Parcels from USA to UK

[Joeguard1990]

Hi All,

I'm currently in a dispute with a fellow eBayer in regards to a parcel not being received from the US. He is of course addmament that he sent it but can't provide me with the tracking number yet...
Ebay recommends that the parcel could potentially be held at customs and I should check with any issues there first before taking it further.
Does anyone know or have any info on how I would go about this? I am presuming I would need a tracking number first to find out which airport it's at? Or would they contact me to let me know if there were any issues?
any info would be much appreciated.

Many Thanks

[Greengecko]

What is the value of the item? If VAT is to be paid (if the item was declared over £32 I believe), then it is possible to contact HMRC who will simply look up your address and be able to tell you if any VAT has been paid to them on your behalf for the import (or if any is due).

[egor110]

What is the item?

Could be something interesting that would be stopped at customs, you really need the tracking number and the company he used to post the parcel over here otherwise how are they going to identify your parcel.

[TooMany2cvs]

Joeguard1990 said:

He is of course addmament that he sent it but can't provide me with the tracking number yet...

"yet"?

If he sent it via a tracked method, then he'd have had the number at the time of sending.

Did you pay for it to be sent via a tracked method?

[EskimoArapaho]

This sort of thing can happen. I've had items get returned to senders in the USA after I (supposedly) ignored the letter from the Post Office telling me to pay the VAT on it. I never received that letter from the PO. Just one of those things, because it's worked smoothly before.

[Joeguard1990]

TooMany2cvs said:

"yet"?

If he sent it via a tracked method, then he'd have had the number at the time of sending.

Did you pay for it to be sent via a tracked method?

sorry by yet I mean I have tried asking him for it but so far no reply. Yes it was stated in the ad that it would be delivered via tracked delivery.
Its a pair of expensive sneakers, sorry trainers £125.00

I am a sneakerhead as well as a pistonhead haha.

So you're saying to contact HMRC and check? It's just I remember years ago I did the same thing and the postman asked me to pay on the door what was owed when he delivered it. Not sure if things have changed since then. That was about 7-8 years ago. You never know though, maybe he just hasn't sent it and it's a scam! I was just more interested in the whole customs information.

Thanks

[Greengecko]

Joeguard1990 said:

sorry by yet I mean I have tried asking him for it but so far no reply. Yes it was stated in the ad that it would be delivered via tracked delivery.
Its a pair of expensive sneakers, sorry trainers £125.00

I am a sneakerhead as well as a pistonhead haha.

So you're saying to contact HMRC and check? It's just I remember years ago I did the same thing and the postman asked me to pay on the door what was owed when he delivered it. Not sure if things have changed since then. That was about 7-8 years ago. You never know though, maybe he just hasn't sent it and it's a scam! I was just more interested in the whole customs information.

Thanks

Indeed you will be asked to pay the VAT/Duty due, plus an admin fee for whomever the parcel is being delivered by. However, HMRC will have a record of the import to your address, along with any VAT due, regardless of who my be delivering it.

[shep1001]

File a claim with PAYPAL, unless they (seller) provide tracking details for the item you are almost guaranteed your money back if it does not arrive. If they provide tracking details, then you can check the couriers website to see where the parcel is and if its being held pending customs clearance awaiting you to pay the duty. The courtiers normally write to you (Parcel farce do this) telling you whats owed and where to pay which adds a few days on to when you would expect to receive the item.

[Joeguard1990]

Thanks for the response guys!

[camelot1971]

If they used either FedEx or UPS to ship overseas you would have a tracking number for sure. If they use USPS (and they probably did as its cheaper), there's a good chance there is no tracking number, and therefore no proof they sent it. It is perfectly reasonable the trainers are held up in customs, especially if they have declared the true value, as there will be 8% duty and 20% VAT to pay

[Who me ?]

And ,although it might be OT, it's worth knowing about. I've had e mails on various accounts from several courier services telling me that I have a parcel which they have failed to deliver for various reasons and asking me to open the attachment for further info . On some occasions, these have been flagged as viral by Avast. So any e mails looking USish - treat with caution .

[Red Devil]

I had a rash of these last month, purportedly from Amazon. Given that I haven't bought anything from that source for well over two years it was obviously well dodgy.

A couple today from random names I've never heard of. One telling me my 'payment' was successful, the other it wasn't. Both with attachments which is another obvious clue to delete them immediately. I can only assume that it is targeting people who just open every e-mail they receive without a moment's thought.

[Cerberus90]

I just recently had two things from USA.

First one came through in a week, second one took 2-3 weeks because it got stopped by customs, took them ages to send me the letter telling me I had to pay them more.

[tbc]

Open a case let eBay do the dirty work and you'll get your postage back and item cost back in a week.

Anyone that sends anything without signed for or tracked is a Grade A idiot

[eps]

What were the P&P terms you agreed or offered and you effectively accepted at the time?

[KM666]

When I used to order stuff in from the USA most of the websites I ordered from had the option to send it as a 'gift'. As I didnt have a debit/credit card and the billing details were different from the shipping this box was automatically ticked and everything got here uninterrupted.

When I did get my own debit card and started ordering for myself I suddenly found that HMRC wanted a slice of my action. Then the royal mail had the bright idea to leave the duty paid goods in the rubbish cupboard on bin day.

It was clothing. Dr Jays and retailers like that.

[tbc]

KM666 said:

When I used to order stuff in from the USA most of the websites I ordered from had the option to send it as a 'gift'. As I didnt have a debit/credit card and the billing details were different from the shipping this box was automatically ticked and everything got here uninterrupted.

When I did get my own debit card and started ordering for myself I suddenly found that HMRC wanted a slice of my action. Then the royal mail had the bright idea to leave the duty paid goods in the rubbish cupboard on bin day.

It was clothing. Dr Jays and retailers like that.

I bought some tiny parts from Thailand at a cost of 4 dollars. marked as $10 total including postage on the envelope and clearly ticked GIFT.

Item arrived then a month later i get a nice letter from FEDEX demanding £16.68 in duty and handling with the threat of court action and CCJ if i didn't pay up. Then a week later i get a red letter from AccountControl the Fedex debt agency.

I've told them if they want to take me to court over $4 or £2.30 then i'll gladly turn up and waste their time and they can pay for my day off work.

It's HMRC that stick a charge on anything and then have the delivery companies do the dirty work.

I've bought £100-150 items marked gift and never been charged but it's a bit of a lottery

Edited by tbc on Wednesday 16th April 13:47

[Stoofa]

There seems to be this idea that the word "gift" suddenly makes parcels from abroad invisible.
Doesn't work that way...