HM Revenue and Customs.............

[chrispaull]

The thieving barstewards from customs have held onto my CAI (cold air intake) which I got from Aus for my vxr8, until I pay the vat and parcelforce clearance fee, having never done this before is this normal and is there a way of paying this beforehand, so the goods get delivered, I dont mind the vat (fact of life........sigh) but the clearance fee................

[BO55 VXR]

Last time I ordered some gear from Aus that I had to pay stuff on, the cariers (Parcel Force) simply sent me a note to say "Pay £x" via internet and parcel will then be delivered....Never had to deal with HMR&C direct, PF did it all

[rmmackfc]

If the package is a "gift" or of low value I think you are exempt from paying.

[eliot]

I refer to them as "Parcel Farce".

Getting clobbered for vat & handling is something you should expect when importing parts, sometimes they slip through - sometimes not.

[ringram]

I got a £15 part and had to pay £10 clearance fee.
How about that for fked!
Not much to do about it, except claim it as a business expense!

[Well_Fans]

clearance fee varies between couriers - post office charges 8 quid, UPS 12 quid - complete rip off if you ask me. Recently purchased an intercooler pump from the US - made by Bosch in Germany btw, 10 quid to the customs and 8 quid to the post office on something that including carriage had cost me less than 75 quid - ie post office fee was >10% of the value!! If there's a way to prepay the VAT I'd be interested in hearing about it. Meantime even with the charges it was still 30 quid cheaper than I could get it in the UK so still worthwhile buying from US.

[stevieturbo]

rmmackfc said:

If the package is a "gift" or of low value I think you are exempt from paying.

Totally untrue.

Until recently, any item valued at over £18 was liable for duty. ( postage costs are included in that total !!!!! )

Although I think this has recently been lifted to a higher figure, not 100% sure what though.

I did have a list supplied by HM Robbing and Customs of items that werent liable....odd things such as some antiques, goods for temp import, good for testing purposes etc etc.
They specifically made reference that gifts were liable.


Parcel Forces's handling charges are among the worst of any courier !!!!!

If the stuff has a relatively low value, it can be hit or miss as to wheter you get stung. If it has a substantial value, then you can almost be gauranteed you'll get hit for import duties, and VAT.

[mobile01]

i ordered a spoiler from oz and got away with duty etc, was wrong spoiler, so was the replacement incorrect and no charges, the third one from oz was finally the correct one and the only one i got stung for vat on grrrrrrrr

[tim the pool man]

Missed the boat on that one Chris (although I don't know if a CAI would have fitted in the suitcase...)

[BO55 VXR]

This is the last item I received from Parcel Force from Oz..

[BO55 VXR]

Forgot to mention.... it contained the Wide Angle Mirrors

[rmmackfc]

Hope they were ok... looks to have taken a beating

[chrispaull]

tim the pool man said:

Missed the boat on that one Chris (although I don't know if a CAI would have fitted in the suitcase...)

I will buy you a big case for when you come over Tim................chris.........

[rmmackfc]

Just got bulbs from the US... valued at $0.00 ... no charge