Had a hefty import duty charge to pay today

speedy2056

I'm expecting a parcel to be delivered that's worth around £700 and had to pay £122 in import charges today and they will deliver it on Tuesday as it's the earliest available time.

The package was ordered from the US.

Parcelforce slap on an £8 fee for merely handling the parcel but I came across this interesting link:

http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:rUrB-IMPCTgJ:psych0naut.livejournal.com/36270.html+parcelforce+%C2%A38&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

Is there any way I can try to claim that £8 back as it does seem unlawful!

I have already paid the full amount by debit card over the phone on Parcelforce's automated service.

wealdroam

speedy2056 wrote: »

Is there any way I can try to claim that £8 back as it does seem unlawful!

In that text you linked to is the suggestion that you can use the small claims court to recover your money.

Before you go to court, it is probably a good idea to write to PF explaining why you think they unlawfully charged you and asking for your £8 back within say 14 days.

custardy

speedy2056 wrote: »

I'm expecting a parcel to be delivered that's worth around £700 and had to pay £122 in import charges today and they will deliver it on Tuesday as it's the earliest available time.

The package was ordered from the US.

Parcelforce slap on an £8 fee for merely handling the parcel but I came across this interesting link:

http://66.102.9.132/search?q=cache:rUrB-IMPCTgJ:psych0naut.livejournal.com/36270.html+parcelforce+%C2%A38&cd=7&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=uk&client=firefox-a

Is there any way I can try to claim that £8 back as it does seem unlawful!

I have already paid the full amount by debit card over the phone on Parcelforce's automated service.

you mean mearly liasing with customs and paying the duties due to HMRC dont you?
perhaps next time you should organise a full courier service including paying all taxes inclusively?
in the US fed ex and most others will do this
then you can save that £8

boliston

There always seems to be an admin fee as well as the customs whenever I've had imported purchases (camera gear etc), so pretty much standard practice.

custardy

boliston wrote: »

There always seems to be an admin fee as well as the customs whenever I've had imported purchases (camera gear etc), so pretty much standard practice.

as i siad you can organise a courier service from the states to cover all these costs in advance
however its gonna cost more than £8

cyberbob

Don't be so silly. If you had done it via a courier it would have cost you more

speedy2056

custardy wrote: »

as i siad you can organise a courier service from the states to cover all these costs in advance
however its gonna cost more than £8

You mean £122, which I really doubt.

Whether the costs are pre-paid in advance or whether I pay them later, there isn't much difference, they still will have to be paid.

But after reading that link I do think PF's "clearance charge" is taking the biscuit a bit and is, perhaps, unlawful.

Wealdrom, thanks, but for £8, it's probably going to cost me more to get the money back through the courts.

Nevermind, I'll call it a loss but I'll be arguing it next time.

custardy

speedy2056 wrote: »

You mean £122, which I really doubt.

Whether the costs are pre-paid in advance or whether I pay them later, there isn't much difference, they still will have to be paid.

But after reading that link I do think PF's "clearance charge" is taking the biscuit a bit and is, perhaps, unlawful.

Wealdrom, thanks, but for £8, it's probably going to cost me more to get the money back through the courts.

Nevermind, I'll call it a loss but I'll be arguing it next time.

no i mean £8,you would pay the £122 regardless as its what HMRC say you are due
you think the services covering all import taxes are just charging cost on the dutys due?
using normal courier rates you will pay a fee in the UK
PF is £8/£16
DHL is £10 or 2% whichever is higher
etc etc

a quick look on fedex shows they allow you to use your own customs broker
they only charge a small fee for this

Broker Select Option


FedEx allows customers to choose their own broker for customs clearance for shipments destined to over 220 countries and territories worldwide, including the USA. The additional routing surcharge applies when all of the following occur:
A broker (other then FedEx or FedEx designated) clears the shipment.
FedEx Express picks up the shipment at the customers broker location and delivers it to the final consignee.
The consignees location is served by a different clearance point than the brokers clearance point.


Broker Select Option GBP 1.10/kg with a min. of GBP 7.30

so pay your broker after you pay fedex their fee.........