using cards on US websites

[Deleted User]

As well as the potential fee for buying goods in a foreign currency, you need to be aware that you may have to pay import duty if your package gets presented to HMCE.

I'm not sure how much this is for clothes, but you'll have to pay VAT plus an additional percentage for importing. I always budget for potential customs fees when importing goods, just so I don't get a nasty surprise :rotfl:

DanHunt_2

The Website did warn that import duties may be levied, is that likely? the word 'may' suggested to me that they probably wouldn't be on a small order. If they are levied how much will I be looking at (the top is around $80) and how does the process work, are you billed after the item has arrived or do you have to pay to receive the goods?

advent1122

I paid about 30% in customs charges, you also need to add on the fee the courier company add on, which is about £8.
For the import duties I got a phone call and paid with my credit card, then the driver collects the £8 when he delivers the parcel,

DanHunt_2

whats the fee the courier company charges for?

M_Thomson

DanHunt wrote:

whats the fee the courier company charges for?

Its a handling fee the courier charges.

DanHunt_2

I've just been looking at Customs website, it seems like its really not gonna be worth bothering, its gonna pretty much double the cost of the purchase, it'd nearly be cheaper to fly to america and buy the stuff myself

Astaroth

I am sure that many banks do "hide" the fee in the exchange rate on the transaction but I know when I was ordering items abroad the exchange rate for using by Natwest credit card was better, even if there is a hidden fee, than Abbey were quoting on the same day.

On import you will pay 17.5% VAT plus duty... the customs helpline will be able to clarify what the rate for duty is for the type of items you are ordering. These are both charged on the complete cost of the order (ie including P&P, insurance etc).

As others have mentioned, if you leave the courier to handle the paying of the import costs then they will leve a fee for doing this for you. I have been told by some people who do a lot of importing that it is possible to prepay what is necessary and therefore avoid the courier handling charge but I have no experience of doing this and dont know the correct process.

KTF

Astaroth wrote:

I am sure that many banks do "hide" the fee in the exchange rate on the transaction but I know when I was ordering items abroad the exchange rate for using by Natwest credit card was better, even if there is a hidden fee, than Abbey were quoting on the same day.

Whilst it might be better than Abbey, it wont be as good as the interbank rate that you get with Nationwide or the Travelex foreign currency exchange rate for example.

bengal-stripe

Here is the official VISA exchange rate:
http://corporate.visa.com/pd/consumer_services/consumer_ex_rates.jsp

Add the appropiate "bank fee" (usually 2.75%) and you will see that at today's rate $100 will cost you £54.08.

Astaroth

Dont know where you can find the VISA Europe rates rather than the VISA USA.

Speaking to my card issuer they give a more favourable rate than even the VISA USA rate without any banking fees and I cant see my bank making a loss on doing it