Customs fees to pay
Author
Discussion

j_4m

Original Poster:

1,574 posts

94 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
quotequote all
Royal Mail have delivered a package from outside the EU with a big "Do Not Deliver Until Fees Are Paid" sticker on it, conveniently not to my home address.

Now, I haven't actually paid the fees Royal Mail seem to have just delivered it regardless, and whilst RM are notoriously inept HMRC tend to be a little more dogged with owed money. What to do?

Drumroll

4,523 posts

150 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
quotequote all
Do you believe you should have been charged a customs fee. If so why not just pay it?

j_4m

Original Poster:

1,574 posts

94 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
quotequote all
Drumroll said:
Do you believe you should have been charged a customs fee. If so why not just pay it?
They sent me a card telling me I had fees to pay with the amount. Basically I'm being a scumbag and wondering if I can slide the fees and get away with it.

hutchst

3,727 posts

126 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
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Have you ever had a Russian lodger?

W124Bob

1,863 posts

205 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
quotequote all
Royal Mail act as agents of HMRC, hence the admin fee plus import duties . If you've ordered something from outside the EU then I can't see how you can dodge the monies owed. Yes it hurts to pay VAT etc particularly on the postage but thats it in my experience(of several US transactions).

mygoldfishbowl

4,285 posts

173 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
quotequote all
I can imagine the money has been paid to customs by royal mail, I may be wrong but I don't believe customs would release the package otherwise. If that is the case and you decide not to pay you will only be dealing with royal mail and not HMRC.

EU_Foreigner

2,838 posts

256 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
quotequote all
If they are like DHL, you just get a bill you need to pay. Then a reminder within a few days.

Not sure if RM does it any different.

j_4m

Original Poster:

1,574 posts

94 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
quotequote all
Hmm, fair enough.

Will sit tight and await a reminder.

Adrian E

3,360 posts

206 months

Thursday 28th February 2019
quotequote all
Normally RM won't deliver before the fee is paid - it might be an error on the part of the local sorting office to have completed delivery. I wouldn't be surprised if you hear no more about it, as usual practice on non-payment is to dispose/return the goods. If said sorting office can't find the goods to do that (because they've delivered in error) they'll just chuck the card and forget about it

Courier firms are generally much more on the ball for ensuring they get paid!