ParcelForce and charges to be paid

1socrates1

Hi,

I do not know which section to put this, so I have placed it here. I sent an old camera off to the USA for repairs (because they specialize in this camera) on 15/11 via DHL Express (I have retained all documentation). It has now been sent back to me via USPS and Parcelforce and apparently there are charges to be paid. I have not yet received the ticket in the mail specifying the charges etc. Is it right that I should be expected to pay charges for something I have not bought overseas but merely had serviced?

Thanks

John_Pierpoint

Welcome to more bureaucracy.
When I was involved in this area about 20 years ago the customs code involved two books about the size of old family bibles.
I fondly remember trying to import a case of wine that had been sent as a gift - it took all morning to work out which of dozens of headings should be used on the declaration forms.
Did you keep anything to prove you exported the camera to USA?

The system, as well as raising revenue for a government that needs to spend half our national income for us, is intended to preserve [STRIKE]British [/STRIKE] European jobs.
You will find that there is a hierarchy of rates, where raw materials are imported more or less free of duty (but not VAT). So things we can make here in Europe have a higher rate imposed on them.
Logically the system wants you to pay duty on the value of those American fingers that have repaired your camera and to collect the 17.5 percent VAT that would have been raised had the work been done on this side of the pond.

You are not the only one with this problem:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2915482

Let us all know how you get on.

1socrates1

Hi John,

Thanks for the information. In answer to your question, yes I did keep the export documentation. I have been dealing with ParcelForce online, with a tracking number but apparently I have to wait for a note to come in the post with a unique 17 digit code in order to settle this. I have icluded below what the lady wrote to me (it seems to me that they just look at the amount the goods were insured for and work charges around that, then the onus is on the customer to prove their 'innocence' and get a refund).


Thank you for your email.


I am sorry that we have not delivered your parcel to you and I can appreciate how disappointing it can be when a parcel does not arrive as expected. In this instance, we have not delivered your parcel because a Customs charges payment is required of £189.70 before it can be released for delivery.


When a parcel enters the UK it may be subject, as in this case, to duty charges from HM Revenue and Customs. It is normal practice that recipients are sent a letter to advise of these charges and how the charges can be paid. This letter provides the recipient with an unique 17-digit reference number that must be quoted to allow us to take payment for the charges and release the parcel for delivery.



If you have this letter with the 17-digit number required for us to take payment, please call us on 08448 004466 and choose the relevant option "to pay a Customs charge". Once this charge is paid, the parcel can be released for delivery to the original address on the parcel, or it can be collected from the depot.


Alternatively, you can also visit your local depot with the letter, pay the charges and take your parcel home the same day. To do this, you will need to take some photo ID with you. I would recommend that you contact the depot in advance of doing this on 0844 209 6104.


Please accept my apologies for the delay and for any inconvenience this may have caused you.


If you require further assistance, please contact us at: parcelforce@parcelforce.co.uk


Our hours of business are Mon to Fri: 8am to 7pm, Sat: 8.30am to 5.30pm and Sun: 9am to 5pm.

John_Pierpoint

The tax & charges on your parcel suggests the contents and possibly the repairs are well above the value (15 - 20 quid for "normal" goods), where HMRC have agreed to look the other way.

This minor concession can be useful for importing small items with a high value to weight ratio (such as computer inks from the Channel Islands "more valuable than gold?" or CD/DVD's (Naughty Tesco: tax avoiders?)

The thing that worries me is the future of the country when a very sizable chunk of the population is employed to spend the money earned by the rest of the population - not to mentioned the time wasted by us unpaid tax collectors.

If you check out something like the forum run by Ebay, you might find more details of your particular situation.

Let us all know how this works out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Alphonse_Karr

1socrates1

Hi John,

I never thought that the HMRC should or would look the other way. What I did think was that a service rendered would not be taxed, as opposed to me buying something and importing it into the UK.

John_Pierpoint

Probably a very grey area as you have enhanced the value of the camera.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons bankers get paid amazing bonuses - nobody understands how they manufacture money so nobody has worked out how to tax it.

I would think the average postal/customs clerk just bungs (say) 12% on the value of the camera plus the carriage then slaps 17.5% VAT on the result and sends you the bill. I believe the Customs & Excise is still comparatively well run so if you appeal you might get a response within 4 months.

I used to import refurbished computers (in those old days before PC) HMRC was so convinced that we must be on the fiddle (which we probably were) that they imposed a 50% uplift on the prices invoiced by our American associate, before calculating the tax.
There is not a lot of morality involved in international trade - just look at the Americans slagging off the Chinese on "Wickileaks" for their raw materials grab in Africa.
[How many African farmers have been bankrupted by the American subsidies on cotton ?]

Mikeyorks

1socrates1 wrote: »

Is it right that I should be expected to pay charges for something I have not bought overseas but merely had serviced?

I would doubt it ........ it's not as though you've suddenly gone into the export / import business. Or that you're importing something - for the first time - you bought ex UK?

But I feel you'll have to pay and then argue? Have a look at this (and also - immediately above it - the 'receiving goods from oversees [sic]' on the royal mail site)

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/paying-tax.htm#2

custardy

you would need to argue the case with HMRC
given its your camera thats been serviced then i dont see how their should be charges
i have seen it where a warranty replacement gets charged though

1socrates1

I think I will have to pay and then fight it out after the fact. I am still waiting for the letter in the mail from ParcelForce (have been monitoring via the internet with the tracking number but need the new 17 digit number issued from Parcelforce). Anyway, I will let you guys know how it pans out.

esuhl

I vagely remember reading that you shouldn't pay duty/VAT at all if you have sent the item away to be repaired free (under warranty), but otherwise you have to pay duty on the cost of the repairs... I'm not 100% sure, though... (so have probably been of no help whatsoever!)

I had a quick look, but I can't seem to find any relevant HMRC documentation on the issue... It's so frustrating that a simplified "plain English" version of all UK laws and government documents isn't available online (unless I've missed it!).