Royal Mail Customs Charge

soolin

MiscUser wrote: »

I've understood what you've said until the sentence "unless you do your own clearance" I was slightly unaware, since this is the second time I purchased from outside the EU, but the first time I had no problems, although the item is slightly larger this time.

I didn't wonder because I don't keep up with current trends, but then again the item was from Ebay, and the seller (US) sold it quite cheap for such a rare product. I think I would have gone for the UK option, but it wasn't exactly available in this instance. I guess I'll pay, it is the first time after all.

This is not a new thing incidentally, rules have relaxed a great deal to actually allow a much easier international trading platform generally. I am old enough (just) to remember when even the currency we travelled with was subject to a limit, we used to have to take our passport to the bank when we bought our currency and it was noted how much we had and when I was young the limit was something really low like £50 per person per week. No international usage on credit cards either.

Gosh- how times have changed- any time now I may start rabbiting on about silver sixpences and half crowns....

vuvuzela

MiscUser wrote: »

I was unaware hospitality was so different on this forum, that I'm not allowed to ask a simple question without having some person with a silver soon shoved up their !!! to howl in my ear. But in my haste to ask for assistance I may have left out a small detail. I'm quite young and I'm slightly new to the world of online shopping. This is the second time I have bought something outside the EU, and the first this charge has been applied upon the goods.

Quoted for posterity.
The answer you got was not rude, condescending or self-important. It was factual, and you chucking your toys from the pram won't help.

nickcc

OP your certainly not the first person to be caught out by duty and collection charges and I'm pretty sure you won't be the last. I bought a camera from the US about 10 years ago for a very good price, when it arrived I also had to pay the duty and collection charges so in the end a camera that seemed a bargain turned out more expensive than buying from the likes of Jessops and what was worse it also turned out to be a factory refurb. I can't even put my age to blame unless you count middle age

shaun_from_Africa

MiscUser wrote: »

I was unaware hospitality was so different on this forum, that I'm not allowed to ask a simple question without having some person with a silver soon shoved up their !!! to howl in my ear.

"Howl in my ear"
Talk about exaggeration.
All I posted was one question and 2 facts, nothing insulting (unlike your childish reply).
If you didn't want factual answers, why bother posting in the first place?

My post:

Why not? A question
As the importer, you are responsible for paying any import duties and handling/collection fees that are due, and VAT is normally liable on any goods over £15 in value. A fact

What you paid to the seller is nothing whatsoever to do with what you are now being asked to pay. Another fact

Fire_Fox

Nothing to do with eBay or the seller
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/internet.htm
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/customs-travel/customs/postal/
http://ask.ofcom.org.uk/help/post/mailhandling

ERICS_MUM

MiscUser wrote: »

I was unaware hospitality was so different on this forum, that I'm not allowed to ask a simple question without having some person with a silver soon shoved up their !!! to howl in my ear. But in my haste to ask for assistance I may have left out a small detail. I'm quite young and I'm slightly new to the world of online shopping. This is the second time I have bought something outside the EU, and the first this charge has been applied upon the goods.

I didn't see anything offensive in the post to which you refer. It was just plain facts, stated plainly.

Francesanne

MiscUser wrote: »

Hello

I purchased a few items from Ebay not long ago from the United States and paid the P&P the seller was offering. It took quite some time for the items to reach the UK, but now Royal Mail have sent me a notice saying I have to pay £13.48 which is a high amount. The total of the items is £43.78, which doesn't include the postage I paid to the seller to get it here. I don't wish to pay this fee, any suggestions?

Thank You

I also got caught out ordering an item from the USA with customs duty. I hadn't bid for any overseas items at that point and was very naive but I've learnt my lesson. Thankfully, I was bidding on behalf of my husband and he had to pay the duty. I now don't order anything greater than £15.00 in value. If it's more expensive then I don't bid for it. He had to pay roughly what you've been asked to pay but if you don't pay you won't get your goods. It's an expensive lesson & we've both learnt the hard way.