Import customs charges - Should I pay?

[sidekickdmr]

Morning,

I’m always buying stuff online, and never really have any issues, however I needed something a little more specialist and the only item I could find was on ebay (English ebay) but based in Tampa, Florida. If there was an English seller I would have used them, but there wasn’t.

Postage was $85, and I needed 2 items from them, this means ebay would have charged me double postage, so I went on their website (which they ask you to look at in the ebay listing) and ordered both items directly with them, as postage was only $85.

Nowhere on the ordering, or payment pages did it mention import tax etc, but the website was set up to accept English addresses.

Today I have got a letter from parcel force saying that I owe £96 Customs duty and import VAT.

Having never really purchased anything from outside the UK before I wasn’t even aware this was a thing, I would understand booze or cigarettes, but something for home DIY.

Is this something you would expect the seller to pay, or is it a case of I should have known and now I have to pay myself?

Thanks

[sidekickdmr]

Apart from a nasty suprise letter like the one I got today, how was I supposed to know I would be £100 lighter?

Surely if someone is selling something on ebay for X, X is what you pay, if they are putting a listing on english ebay then that should be the price for it, in england......

How do they calculate the amount, guess the value, ask the seller the value, open it and look online?

[sidekickdmr]

Great, so I’m Dammed if I do (paying over the odds on a already over-budget project) and dammed if I don’t (would get a refund, but not including the $85 shipping costs.)

But thank god they taught us algebra at school

[sidekickdmr]

Hey, I’m not blaming the seller, it appears I should have known this, but I didn’t, and I would say that at some point you didn’t either.

I’m annoyed at the situation, not the people.

However a little "*please be aware that there may be import tax and customs charges to pay depending on your countries policies" on the payment page wouldn’t have gone amiss.

[sidekickdmr]

Anyway, to bring this to a close, i paid the money and its getting delivered tomorrow.

Lesson learnt

[sidekickdmr]

drdino said:

Something like this?

Yes exactly like that, at least then I would have looked into it!

[sidekickdmr]

No, but it is hidden in their terms and conditions under a title called postage and packing or something.