Can I challenge customs value?

[bluesatin]

Can I challenge a customs value? I had some new ali nuts sent from the US (thanks Lee) to me at home. The value on the Invoice was $40. However the customs value has become £60 plus Vat. How can wheel nuts go from $40 to £60 (basically trebling in price) and how can I challenge this or should I shut up and pay?

Thanks

[Captain Slog]

This may help:
Customs and Excise

Steve

[Wilder]

Ok, gifts are different to companies importing things so heres the rules for domestic imports.
Anything over 18 GPB is subject to an import vat/duty charge unless you can prove otherwise.
A declared sales invoice value is the first thing that should be attached to the package, and the sender has to declare the value when posting.
Now heres what I think has happened in your case Guy.
Any imported items can be also subject to customs inspection which you have to pay for, even if its not an item over the 18 pound declared value.
I suspect that if you check, you will find that the 40 quid is for this random customs inspection. Check the parcelforce website to confirm ( it will say customs inspection somewhere)-if so, theres nothing you can do but pay up - no wonder they call the UK treasure Island eh?

[actuary]

Forget common sense. HMRC are the law. No-one messes with them, just pay up. Think Will Smith in MIB2. Another example of how government-funded well-pensioned over-holidayed beep-holes slap taxes on us hard working private sector dudes.

Gotta go, hear a knock on the door ... Aaaarrrrggghhhhhh

[ringram]

Yeah its total con job from the people we voted in! But hey they need the money to pay their family members to "help" out and pay off houses in London.

Basically you pay VAT on top of shipping and duty, so Your $40 might be plus $20 shipping, then vat and duty plus the admin charge.

In Oz they let you get $1000 worth of goods before they charge. I think the US is the same.
UK total rip off.

[Joe T]

It sounds like they made a mistake, but its not worth the effort, even at the highest duty level plus VAT I cant see how they could get to that figure.

[bluesatin]

Thanks for getting back. Sent an e-mail the FedEx to see if it was a mistake.

[bluesatin]

Result- Just got a credit note from FedEx!