Importing spare parts
Discussion
I have a Lincoln Navigator as a family vehicle and it's radiator started leaking.
Back in February, I contacted a fella from the midlands and arranged to buy a radiator from him, brand new for £230.
The radiator was delivered in just two day's which I thought was fantastic service considering it had been sent from the states direct. The radiator was fitted and I thought that was the end of it.
Just had a bill from DHL today for payment of VAT on the import - another £29 and a full two months after the radiator was delivered.
I realise that VAT has to be paid on imports, but is it my bill as the recipient or the midlands fella as I ordered it from him without him making me aware where it was coming from.
If it's my responsibility, then this means the midlands fella has made £60 for making a phone call to the states, which is a bit annoying but what is more annoying is that the retail price of this rad in the states is only £84.
Anyway, now that I have the shipping addresses, I can order parts direct from the supplier in the states and cut this middleman out, so should save me some money in the future, but what is your opinion on my VAT bill?
Back in February, I contacted a fella from the midlands and arranged to buy a radiator from him, brand new for £230.
The radiator was delivered in just two day's which I thought was fantastic service considering it had been sent from the states direct. The radiator was fitted and I thought that was the end of it.
Just had a bill from DHL today for payment of VAT on the import - another £29 and a full two months after the radiator was delivered.
I realise that VAT has to be paid on imports, but is it my bill as the recipient or the midlands fella as I ordered it from him without him making me aware where it was coming from.
If it's my responsibility, then this means the midlands fella has made £60 for making a phone call to the states, which is a bit annoying but what is more annoying is that the retail price of this rad in the states is only £84.
Anyway, now that I have the shipping addresses, I can order parts direct from the supplier in the states and cut this middleman out, so should save me some money in the future, but what is your opinion on my VAT bill?
Hi! Regarding your customs charge from DHL my advice is to not bother with it.I imported a Flip down monitor for my friend from Japan and six weeks later got a bill from DHL for £27.The item had already cleared customs so you are not obligated to pay any customs or clearance fee.The correct practice which I have experianced in the past is to withold the item and send you an Invoice for the charge/clearance fee before the item is released.They are just trying it on I didnt pay my last one and they sent about 5 letters threatening baliffs and court action etc,I ignored them all and never heard from them again.At the end of the day they are not going to make any great efforts to recover £27 its not worth their while.Happy cooling!
Do not ignore it
From my experience if you ignore it they will pass the matter to their solicitors and they will enfore collection via court and a collection agency if required. You'll get a reminder a month after the original invoice then they will inform you they have passed the matter to their solicitors. Obviously if it goes to court they will charge you the fees/interest on top of the original invoive amount.
The guy you contacted would have purchased it direct from his contacts in the US, you can get it cheaper yourself but will prolly end up paying higher price in the end as he'll almost certainly get discounts for ordering a certain amount plus get the same kind of discount of shipping. Its standard procedure for DHL/any courier to bill the end user for customs charges
From my experience if you ignore it they will pass the matter to their solicitors and they will enfore collection via court and a collection agency if required. You'll get a reminder a month after the original invoice then they will inform you they have passed the matter to their solicitors. Obviously if it goes to court they will charge you the fees/interest on top of the original invoive amount.
The guy you contacted would have purchased it direct from his contacts in the US, you can get it cheaper yourself but will prolly end up paying higher price in the end as he'll almost certainly get discounts for ordering a certain amount plus get the same kind of discount of shipping. Its standard procedure for DHL/any courier to bill the end user for customs charges
byff said:
I have a Lincoln Navigator as a family vehicle and it's radiator started leaking.
Back in February, I contacted a fella from the midlands and arranged to buy a radiator from him, brand new for £230.
The radiator was delivered in just two day's which I thought was fantastic service considering it had been sent from the states direct. The radiator was fitted and I thought that was the end of it.
Just had a bill from DHL today for payment of VAT on the import - another £29 and a full two months after the radiator was delivered.
I realise that VAT has to be paid on imports, but is it my bill as the recipient or the midlands fella as I ordered it from him without him making me aware where it was coming from.
If it's my responsibility, then this means the midlands fella has made £60 for making a phone call to the states, which is a bit annoying but what is more annoying is that the retail price of this rad in the states is only £84.
Anyway, now that I have the shipping addresses, I can order parts direct from the supplier in the states and cut this middleman out, so should save me some money in the future, but what is your opinion on my VAT bill?
Back in February, I contacted a fella from the midlands and arranged to buy a radiator from him, brand new for £230.
The radiator was delivered in just two day's which I thought was fantastic service considering it had been sent from the states direct. The radiator was fitted and I thought that was the end of it.
Just had a bill from DHL today for payment of VAT on the import - another £29 and a full two months after the radiator was delivered.
I realise that VAT has to be paid on imports, but is it my bill as the recipient or the midlands fella as I ordered it from him without him making me aware where it was coming from.
If it's my responsibility, then this means the midlands fella has made £60 for making a phone call to the states, which is a bit annoying but what is more annoying is that the retail price of this rad in the states is only £84.
Anyway, now that I have the shipping addresses, I can order parts direct from the supplier in the states and cut this middleman out, so should save me some money in the future, but what is your opinion on my VAT bill?
It is the supplier's bill. Explain the situation to DHL and I am sure they will go back to the person who organised the shipment. If the supplier asked you for the price of the radiator inclusive of VAT then it is for him to pay it and reclaim it.
If you would like to talk it through, mail me or call me steve@moving-parts.com
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