Parcelforce 'Clearance fee'

custardy

bad_roo wrote: »

The sign in the Parcelforce call centre notes "The Clearance Fee charges are pursuant to Section 89 of the Postal Services Act 2000 and as such do give Parcelforce the legal right to raise these fees."

It also says "We will not levy a charge if we have to hold your parcel while Customs process it, so we would recommend you respond promptly to any Customs queries to avoid these charges. We will not levy a storage fee for the first 10 days, however, for more than 10 days and up to 20 working days storage will becharged at £5.50 per parcel. For each subsequent working day over 20 days - £1.35 per parcel per day."

I have never heard of this storage fee being levied.

well now you have

bristoldad

Custardy you appear to be fully chipped up by Parcel Farce and regardless of your totally biased views it appears other people on this forum are challenging Parcel Farce and not paying this fee.

custardy

bristoldad wrote: »

Custardy you appear to be fully chipped up by Parcel Farce and regardless of your totally biased views it appears other people on this forum are challenging Parcel Farce and not paying this fee.

and the point of your post?
i welcome folks challenging it
of course,you realise someone will have to pay?
so if its a rise across the board for all services or charging HMRC and the duty being raised/limits lowered
then you will pay

drsquirrel

I love the way this has been kept up for years.

Initially you pay the foriegn company the postage fees, that company technically pays Parcel Force to deliver it for you when in country. That is all.

Handling customs charging (PF does this for you on behalf of HMRC) is what you pay for, holding it in storage (a warehouse isn't free), paper work being posted, charges being collected from you (remember card processors take a % too!) and them paying HMRC after that of course and dealing with that side.


The alternative would be for HMRC to send you the charges, and you arrange a courier to pick it up. But, do you think HMRC are going to store/hold your package for nothing? In them big sheds, which apparently don't cost any money to buy/rent/run...



Further alternative is just pay the higher price for something that has already been imported, paid the duties, and then their costs/administration/employers/distributor costs etc...




Most people moaning about this were probably trying to avoid the VAT in the first place. I wonder how many people complain that HMRC/PF didn't charge them the duty/VAT they were supposed to pay.


/EDIT: btw I still think that the charges they charge are way too high though (but some kind of charge is justified).

bristoldad

After receiving a invoice slip through the post on Friday Ive just been to the Parcel Force depot in Bristol and collected a fishing reel from America. On the invoice they demanded £9.38 VAT and £8.00 clearance fee. When I got to the depot I stated that I had not consented to any contract with Parcel Force and that Legally there was no lien on my parcel to stop me taking it , I pointed out that I was willing to pay the VAT on the item but not the clearance fee, the girl behind the counter said she would speak to the manager. When she came I she gave me my parcel which I signed for. I am not sure if I will get A further invoice for the £8.00, will post outcome.

drsquirrel

drsquirrel wrote: »

I love the way this has been kept up for years.

Initially you pay the foriegn company the postage fees, that company technically pays Parcel Force to deliver it for you when in country. That is all.

Handling customs charging (PF does this for you on behalf of HMRC) is what you pay for, holding it in storage (a warehouse isn't free), paper work being posted, charges being collected from you (remember card processors take a % too!) and them paying HMRC after that of course and dealing with that side.


The alternative would be for HMRC to send you the charges, and you arrange a courier to pick it up. But, do you think HMRC are going to store/hold your package for nothing? In them big sheds, which apparently don't cost any money to buy/rent/run...



Further alternative is just pay the higher price for something that has already been imported, paid the duties, and then their costs/administration/employers/distributor costs etc...




Most people moaning about this were probably trying to avoid the VAT in the first place. I wonder how many people complain that HMRC/PF didn't charge them the duty/VAT they were supposed to pay.


/EDIT: btw I still think that the charges they charge are way too high though (but some kind of charge is justified).

Would be nice for HMRC to send out letters and bill us directly before releasing the package to PF et all. Other couriers tend to send the parcel out then invoice later - negating any storage charge, also no reason why HMRC couldn't do this.

Yes HMRC would have to send a letter (cost of stamp), and possibly store it, and collect payment (credit card fees etc) but even then - even if I had to give HMRC a full £8/£13.50 - I'd rather my money goes back into the government and technically our pockets than a private company.

(also this would simplify payment when importing as we don't have to deal with multiple couriers etc).

bristoldad

Parcel Force could always stop proving this service if people stop paying, after all no ones asked them to get involved.

custardy

bristoldad wrote: »

Parcel Force could always stop proving this service if people stop paying, after all no ones asked them to get involved.

they are legally required to deal with customs
i suppose they could simply dump all international packages at customs and leave it at that
however HMRC are more than happy with the present system
why not contact HMRC and ask why they allow a company to act on your behalf for their taxes?

custardy

drsquirrel wrote: »

Would be nice for HMRC to send out letters and bill us directly before releasing the package to PF et all. Other couriers tend to send the parcel out then invoice later - negating any storage charge, also no reason why HMRC couldn't do this.

Yes HMRC would have to send a letter (cost of stamp), and possibly store it, and collect payment (credit card fees etc) but even then - even if I had to give HMRC a full £8/£13.50 - I'd rather my money goes back into the government and technically our pockets than a private company.

(also this would simplify payment when importing as we don't have to deal with multiple couriers etc).

who would pay for parcelforce to go back and collect a package?

drsquirrel

custardy wrote: »

who would pay for parcelforce to go back and collect a package?

PF has already been paid to do that.

Hence you pay customs your duty/vat and which ever courier that was intended to handle it would pick it up as normal.