Import duty Urgent help please

sassygirl_2

Hi,
Im trying to help my mum out, and she has been threatened by DHL, so could do with some urgent help please

Back in Jan 2012 my mum bought a dress from china (its a shop)
The item arrived into the country 28th Feb and mum got dress shortly after.
Delivered by DHL

Two days ago (26th Nov) she received a letter stating she owed import duty. threatening to send it to the debt collectors if she did not pay within 7 days.
This is the first letter she has ever received from DHL and first she knew about import duty. The Invoice they have emailed to her has an invoice date of April, but she never got an invoice

There was nothing on the original letter about what item it was for or any reference number etc.
So she called them and they sent the invoice by email

This is the invoice...... there's another 3 pages but i cant get them to save as a JPEG as they are in PDF form Can they invoice after she has received the goods?





Thankyou in advance

custardy

yes they can

porto_bello

Being chased by a company that is used to chasing for payment and extracting it and for the sake of £17, if I was in the same position and if the charges related to a genuine item, I think I'd pay up quickly.

theonlywayisup

Yes, they can and they do, it's not at all uncommon.

How much was the purchase price? (sorry on a phone and can't see the invoice)

sassygirl_2

the purchase price was £59USD

theonlywayisup

VAT is payable for items over £15 from outside the EU, so without my PC I am guessing this is 40£ so Vat of 8 - or thereabouts. And then a fee by the carrier, from 8£ to £15.

Does that tally with the invoice? I've used mental arithmetic so don't quote me!

custardy

£10 fee & £7 odds in VAT for those that can't see it

theonlywayisup

Thanks, I am that person with no view! But just re read portos post and think it must be just that.

sassygirl_2

Thankyou very much, i have passed your comments on to my mum

RFW

I'd be asking why it took 9 months to demand the payment, if they did originally invoice in April then they wouldn't have waited another 7 months to ask again.

I'd also ask for supporting documentation from HMRC.

They can only get the money, if it is not volunteered, by going to court. For £17 they won't go to court. If they did I would be surprised if a judge found in their favour given the length of time between delivery and them asking for money.

I'd suggest contacting Trading Standards for advice.

paddyrg

RFW wrote: »

I'd suggest contacting Trading Standards for advice.

Hopefully they'll say 'well, you do owe the money so why not pay it?'