Customs charge for laptop purchased for someone else.

elaina79

Hi.

To cut a long story short, my husband paid for a laptop from the US that is sisters boyfriend was buying while he was living with us. He gave us the money for the actual laptop plus the postage costs.
Last week they decided to go back to scotland to live. Now we have had a letter through the post from TNT with a customs charge of £45. As my husband paid for it the bill is in his name, but he is refusing to pay for it and rightly says that his sisters boyfriend should.

My query is what do we do if he refused to pay as well. What powers to either TNT or customs have regarding this charge.

bryanb

elaina79 wrote: »

Hi.

To cut a long story short, my husband paid for a laptop from the US that is sisters boyfriend was buying while he was living with us. He gave us the money for the actual laptop plus the postage costs.
Last week they decided to go back to scotland to live. Now we have had a letter through the post from TNT with a customs charge of £45. As my husband paid for it the bill is in his name, but he is refusing to pay for it and rightly says that his sisters boyfriend should.

My query is what do we do if he refused to pay as well. What powers to either TNT or customs have regarding this charge.

I would advise paying the customs charge, and chasing the sister's BF

Customs have powers you can't even dream about.

elaina79

Thats what I'm worried about. Although the invoice is from TNT and not customs directly. Does this make a difference?

biscit

Did your husband order the laptop in his name- ie was it his name on the order form and the parcel when it arrived? If so I fear that it was him that ordered the laptop, not his sister's boyfriend.

If the boyfriend's name is not on any documentation regarding the order, then I think your husband is liable and needs to pay up and chase the boyfriend for a cheque.

Morally there's no question that the boyfriend should pay up. But legally it may not be possible to get the bill sent directly to him.

biscit

elaina79 wrote: »

Thats what I'm worried about. Although the invoice is from TNT and not customs directly. Does this make a difference?

Not really they are acting as middlemen, like your husband did.

OlliesDad

elaina79 wrote: »

Thats what I'm worried about. Although the invoice is from TNT and not customs directly. Does this make a difference?

TNT would have paid the customs charge and are therefore now seeking payment from the recipitent.

You husband is liable for the charge, and i would advise him to pay. It will then be up to him to pursue the costs from the sisters BF.

elaina79

So then it's not customs that are chasing us then? That was the main worry for me. Knowing my hubby he won't pay it so it looks like I may have too myself. How can I claim the money back from sisters b/f then as the order was placed in my husbands name, how can we prove that the laptop was for him and not us (apart from the fact that they have it with them in scotland, assuming they haven't sold it yet that is)

kalaika

elaina79 wrote: »

So then it's not customs that are chasing us then? That was the main worry for me. Knowing my hubby he won't pay it so it looks like I may have too myself. How can I claim the money back from sisters b/f then as the order was placed in my husbands name, how can we prove that the laptop was for him and not us (apart from the fact that they have it with them in scotland, assuming they haven't sold it yet that is)

Just ask him!

If it was the b/f that wanted the laptop then he should pay all costs related to getting it here from the USA. Just say to him that you've received this invoice from TNT for import duty/import VAT/whatever it says on the invoice, and that you've paid it but as it was his laptop that incurred it then he should reimburse you.

Only if he refuses do you need to think about possible ways to 'claim' it back from him.

Mankysteve

There would be no legal recourse if your sister BF refuses to pay up as its contract between relatives there can be no intent between friends/relatives.

PasturesNew

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/arriving/arrivingnoneu.htm

When you travel to the UK from outside the European Union (EU), you can bring in a certain amount of duty/tax free goods for your own use - known as an 'allowance'. If you go over this allowance you may have to pay duty and/or tax. Some goods are banned completely, or restricted, such as certain foods.

Other goods including perfume and souvenirs

You can bring in other goods worth up to £340 without having to pay tax and/or duty.

If you arrive by private plane or private boat, you can only bring in goods worth up to £240 tax and duty free.

If you bring in any single item worth more than your allowance, you must pay duty and/or tax on the full item value, not just the value above the allowance. You also cannot group individual allowances together to bring in an item worth more than the limit.

The goods must be for your own use or as a gift. If the person you give the goods to pays you in any way (including reimbursing you for any expenses), then it's not a gift and you'll have to pay the duty and/or tax.

mazza111

He paid for the laptop, right?

You will have the laptop when u pay the customs fee? Don't give him the laptop until he pays the customs fee? Or call him and see if he wants you to pay it. Or if he wants to lose the laptop. Am I right in thinking this?