Parcelforce 'Clearance fee'

custardy

manhattan wrote: »

Would like some advice on some laptop memory i ordered from the US.

On checking the tracking number supplied from the memory store, it states that the parcel is being held by parcel force as there are charges to pay. The item was $115 so around £70, do you know how much charges i will have to pay on this?

What happens if i refuse to pay the charges and ask for the item to be returned to sender? Or what happens if i pay the charges, then return the item for a refund, will i be refunded on these import, VAT etc charges as the item is now back to the US?

if you refuse the item then it goes back
end of story.however as to whether you get a refund or part refund is down to the supplier.
you will most likely find a part of their T&Cs on duties
it will probably bring your ram cost to about £100 total

jennix_2

Hi everyone, I am a little confused. I just ordered some samples from USA of a product I am looking to eventually import if I like them. I'm not set up as an importer yet.
I was also charged this clearance fee, when i phoned parcelforce they said it was nothing to with them and was a customs charge. Also that it was random and only charged if they have to do a spot check. I have tried to phone customs about it, but can't get through for now.
I was trying to find out if it was a fee I would always pay and if so how do they decide how much? Will it be a fixed fee or variable? I need to know as it had a massive effect on my importing costs as it was only valued at £50 inc postage, so £13 is quite a bit extra.
I can't find any info on this so if anyone has a link that would point me in the right direction then that would be great.
Many thanks everyone,
Jen

dane-katie

I ordered hair extensions from America, cost me $125 including delivery and then i had to pay customs charges of £24 was not happy, then a week later they hair extensions fell apart and had to be binned, lesson learned i wont buy from America again unless i am there !

jennix_2

Ah for anyone else who may be interested. I found this x
parcelforce.com/portal/pw/content1?mediaId=load105044&catId=4800016 (just add www. in front as I'm not allowed to post links)

But it clears up why and how much we will be charged

custardy

jennix wrote: »

Hi everyone, I am a little confused. I just ordered some samples from USA of a product I am looking to eventually import if I like them. I'm not set up as an importer yet.
I was also charged this clearance fee, when i phoned parcelforce they said it was nothing to with them and was a customs charge. Also that it was random and only charged if they have to do a spot check. I have tried to phone customs about it, but can't get through for now.
I was trying to find out if it was a fee I would always pay and if so how do they decide how much? Will it be a fixed fee or variable? I need to know as it had a massive effect on my importing costs as it was only valued at £50 inc postage, so £13 is quite a bit extra.
I can't find any info on this so if anyone has a link that would point me in the right direction then that would be great.
Many thanks everyone,
Jen

parcelforce charge a fixed fee
customs decide if and what duty is applicable

shaun_from_Africa

parcelforce charge a fixed fee
customs decide if and what duty is applicable

Just a note to add to the info above.

If customs decide that no duty is payable, there will be no Parcelforce fee charged.

jennix_2

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

Just a note to add to the info above.

If customs decide that no duty is payable, there will be no Parcelforce fee charged.

The products were free from Duty, yet I was asked to pay the clearance fee. Should I not have been charged then? I only paid VAT on the items and the clearance fee

Many thanks

custardy

jennix wrote: »

The products were free from Duty, yet I was asked to pay the clearance fee. Should I not have been charged then? I only paid VAT on the items and the clearance fee

Many thanks

and the VAT was levied by customs

shaun_from_Africa

Sorry jennix, I wasn't too clear in my earlier post.

What I should have stated was "If customs decide that no duty or VAT is payable, there will be no Parcelforce fee charged."

I know it's not the correct wording, but I am in the habit of refering to "duty" to mean all import charges.

jennix_2

VAT was paid at customs by parcelforce I think and then i paid them along with the clearance fee.
No problem about the duty thing, thanks for taking the time to explain