Parcelforce 'Clearance fee'

metalfury

I'm happy to pay the tax and understand that it needs to be paid in the country of receipt. My issue is only with the additional clearance fee on a parcel that was always going to be subject to tax.

My feeling is just that the 'clearance fee' should be included in the price of postage if the item is obviously going to handled by HMRC. The fee seems to be irrespective of the amount of tax paid, but dependent on the postal service used or the provider.

It also seems to me to be disproportionate when compared to the initial postage price, especially as the initial agrrement to deliver the item to my door hasn't been honoured.

Maybe some of the money saved by not delivering the parcel to me could be offset against the clearance fee? Looking online, If I arranged for a parcel to be delivered from the sorting office to my house it would cost around £13.00. As they haven't done that it could be argued that they should refund that part of my initial costs, or offset it against the fee.

I know this won't happen, just being facetious ;-)

I don't expect anything to change and I appreciate your comments Custardy as it's good to see both sides of the argument. Now I'm aware of the additional charges I'll reconsider my options when purchasing in the future.

custardy

but HMRC decide what will be charged
its not up to the couriers,so how can the courier charge in advance if you see what i mean.
they could include their fee upfront but what about the customs fee
then what if there was no tax to pay?
you know many would just go with the cheaper courior who didnt include the fee's

i have raised it many times that HMRC should be setting up a system/service to allow people to pay these fee's directly

metalfury

I'm not asking the Courier to charge the HMRC Charge up front, just their handling fee. The item I ordered was always going to be subject to the tax, so in turn the courier knew they would incur the handling - in the same way that the postman in my earlier analogy knew he would have to use my letterbox .

you know many would just go with the cheaper courior who didnt include the fee's

I agree and I'm sure they would. It's a bit like utility providers saying that they will provide your broadband for £3.00 a month*

*for three months, then its £25 a month for the next 18 month

Cheeky as far as I'm concerned, but at least I had a choice with the broadband provider.

Couriers could also charge me £5 to deliver a parcel in the UK for me and then charge the recipient a handling fee of £10 to receive the parcel. This would certainly give them the most competitive rates on paper when compared to their competitors.

I'm off now to release my parcel :mad:, I'll try and be nice to see if they'll budge!

Wish me luck!

custardy

metalfury wrote: »

I'm not asking the Courier to charge the HMRC Charge up front, just their handling fee. The item I ordered was always going to be subject to the tax, so in turn the courier knew they would incur the handling - in the same way that the postman in my earlier analogy knew he would have to use my letterbox .



I agree and I'm sure they would. It's a bit like utility providers saying that they will provide your broadband for £3.00 a month*

*for three months, then its £25 a month for the next 18 month

Cheeky as far as I'm concerned, but at least I had a choice with the broadband provider.

Couriers could also charge me £5 to deliver a parcel in the UK for me and then charge the recipient a handling fee of £10 to receive the parcel. This would certainly give them the most competitive rates on paper when compared to their competitors.

I'm off now to release my parcel :mad:, I'll try and be nice to see if they'll budge!




Wish me luck!

thats the courier in Japan though,they dont care once its off shore

cant you pay PF charges online?

metalfury

cant you pay PF charges online?

Yes you can.

However it was better for me to go in person and collect myself.

jimsublimeman

Hello all, first time poster, so be gentle.

Its great to see other people who have been wronged by parcel force's insane charges doing something about it. There should definitely be some collective action!

I was sent a birthday present from my fiance in Japan, clearly marked 'gift' on the packet. My fiance paid full insured shipping costs in Japan. The value was also less than £40 which is the amount customs say is not liable for extra duty/VAT. And yet I was charged £8.50 VAT and £13.50 handling fees.This is now the second time parcel force have done this! They clearly haven't opened the parcel and I think both customs and parcel force are ripping me off.:mad:

Foolishly, I paid the charges online as I wanted to get the present, but I am incensed. Does anybody have any idea where I can write to complain about this? I will probably have to start with customs then try to get parcel force to reimburse my charges.

I will definitely write to my MP and watchdog about this. They must be holding business in this country to ransom with this nonsense!

cyberbob

jimsublimeman wrote: »

I will definitely write to my MP and watchdog about this. They must be holding business in this country to ransom with this nonsense!

Don't be so silly

custardy

jimsublimeman wrote: »

Hello all, first time poster, so be gentle.

Its great to see other people who have been wronged by parcel force's insane charges doing something about it. There should definitely be some collective action!

I was sent a birthday present from my fiance in Japan, clearly marked 'gift' on the packet. My fiance paid full insured shipping costs in Japan. The value was also less than £40 which is the amount customs say is not liable for extra duty/VAT. And yet I was charged £8.50 VAT and £13.50 handling fees.This is now the second time parcel force have done this! They clearly haven't opened the parcel and I think both customs and parcel force are ripping me off.:mad:

Foolishly, I paid the charges online as I wanted to get the present, but I am incensed. Does anybody have any idea where I can write to complain about this? I will probably have to start with customs then try to get parcel force to reimburse my charges.

I will definitely write to my MP and watchdog about this. They must be holding business in this country to ransom with this nonsense!

customs decide what is a gift and what isnt
they also decide if duty is payable

so when you write to your MP,be sure to tell him you have a complaint about HMRC
also ask him why HMRC dont bill you directly while they hold your package

what business in this country is held to ransom when its an item coming in from abroad?
the only revenue generated is by HMRC
if you mean businesses who import then they pay for companies to deal with HMRC and paying any duties applicable
these companies dont do that for free

m4sterpoe

I too ordered something from the USA, Paid $199 for the Item Plus $38.19 for postage.
I knew that I would have to pay import duty which was very reasonable at £29.01 then Parcel force decided that they wanted a cut too and charged me a "Parcel Force Clearance Fee"of £8.00

Clearance for what? Ive already agreed with the buyer to pay one lot of postal charges and Now im getting Fisted by parcel force.

Something needs to be done about these hidden charges, so Anyone know where I stand??

custardy

m4sterpoe wrote: »

I too ordered something from the USA, Paid $199 for the Item Plus $38.19 for postage.
I knew that I would have to pay import duty which was very reasonable at £29.01 then Parcel force decided that they wanted a cut too and charged me a "Parcel Force Clearance Fee"of £8.00

Clearance for what? Ive already agreed with the buyer to pay one lot of postal charges and Now im getting Fisted by parcel force.

Something needs to be done about these hidden charges, so Anyone know where I stand??

which part of clearence dont you understand?