Customs charge....ouch!

[Tempy]

I got a card through the door, so it looks like my CV8 badge has turned up from Holmart. The problem is, on the card it says I have to pay....wait for it....£20.75p customs charge.

What the hell??? For a bit of plastic? The badge cost me about that. How can they charge me that much?

So basically I write off over £20 and let them send it back, or I swallow it and pay another £20+ on top.

Obviously I'm gonna swallow it, but can I contest the charge. I mean what's it for?

[anonymous-user]

Normally it is based on the declared cost that the sender (Holmart) put on the shipping forms. I thought it was just supposed to be VAT on the cost - but judging by the cost you're seeing possibly not! It is worth questioning I guess. No idea whether you stand a chance of getting anywhere though!

[JAG-R8]

VAT plus admin charge I think - anything over £20 gets stung! If you can get shipper to put NCV (no commercial value) or a lesser amount on the customs form then you might be alright but most legit shops etc wont do this. Alternatively get it sent to a pal or rello in oz and get them to send it to you - bit of a pain though!

damn HMCE!

[Magic919]

There's VAT but they also make a handling charge which is £13.50 on my last ParcelForce item.

[ringram]

Apparently there is an argument that you did not authorise them to act as agents. Therefore the charge is invalid. Do some google action on the topic. Some guys have been let off due to that.

[Tempy]

Hmmm...interesting. I'll have to do some reading. I'm not picking it up until friday morning as I'm at the Fish tomorrow. Gives me time to do some research.

Thanks for the replies.

[global-i]

Have a quick look at this thread, dont know if it works never had the B*lls to try it.

www.lancerregister.com/showthread.php?t=213532&highlight=parcelforce+vat

[monkfish1]

ringram said:

Apparently there is an argument that you did not authorise them to act as agents. Therefore the charge is invalid. Do some google action on the topic. Some guys have been let off due to that.

This is indeed true. However duty AND Vat are due regardless. duty on the value of the item and shipping combined and then VAT on the cumalative total. Welcome to importing!!!!

[davegreg]

Aye, i ordered an electronics kit (not car related) from Australia earlier on this year, and when i picked it up from the Parcel Farce depot i got stung £60 import duty! Did weigh 13 kilos mind!

[monkfish1]

davegreg said:

Aye, i ordered an electronics kit (not car related) from Australia earlier on this year, and when i picked it up from the Parcel Farce depot i got stung £60 import duty! Did weigh 13 kilos mind!

weight is not a factor in the calculation, only value.

[Drew SS]

monkfish1 said:

davegreg said:

Aye, i ordered an electronics kit (not car related) from Australia earlier on this year, and when i picked it up from the Parcel Farce depot i got stung £60 import duty! Did weigh 13 kilos mind!

weight is not a factor in the calculation, only value.

correct ur better of getting whatever it is sent to a private address in aus then get them to send it a lot cheaper that way if any of u need somewhere let me no im sure we can work somethin out...

[stevemj]

I imported some electronic kit for my business from Korea - the bank charged me £33 for just making the payment of £100 odd :-(

Steve

[Boosted LS1]

Weight is a factor in shipping costs though and the vat is added onto the values of the goods, shipping, tariff/duty, clearance/handling fees etc. Obviously light goods will attract smaller postage.

ETA, low value goods could be sent via normal post as this massively reduces postage charges. Then the total may end up being below the threshold over here ie, they'll probably be overlooked/ignored as not worth the effort. This has happened a few times and recently I had something high value with a bill to pay. They delivered it and never collected the cheque or came back for it. Strange but I guess they made an error, cheques still waiting for collection.

Edited by Boosted LS1 on Wednesday 14th October 21:04

[ringram]

Yeah small purchases are bad. Group purchaes reduce the proportion of fees in relation to purchase price.
Lucky I have family over that way too.

[S800VXR]

ringram said:

Yeah small purchases are bad. Group purchaes reduce the proportion of fees in relation to purchase price.
Lucky I have family over that way too.

REALLY.....

Rich... me old mate! Im sure you need a SPEC clutch for you LS2....

[snowwolf]

Can I ask what postal service delivered the badge. was it by UPS by any chance?

[Tempy]

Nah, royal mail by the looks of it.

[MadMaxHSV]

ringram said:

Yeah small purchases are bad. Group purchaes reduce the proportion of fees in relation to purchase price.
Lucky I have family over that way too.

Sending family freight is a little tight....

[paul450]

MadMaxHSV said:

ringram said:

Yeah small purchases are bad. Group purchaes reduce the proportion of fees in relation to purchase price.
Lucky I have family over that way too.

Sending family freight is a little tight....

[ARAF]

Generally, car parts get entered at a 10% duty rate. If the duty was under 10 euros, then this would be waived. The VAT on £20 would be £3 plus the clearance cost, so I can only imaging that the value including shipping was double that.

Sorry, I forgot to say, if duty is charged, then you have to pay VAT on the duty as well.

Edited by ARAF on Wednesday 14th October 22:29