefully they will sue.
Firstly,the shipping cost added to value of goods.
Then duty is applied to both.
Then VAT is applied to all three.
UK Customs calculate the amounts of duty and VAT as per Gordies backside.
Uncle Fester said:
That it it a rip off is obvious.
But nothing to the rip of you get in the high street every day.
The wife's christmas pressie.
Swararovski cristal. Made in Austria. Shipped to the USA. Bought on Ebay for about £400 (seller must have been charged about £30 by paypal).
Repacked and shipped to England by the seller.
£87 total customs fees. So total cost to me £487
Price in a UK Swarovski shop? £535
Now if this isn't rip off Britain, How can it get shipped all the way from Austria to the USA, then back to here. Customs paid in the US. All the charges to ship back to europe where it came from in the first place.
It just shows how much is put on to every single thing we buy in rip off Britain
I see your example and note what you are saying but when it comes to jewellery especially with a sticker price over £50 (or less sometimes) the price is almost always negotiable, by a surprisingly vast amount sometimes.But nothing to the rip of you get in the high street every day.
The wife's christmas pressie.
Swararovski cristal. Made in Austria. Shipped to the USA. Bought on Ebay for about £400 (seller must have been charged about £30 by paypal).
Repacked and shipped to England by the seller.
£87 total customs fees. So total cost to me £487
Price in a UK Swarovski shop? £535
Now if this isn't rip off Britain, How can it get shipped all the way from Austria to the USA, then back to here. Customs paid in the US. All the charges to ship back to europe where it came from in the first place.
It just shows how much is put on to every single thing we buy in rip off Britain
Parrot of Doom said:
I recently imported an item marked as worth $100 by the seller.
FedEx sent me a bill for VAT + admin, about £23. £17 or so of that £23 is VAT.
So thats £17 of VAT on a $100 item.
Now is it me, or is that VAT amount mysteriously double what it should be?
But do not forget the VAT is on everything - value, shipping, duty, the lot - but it could be an admin error not inputing the $ value as $, be worth a telephone call to Fedex certainly. FedEx sent me a bill for VAT + admin, about £23. £17 or so of that £23 is VAT.
So thats £17 of VAT on a $100 item.
Now is it me, or is that VAT amount mysteriously double what it should be?
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