Customs... eligible for appeal?

hooligan001

Hi all, hope this is the correct place to post this.

I recently purchased a CPU for my laptop from a forum member in the USA. I paid $115 for the item including delivery via PayPal gift, it was a private sale (not on eBay or the like).

He marked the item as a gift, and stated the value as $100 (maximum insured value for that type of post) using USPS, which is the US equivalent of the Royal Mail.

Anyway, I track the parcel online and see this:


Tracking Event
Awaiting payment of charges
Arrived at delivery depot
Sorted in hub
En route to delivery depot
RELEASED WITH CHARGES
AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGING
AWAITING CUSTOMS CHARGES
Arrived in destination country
Left origin country
Collected from customer



So, I called Parcel Force (who deal with USPS’ deliveries at this end), and they kindly inform me that they haven’t attempted to deliver my parcel as they are awaiting the payment of £25 for customs...

Does anyone know why they have imposed these charges?

Again, the item is marked as a gift, to the value of $100.

I am going to call them in the morning, I will tell them that the item was no longer required by a family member and he sent it on to me.

As I understand, this should relieve most of the charges being made on the item.

Has anyone got any advice on this matter? Perhaps more information on what the charges will be for before I call in?

Help greatly appreciated, thanks.

dmg24

It was decided that your claim that the item was a gift was false and therefore you have been charged the relevant fees. If you pursue your lies it is likely that you will get found out (they will investigate further), and end up with no item and a much bigger fine.

hooligan001

What measure would they take to decide it is false?

I see no reason why they would not believe this.

Thank you for the comment.

Do you have any ideas what the charge is for? because even VAT on $115 is not £25?

Thanks

globalds

You may as well just bite the bullet on this one ..
it is a scam as there is an admin charge of about £12.00 ..The problem is if you start protesting too much they are "forced to send it to some other place ..for me Coventry to be re-evaluated then there are charges to have it re-delivered ..
You took a chance ,and didn't make it ..may as well just pay up this time and hope you get lucky next time

hooligan001

OK.

I am at least going to phone them in the morning, and ask what the charges are for, as I find it hard to believe they add to £25!

Thanks for the help guys.

RayWolfe

hooligan001 wrote: »

I recently purchased a CPU for my laptop from a forum member in the USA. I paid $115 for the item including delivery via PayPal gift, it was a private sale
........................................
I am going to call them in the morning, I will tell them that the item was no longer required by a family member and he sent it on to me.

..... and people think that MPs should be strung up!
Don't expect too much sympathy here.

Vedder2008

If the parcel contains a receipt, then they will know you bought it and that it is not from a family member, can't you check first with the seller to see if they put a receipt in!

glider3560

Even if it is marked as a gift, it is still subject to customs charges if the value is more than £36 (£18 in the case of non-gifts).

Details of Parcelforce's charges can be found here: http://www.parcelforce.com/portal/pw/content1?catId=2500042&mediaId=load105044

custardy

also bear in mind its HMRC who decide if duty is payable,not the carrier
given you have a false declaration on the item you may want to tread carefully

Kylie

glider3560 wrote: »

Even if it is marked as a gift, it is still subject to customs charges if the value is more than £36 (£18 in the case of non-gifts).

I got stung with this one. Family o/s sent through make-up as a birthday present and put some huge value on it. (No idea why).

Had to pay £40+ customs/VAT/charges or something.

(I would never have paid £40 for it all in the first place )

hooligan001

Yeah, turns out even if it is a gift, if its over £36 you get stung by customs...