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Parcelforce charging wrong clearance fee.
radiocaf
Posts: 12 Forumite
Hi Guys,
It's been a while since I've required advice like this, but I am hoping someone could help me.
I have ordered a parcel from a Canadian company, and for some reason it was dispatched from Taiwan (maybe the product is manufactured there?)
Now I know the crack with Import VAT and the like, and I expect that and make account for that whenever I import something, but my problem lies with Parcelforce's Clearance Fee. I don't agree with them paying on my behalf by default and then charging me fees to do that, and if the sender had of agreed, I would have gone the route of "Charges to be custom cleared by importer." But the problem is, I ordered the parcel through standard mail, but Parcelforce have taken the parcel as EMS, or Express, meaning they are attempting to charge me the higher rate of £13.50 rather than the standard rate of £8.
My item is worth £40, so 20% Import VAT adds £8 and now Parcelforce expect me to pay more than VAT in their own charges because they took it under their wing as Expedited even though it was ordered as standard.
Parcelforce aren't budging, saying that it's the shipper's mistake and I need to take it up with them, but they refuse to deliver my parcel until I pay them the requested amount. It's only £5.50 difference, but that's not the point, it's a matter of principle. If I let them charge me the higher rate for a standard rate parcel, I am encouraging them to do it to some other poor soul.
I have read (briefly) the Postal Services Act 2000 and have been directed to Section 83 (I can't link as I'm a new user (low post count)), where it states that the Postal Operator is committing an offense if he intentionally delays a parcel, but it states that this is contrary to his duty. I don't want to bring this up with them if I am just going to be blown out of the water with legislation. I don't really understand this sort of stuff, so I don't want to bring it up unless I know what I am doing.
So what I am asking is What do I do? I didn't request expedited or EMS shipping, and did not pay for it (to the supplier), so I believe I should be charged the lower rate. Parcelforce are holding my parcel ransom, is this illegal, and what can I do about it? What are my rights.
tl;dr: Parcelforce charging me the wrong clearance fee and holding my parcel until I pay it, what are my rights?
It's been a while since I've required advice like this, but I am hoping someone could help me.
I have ordered a parcel from a Canadian company, and for some reason it was dispatched from Taiwan (maybe the product is manufactured there?)
Now I know the crack with Import VAT and the like, and I expect that and make account for that whenever I import something, but my problem lies with Parcelforce's Clearance Fee. I don't agree with them paying on my behalf by default and then charging me fees to do that, and if the sender had of agreed, I would have gone the route of "Charges to be custom cleared by importer." But the problem is, I ordered the parcel through standard mail, but Parcelforce have taken the parcel as EMS, or Express, meaning they are attempting to charge me the higher rate of £13.50 rather than the standard rate of £8.
My item is worth £40, so 20% Import VAT adds £8 and now Parcelforce expect me to pay more than VAT in their own charges because they took it under their wing as Expedited even though it was ordered as standard.
Parcelforce aren't budging, saying that it's the shipper's mistake and I need to take it up with them, but they refuse to deliver my parcel until I pay them the requested amount. It's only £5.50 difference, but that's not the point, it's a matter of principle. If I let them charge me the higher rate for a standard rate parcel, I am encouraging them to do it to some other poor soul.
I have read (briefly) the Postal Services Act 2000 and have been directed to Section 83 (I can't link as I'm a new user (low post count)), where it states that the Postal Operator is committing an offense if he intentionally delays a parcel, but it states that this is contrary to his duty. I don't want to bring this up with them if I am just going to be blown out of the water with legislation. I don't really understand this sort of stuff, so I don't want to bring it up unless I know what I am doing.
So what I am asking is What do I do? I didn't request expedited or EMS shipping, and did not pay for it (to the supplier), so I believe I should be charged the lower rate. Parcelforce are holding my parcel ransom, is this illegal, and what can I do about it? What are my rights.
tl;dr: Parcelforce charging me the wrong clearance fee and holding my parcel until I pay it, what are my rights?
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Comments
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Pay the fee, get your parcel and take up refunding the excess with the supplier - I can't see that Parcelforce have done anything wrong or that you have any claim against them. And they aren't delaying delivery, you haven't paid what you owe them so why should they deliver it?0
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I can't help much, but your quoting of the 'Section 83' is completely irrelevant, as it is the amount of duty you are quibbling about, not the fact you need to pay it.
If the supplier did pay for expedited shipping to you (and not charged you for it), then sadly that's just a fact of life and as they are overseas and the sum is small there's not much you can do. You can choose to either have the parcel sent back or you can pay the fee. It is not illegal.0 -
it will not just be your parcel. it is just unlucky for you that the parcelforce container was the one picked by customs. PF would get charged by customs for the whole container and then work a fee out per item to cover the charges they have been charged. Standard VAT is 20% but Import Duty is totally different and will be higher that std VAT0
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Yeah, it is a lottery every time, I always hope for no charges, but I never mind when I have them because I have been lucky on more occasions than not. I can see how the Section 83 won't apply, but then I can't help but feel it applies because they are refusing to deliver my parcel. Could I not ask them to send it back to customs and I will arrange delivery through a handler who won't charge me such a stupid amount? That does seem a bit silly to be honest, so what can I do about getting them to charge me the lower rate? I can't imagine I have a leg to stand on, but if anyone will know, it'll be you guys!0
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No because PF would have already paid customs so will want their money. Section 83 won't apply as they are not purposly withholdng the parcel. Charges are outstanding on the parcel so once these are paid it will be delivered.Could I not ask them to send it back to customs and I will arrange delivery through a handler who won't charge me such a stupid amount? That does seem a bit silly to be honest, so what can I do about getting them to charge me the lower rate? I can't imagine I have a leg to stand on, but if anyone will know, it'll be you guys!0 -
Ahh okay, well that's it then, this one is a win for Parcelforce. Oh well, you win some you lose some. Thanks guys!
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It's not a win for parcelforce they are not playing a game. If you buy something from outside the EU you need to clear customs, good luck finding someone to do it for such a small fee. If you wanted to do it yourself then you need to tell the sender how you want it delivered befor delivery, not after. Doing it yourself would still cost a fee and the paperwork would hold up your delivery for ages while its dealt with, but I am sure you know that, right?Ahh okay, well that's it then, this one is a win for Parcelforce. Oh well, you win some you lose some. Thanks guys!0 -
Doing it yourself would still cost a fee and the paperwork would hold up your delivery for ages while its dealt with, but I am sure you know that, right?
no matter how you do it, if the container you parcel is in gets stopped by customs then you will end up with custom fees, which most likely be higher than PF are charging as PF have split the fee amongst several people.
a few years back we ordered some UGG boots direct from UGG Australia, then arrived direct to us, 2 months later my brother ( different address) orders some boots the same way from UGG direct, but this time he got a letter from the courier to say he needed to pay a custom fee as the container was stopped by customs. so it is all pot luck ordering from outside the EU0 -
I'd love to see you go to the port, sit and wait for your package and clear it yourself.
It's not as easy as you think!0 -
mattyprice4004 wrote: »I'd love to see you go to the port, sit and wait for your package and clear it yourself.
It's not as easy as you think!
You don't need to go to the port.
All that is needed is for the sender to write "goods to be Customs cleared by the importer" on the package.
Once the shipment has arrived in the UK, a form will be sent to the addressee, and they will have to fill this out and return it to HMRC who will then calculate the import duties.
They will then tell you how much to pay and once they have received this payment, they will release the package for delivery.0
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