Parcelforce 'Clearance fee'

sheramber

All explained on Gov.uk

https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/overview

Do it yourself or pay a handling fee.

The fee is not for delivery, it is for the time and effort for clearing the item through customs.

If Hmrc dealt with it they would charge you a handling for it.

wealdroam

ShALLaX wrote: »

Maybe we can try and get something done about this. I've opened a change.org petition to get the consumer's stance clarified and suggest a way around the issue. If anyone feels the same way about this as I do, I invite them to sign: https://www.change.org/p/ofcom-reform-international-postage-carrier-handling-fees?recruiter=418141878&utm_source=share_for_starters&utm_medium=copyLink

From your petition:

Whether the collection of the fee is legally enforceable at present is clearly a grey area as there are many reports of postal carriers waiving their fees without a fight once challenged, provided that the duties are paid.

Please can you offer a link to just a couple of these 'many reports of postal carriers waiving their fees without a fight once challenged'.

The-Truth

wealdroam wrote: »

From your petition:

Please can you offer a link to just a couple of these 'many reports of postal carriers waiving their fees without a fight once challenged'.

I wish there was a way you could comment on these petitions and say you think they're a load of rubbish!

John_Rock

I ordered an item from HK and paid a premium for speedy delivery (delivery in 2 working days).

I received my letter on the 05/02/2016 saying I need to pay VAT (£7.07) and a Clearance Fee (£13.50- Speedy delivery charge as opposed to £8.00 for normal delivery). And since it is now the weekend, delivery will only be made on Tuesday 9th Feb 2016.

My gripe is that I paid for speedy delivery, got charged a clearance fee for speedy delivery yet I have not received speedy delivery service. Even excluding the time taken for HMRC to carry out the checks, it's still taken longer than the 2 working days to deliver the package.

Here is the mail tracking on Hong Kong Post:
27-Jan-2016 Hong Kong Item posted.
27-Jan-2016 Hong Kong In transit.
27-Jan-2016 Hong Kong The item arrived at processing centre.
27-Jan-2016 Hong Kong The item left Hong Kong for its destination on 28-Jan-2016
28-Jan-2016 United Kingdom Arrived.
28-Jan-2016 United Kingdom Pending customs inspection.
28-Jan-2016 United Kingdom Pending customs inspection.
2-Feb-2016 United Kingdom In transit.
3-Feb-2016 United Kingdom Tendered for delivery without success because of outstanding payment of charges. The item is being held and the addressee is being notified.

Item tracking history on PF:
Date Time Location Tracking event
3/2/2016 10:20 London South East Depot…+London South East Depot.
Awaiting payment of customs charges.
2/2/2016 13:22 National Hub Sorted
2/2/2016 6:35 International Hub Released from customs
2/2/2016 2:28 International Hub Revised Customs charges raised
1/2/2016 10:46 International Hub Customs charges raised
28/1/2016 17:56 International Hub Awaiting Customs clearance
28/1/2016 17:52 International Hub Arrived in the UK
27/1/2016 15:12
Delivery Agent - HONG KONG - PTT…+Delivery Agent - HONG KONG - PTT
Despatched to the UK
27/1/2016 13:11
Delivery Agent - HONG KONG - PTT…+Delivery Agent - HONG KONG - PTT
Prepared for despatch to the UK
27/1/2016 9:32
Delivery Agent - HONG KONG…+Delivery Agent - HONG KONG
Collected

At the very least I feel I should get a refund for a service I did not receive.

custardy

John_Rock wrote: »

I ordered an item from HK and paid a premium for speedy delivery (delivery in 2 working days).

I received my letter on the 05/02/2016 saying I need to pay VAT (£7.07) and a Clearance Fee (£13.50- Speedy delivery charge as opposed to £8.00 for normal delivery). And since it is now the weekend, delivery will only be made on Tuesday 9th Feb 2016.

My gripe is that I paid for speedy delivery, got charged a clearance fee for speedy delivery yet I have not received speedy delivery service. Even excluding the time taken for HMRC to carry out the checks, it's still taken longer than the 2 working days to deliver the package.

Here is the mail tracking on Hong Kong Post:
27-Jan-2016 Hong Kong Item posted.
27-Jan-2016 Hong Kong In transit.
27-Jan-2016 Hong Kong The item arrived at processing centre.
27-Jan-2016 Hong Kong The item left Hong Kong for its destination on 28-Jan-2016
28-Jan-2016 United Kingdom Arrived.
28-Jan-2016 United Kingdom Pending customs inspection.
28-Jan-2016 United Kingdom Pending customs inspection.
2-Feb-2016 United Kingdom In transit.
3-Feb-2016 United Kingdom Tendered for delivery without success because of outstanding payment of charges. The item is being held and the addressee is being notified.

Item tracking history on PF:
Date Time Location Tracking event
3/2/2016 10:20 London South East Depot…+London South East Depot.
Awaiting payment of customs charges.
2/2/2016 13:22 National Hub Sorted
2/2/2016 6:35 International Hub Released from customs
2/2/2016 2:28 International Hub Revised Customs charges raised
1/2/2016 10:46 International Hub Customs charges raised
28/1/2016 17:56 International Hub Awaiting Customs clearance
28/1/2016 17:52 International Hub Arrived in the UK
27/1/2016 15:12
Delivery Agent - HONG KONG - PTT…+Delivery Agent - HONG KONG - PTT
Despatched to the UK
27/1/2016 13:11
Delivery Agent - HONG KONG - PTT…+Delivery Agent - HONG KONG - PTT
Prepared for despatch to the UK
27/1/2016 9:32
Delivery Agent - HONG KONG…+Delivery Agent - HONG KONG
Collected

At the very least I feel I should get a refund for a service I did not receive.

What was your plan for the VAT?

John_Rock

custardy wrote: »

What was your plan for the VAT?

I don't have a problem paying for the VAT.

I have a problem paying for an expedited Parcelforce delivery service I did not receive and being charged a higher clearance fee by Parcelforce because of the expedited Parcelforce delivery service, which I did not receive.

custardy

John_Rock wrote: »

I don't have a problem paying for the VAT.

I have a problem paying for an expedited Parcelforce delivery service I did not receive and being charged a higher clearance fee by Parcelforce because of the expedited Parcelforce delivery service, which I did not receive.

So once again.
What was your plan to pay it?

John_Rock

custardy wrote: »

So once again.
What was your plan to pay it?

Online, with a credit card. Like everyone else.

I don't get your point?

custardy

John_Rock wrote: »

Online, with a credit card. Like everyone else.

I don't get your point?

How does everyone else pay their import VAT this way?

John_Rock

custardy wrote: »

How does everyone else pay their import VAT this way?

Let me google that for you-
Sign in to HMRC excise, import and export services
gov.uk/log-in-hmrc-excise-import-export