Consumer Rights: MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

lynnbo_2

Hi
I just thought I would people about extra costs that can be applied when ordering from intenet shops outside the UK.

You're all probably alot more savvy than me but I used a shopbot and then looked at the ratings for this company which were very good before I ordered from them. I ordered some make-up for £26-(Laura Mercier foundation) free handling and shipping from Strawberry.com. I wasnt asked to pay any customs VAT (I checked the site) as this was cheaper than buying it from anywhere in the UK I went ahead with the purchase. Now my make-up has arrived I have had to pay an additional £12.55 !!!!!! Apparently this is because customs opened the package decided it wasnt a gift, charged £4.55 for VAT and then Royal mail charged a further £8 for 'handling' fees. daylight robbery. I should have had the VAT charged to me at the checkout if it where a legal requirement and then I could have made an informed decision as to whether I wanted to purchase it or not. As the company stuck a customs sticker on saying it was gift they told a lie and I had to pay for it.

Obviously rang royal mail and got no joy. Ive e-mailed Customer services at Strawberry.com but wont hold my breath. Will just have to chalk this up to experience but thought I could at least warn others.

urbanduckling

Bought a samsung TV on credit card last year and now the colours have started playing up, green picture etc
Any action I can take with the retailer/card co?
It must surely be a faulty TV if the colours stop working properly within a couple of years (?) but wondered if anyone has any experience of trying to prove faults after 6 months? Can imagine its quite difficult to pin it down. Particularly on TV's!

Art_2

urbanduckling wrote: »

Bought a samsung TV on credit card last year and now the colours have started playing up, green picture etc
Any action I can take with the retailer/card co?
It must surely be a faulty TV if the colours stop working properly within a couple of years (?) but wondered if anyone has any experience of trying to prove faults after 6 months? Can imagine its quite difficult to pin it down. Particularly on TV's!

Initially you should speak to the retailer where you bought the TV ans see what he has to say.

Regards,
Art.

deanos

lynnbo wrote: »

Hi
I just thought I would people about extra costs that can be applied when ordering from intenet shops outside the UK.

You're all probably alot more savvy than me but I used a shopbot and then looked at the ratings for this company which were very good before I ordered from them. I ordered some make-up for £26-(Laura Mercier foundation) free handling and shipping from Strawberry.com. I wasnt asked to pay any customs VAT (I checked the site) as this was cheaper than buying it from anywhere in the UK I went ahead with the purchase. Now my make-up has arrived I have had to pay an additional £12.55 !!!!!! Apparently this is because customs opened the package decided it wasnt a gift, charged £4.55 for VAT and then Royal mail charged a further £8 for 'handling' fees. daylight robbery. I should have had the VAT charged to me at the checkout if it where a legal requirement and then I could have made an informed decision as to whether I wanted to purchase it or not. As the company stuck a customs sticker on saying it was gift they told a lie and I had to pay for it.

Obviously rang royal mail and got no joy. Ive e-mailed Customer services at Strawberry.com but wont hold my breath. Will just have to chalk this up to experience but thought I could at least warn others.

Sorry but it is your fault, if buying outside the EU then you are responsible for VAT/Import Tax/Handling fees not the place you bought your goods.

For future reference if you buy goods under £18 from anywhere in the world there are no charges, & £36 for a gift.

lynnbo_2

Have actually had a reply from Strawberry Net saying if I fax them the customs notice they will refund the £4.55 customs charge (not the full £12.55 but better than nothing). Will see if they do.

deanos

Not a bad result

malc_b

Buying from aboard is unfortunately carte-blanche for shipping companies to charge "handling" fees. VAT should be expected but the handling fee is a just a rip off. You have paid for shipping country to country. Part of shipping IS paying the custom fees and collecting this from the end client so it should be included in the cost of shipping that you have already paid, IMO. It is not an unusual or unexpected cost. It is just a scam by the shipping companies who could then offer to the seller below cost shipping (to get the business) and then make the profit off the "handling fee" they charge you which is usually on a par with the shipping costs.

Companies abroad CAN send items duty paid. That way no customs fees and no usurious handling fee. So the tip is to either use those companies or break the order into <£18 chunks. I seem to remember that is a company that will set up a US mail box for you then ship the stuff over to you and handle customs. That may be a cheap option for large purchases.

Mosschop

I bought two phone last June with Buymobilephones.net, both with cashback offers. As stipulated in the T&C's I sent off the first four bills that I received (July, August, September, October) along with the voucher within 14 days. Buymobilephones.net have replied saying that they will not honour the cashback as I should have sent June -> Sept. However, as I never recevied a bill for June this was patently impossible for me to do.

Is it worth pursuing this through the small claims court or am I flogging a dead horse?

Stressed_DB

Hi I have had problems with this company too! I couldn't find any T&C's for how to claim cashback and was told over the phone to send last bill... not all previous aswell! They refused to pay cashback and said I would not qualify for any subsequent cashbacks. I phoned OFT, trading standards, consumer direct, and emailed safebuy. I was told by consumer direct to go to my CAB which I did. They wrote a letter off and advised me to still continue to redeem my vouchers as normal. Suddenly got an email from Buymobilephones.net saying 2 payments are going into my account. They have since cleared so I got £210 in total back! Get to your CAB asap! First look at other forums websites by googling buymobilephones.net you will see others like me have left comments print these off to show your CAB that they are doing this to many others! GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

tara676

I ordered my daughter a tea set from amazon for xmas, in the item description it said that it included an iron, ironing board and washing basket. When it came it was only the tea set, so i emailed them. Whilst waiting for the reply I was looking at the site and it seems that they had got the item descriptions muddled up, ie the tea set description was on the ironing set and vice versa. They emailed back and said they dont stock the item seperately (which they do) so couldnt send replacement and i could return it. Well it was too late as already given to my daughter for xmas. i explained this to them and they then emailed back offering 10% refund, which was only £1 something, well the iron set sells for £25 so i explained this too and am awaiting reply while they look into it.
My question is, am i entitled to the ironing set as it was and still is in the item description of the set i ordered.
Many thanks, Tara