DHL's £1.25 Customs admin fee vs Royal Mail's £8

doveman

If you're ordering items from outside the EU that are subject to Duty (over £135) or VAT (over £15, reduced from £18 on 1 November 2011), then Royal Mail will charge you an £8 admin fee on top.

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/buying.htm
http://www2.royalmail.com/customer-service/personal-customers/missed-deliveries/fee-pay

DHL's admin fee is only £1.25 where the Duty/VAT is less than £62.50 or 2% of the Duty/VAT if it's above that.

http://www.dhl.co.uk/en/express/shipping/customs_support/duties_taxes.html

It's true that the shipping is often more expensive with DHL, as opposed to International Airmail (which then goes to Royal Mail), but then again the goods are tracked and insured against loss/damage with DHL, which they're not with IA/RM, so I prefer to pay the extra rather than gamble with the risk that my goods go missing and I lose my money as well.

I know some people don't like DHL, but hopefully others will find this useful and save some money.

Queenriderbrekke

Not sure that this helps me?

When I order goods from abroard the person/shop I'm ordering from chooses the postal service not me, so I have no way of avoiding Royal Mail's custom fees!

custardy

Queenriderbrekke wrote: »

Not sure that this helps me?

When I order goods from abroard the person/shop I'm ordering from chooses the postal service not me, so I have no way of avoiding Royal Mail's custom fees!

you can do your own clearance
see the Parcelforce thread
a slow process but its free

doveman

Queenriderbrekke wrote: »

Not sure that this helps me?

When I order goods from abroard the person/shop I'm ordering from chooses the postal service not me, so I have no way of avoiding Royal Mail's custom fees!

Yeah, not every supplier offers a choice, in which case the only way to avoid RM's fee is to deal with Customs yourself as custardy says.

It might be worth asking the person/shop to look into using DHL and how much it would cost though.

Queenriderbrekke

custardy wrote: »

you can do your own clearance
see the Parcelforce thread
a slow process but its free

Where is the parcelforce thread please? Is it on eBay board or another? I've done a search and can't see it:)

custardy

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/323766

Queenriderbrekke

Interesting reading!

Unfortunately the only way around it seems to be to get the sender to put "GOODS TO BE CUSTOM CLEARED BY IMPORTER!"

Having talked to HMRC today as well they have confirmed that doing this means it is always sent to Customs so you will always get charged VAT and IMPORT TAX due but not Royal Mail/Courier fee!

Sooooo! Basically if you get a lot of parcels from overseas it mioght be better not to do this and take a chance, your choice folks!

Bella_b

Some Companies (usually extended by Fifty One) offer you the chance to pay for the customs charges at checkout which I think is better because you know how much they are.. and not be unsure when a postman is at the door or have to go down to the post office / collection depot and waste petrol as well! I ordered something from Drugstore.com (USAbuy for) earlier this year and it took 6 days. It is a bit pricey but better to buy more in one go then several occasions. If the retailer doesn't send to your country then FifyOne buy the goods for you on your behalf, have them shipped to their warehouse then ship them to you and organise customs for you. All very easy. You don't have to pay anything when parcel is delivered!

custardy

Bella_b wrote: »

Some Companies (usually extended by Fifty One) offer you the chance to pay for the customs charges at checkout which I think is better because you know how much they are.. and not be unsure when a postman is at the door or have to go down to the post office / collection depot and waste petrol as well! I ordered something from Drugstore.com (USAbuy for) earlier this year and it took 6 days. It is a bit pricey but better to buy more in one go then several occasions. If the retailer doesn't send to your country then FifyOne buy the goods for you on your behalf, have them shipped to their warehouse then ship them to you and organise customs for you. All very easy. You don't have to pay anything when parcel is delivered!

nobody from RM will be at your door looking for money.
for good reasons

KxMx

I thought the limit was being cut to £15 for Jersey only, am I incorrect?

trevor2522

doveman wrote: »

If you're ordering items from outside the EU that are subject to Duty (over £135) or VAT (over £15, reduced from £18 on 1 November 2011), then Royal Mail will charge you an £8 admin fee on top.

DHL's admin fee is only £1.25 where the Duty/VAT is less than £62.50 or 2% of the Duty/VAT if it's above that.

It's true that the shipping is often more expensive with DHL, as opposed to International Airmail (which then goes to Royal Mail), but then again the goods are tracked and insured against loss/damage with DHL, which they're not with IA/RM, so I prefer to pay the extra rather than gamble with the risk that my goods go missing and I lose my money as well.

I know some people don't like DHL, but hopefully others will find this useful and save some money.

DHL's Admin Fee for import-VAT collection has now risen to £5 from £1.25 just 2 years ago. Was £1.50 for a while, then they got greedy and raised it over 300% !!! I say we all email a complaint via their website!