Ordering abroad--Royal Mail charges yikes!

Chr15_2

Thought I'd order a Tv boxset from the US, very reasonably priced and sent quickly. The other day had a note through the door telling me I owed HM Customs £11 odd pounds. When I went to the Royal Mail to cough up I found out that the majority is actually some fee imposed by Royal Mail (£8) cheeky I think especially as postage has already been paid.

I wasn't aware of this although aware of possible customs charge, thought I'd pass it on, thought it was a but cheeky of them.

custardy

postage has nothig to do with customs chargs/costs.
who exactly do you think the postage was paid to? it wasnt RM was it?

MrsBartolozzi

I find this a bit confusing too, maybe Custardy could enlighten me (and the OP)

So if I pay at the post office (RM) to post a parcel to say, Germany, what this really means is that I only pay for it to travel until leaves the country and then someone else(?) pays for the French postal transport and then the German transport until it reaches their house?? Seems a bit mad to me. Why is it more expensive to post something to another country then?
Whenever I've posted postcards abroad (not putting RM stamp on it) they've usually got to their destinations without RM being paid anything by me or the recipient.
Why would the OP's instance be different?

custardy

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

I find this a bit confusing too, maybe Custardy could enlighten me (and the OP)

So if I pay at the post office (RM) to post a parcel to say, Germany, what this really means is that I only pay for it to travel until leaves the country and then someone else(?) pays for the French postal transport and then the German transport until it reaches their house?? Seems a bit mad to me. Why is it more expensive to post something to another country then?
Whenever I've posted postcards abroad (not putting RM stamp on it) they've usually got to their destinations without RM being paid anything by me or the recipient.
Why would the OP's instance be different?

as i said,postage has nothing to do with customs charges

MrsBartolozzi

custardy wrote: »

as i said,postage has nothing to do with customs charges

So why the £8 postal charge then? If the parcel had not been stopped by customs would an extra postal charge have been expected by RM? (assuming correct postage paid at outset)
Or do they want £8 for carrying the postcard telling OP of the charge?

custardy

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

So why the £8 postal charge then? If the parcel had not been stopped by customs would an extra postal charge have been expected by RM? (assuming correct postage paid at outset)
Or do they want £8 for carrying the postcard telling OP of the charge?

yes thats right
'they' want paid for that'

i dont know what part of customs charges and postage being seperate you dont get

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/8_fee_for_collecting_hm_custom_c#incoming-40217

MrsBartolozzi

I get that (from OP) there was a customs charge of £3 odd.
I also get that there was a RM charge of £8.
I understand that they are seperate.
What does the £8 RM charge cover? (not interested in the customs charge, ignoring that completely, just the "seperate" postage charge)

And as for the
"yes thats right
'they' want paid for that'"

Of course RM should charge for delivering the customs agency's letter/postcard to the OP telling him about the customs charge, BUT £8? this must cover something else surely? That's what I would like to know. Sorry if this wasn't made clear in my earlier post.

ETA:

Ok read the piece in the link thanks, still not totally clear though. I always thought that the first folk getting hold of imported goods were the customs agency, seems it must be RM who decide if stuff is worthy of customs folk seeing. It's not like that on TV. Oh well learn something new every day and all that.
Thanks Custardy.

custardy

MrsBartolozzi wrote: »

I get that (from OP) there was a customs charge of £3 odd.
I also get that there was a RM charge of £8.
I understand that they are seperate.
What does the £8 RM charge cover? (not interested in the customs charge, ignoring that completely, just the "seperate" postage charge)

And as for the
"yes thats right
'they' want paid for that'"

Of course RM should charge for delivering the customs agency's letter/postcard to the OP telling him about the customs charge, BUT £8? this must cover something else surely? That's what I would like to know. Sorry if this wasn't made clear in my earlier post.

so the item arrives in the UK and then what?
where do you think the whole process is administered? that card isnt coming from HMRC
i provided a link showing you the RM breakdown for mount pleasant.
of course this doesnt cover further administration from there to delivery


HMRC decide any duty to be paid,these items are presented by RM to HMRC

ekkygirl

Its an admin charge and has been operating for a couiple of years, It catches a few people out (me included) I don't think its too bad and they could charge what they want really,look at the banks and what they charge Some stuff gets through, usually worth less than £18 or £20 (in customs opinion)or if the sender puts the value as lower then the true worth or even as a "gift" .
I have ordered t shirts in the past and deliberatley order two lots costing £15, The shipper bundled them together and that put them over the limit. I paid the customs and the Royal Mail "admin" charge.
Its cr*p if you wern't expecting it but atleast now you know you can bear it in mind for future purchases.
My son just ordered a belt for $70 and was a bit gutted when I told him he might have to pay ££££ when it gets here.

keith99_2

The £8 RM charge is for a bit more than delivering the card advising the customs charge.
RM has to collect the money and process it and forward it to HMRC.
RM is no longer a public service but a business that like TNT etc, needs to charge for services.

Chr15_2

It certainly got me, like i said I was prepared for the Customs charge but not for the steep Royal Mail charge. I'll know for next time.