Purchase an item from the US and now have a customs charge

emski1234

I've never purchased from abroad before so excuse my ignorance. I purchased an item from the states for US$29.95 but got a card through my door saying I had to pay £10.95 customs charge.
I have been and paid the charge in order to collect my item, but just wondering - do I need to let the seller know I've been charged? Or is it my responsibility as the buyer to incur the customs charges?

Hintza

Your responsibilty unfortuantely. I think you have been a bit unlucky the limit is £18 before VAT is due. However £8 of the charge will be customs clearance fees..:(

ariba10

In my mind it is your responsibility.

Most things that are bought from outside the E U are charged import duty.

When things are bought in this country by foreign visitors they can claim back the VAT when they leave but may have to pay an import tax when they get to theirs.

Angel*Eyes_6

I had this happen once. There was no mention in the listing of there being customs charges upon delivery so I emailed the seller and photographed the customs charges label as they requested and they reimbursed me. Usually if a customs label is marked as 'gift' charges are not incurred. Maybe I just had a nice seller but worth a try asking for a reimbursement.

emski1234

Thank you for clearing that up for me

frivolous_fay

Angel*Eyes, you were lucky, and your seller was generous!

Marking an item wrongly as a gift is an illegal tax dodge. Just so you know! And it doesn't always work.

custardy

Angel*Eyes wrote: »

I had this happen once. There was no mention in the listing of there being customs charges upon delivery so I emailed the seller and photographed the customs charges label as they requested and they reimbursed me. Usually if a customs label is marked as 'gift' charges are not incurred. Maybe I just had a nice seller but worth a try asking for a reimbursement.

if you were aware you were buying abroad then why would you expect to see information on customs charges?
how many UK listings do you see lisitng customs information?

StaffsSW

Angel*Eyes wrote: »

Usually if a customs label is marked as 'gift' charges are not incurred.

Which is why it is not permitted to be marked as a gift, if it is not...

eBay have also changed their policy on feedback removal to include negatives left for sellers where the buyer has incurred a customs charge.

http://www2.ebay.com/aw/core/200901081220082.html

Chippy_Minton_2

stevew8975 wrote: »

Which is why it is not permitted to be marked as a gift, if it is not...

Can someone really be that dense?:rolleyes:

StaffsSW

Chippy_Minton wrote: »

Can someone really be that dense?:rolleyes:

Well... given the amount of items I sell to the USA where buyers regularly ask for it to be marked as a gift...!!

soolin

Chippy_Minton wrote: »

Can someone really be that dense?:rolleyes:

Plus the number of posts that get removed on threads like this that usually state 'everybody does it'.......