Customs Charges

shaun_from_Africa

martindow wrote: »

But surely they wouldn't accept an insurance value higher than the declared value?

They might well do.
Part of the job I do involves me packing up and shipping unserviceable items back to the UK (and I have to fill out the shipping forms and customs paperwork).

The customs value put down for these items is 25% of the price of a working item, and the documentation states "Value for customs purposes only"

However, they are insured for the full replacement value as this is the amount that would be needed to be spent to obtain another unit if the one that was being shipped was lost.

In reality this is no different to taking an antique or other rare item to a professional to get it valued.
They will often give you two figures. Its value as it is, and its insurance valuation (how much you would need to spend to source and buy a replacement.

chancesare_2

richto wrote: »

The DSRs apply to most things sold to a UK customer. Other EU countries will have their own version of EU Directive 97/7/EC . You might not be able to enforce them in many cases, but if the USA company had a UK office you could...

DSR are for EC/EU not for worldwide. Not even if you are the buyer, buyer's aunty or friend of the milkman.

If you are unclear of the advice you are giving, then don't give any. Better still, when you are wrong, don't post. :rotfl:

Pembroke

This is what the HMRC website says about importing goods from outside the EU via the post.

Who is responsible for the information on the declaration?
If you are ordering or sending any goods from abroad, you - as the importer of goods - are legally responsible for the information on the Customs Declaration and for any charges due.
If you're ordering goods remotely, for example over the Internet or by mail order, it is in your own interest to make sure that the sender abroad makes a complete and accurate declaration.
If you're sending goods from abroad to the UK, then the recipient is legally responsible for the information on the Customs Declaration.

If no declaration is made, or the information is inaccurate, the package may be delayed whilst the UKBA makes further enquiries, and in some cases, the package and its contents may be seized.

More info here:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/customs-procedures.htm

If the package is seized as noted above then you will loose your money as HMRC will not return the item to the sender so you won't get a refund. It is in your best interest to sort it out soon.

shaun_from_Africa

then you will loose your money as HMRC will not return the item to the sender

This normally only applies to illegal goods (such as counterfeit goods, illegal knives etc).
Most packages that have unpaid import duties do get returned to the sender if their details are available.
The link you provided only stated that the package may be seized.