Fed ex charging me money

Ambledown1

Hi All,

I have recently been stung by this too. I ordered my wedding ring from the states and paid an extra 100 quid or so for shipping - this I was warned about by the company I brought the ring from. I then received a bill for over 100 quid from Fedex to pay for Customs Duty. I was unaware that I would incurr this additional cost. I guess if I purchase something in the UK they have to say if the VAT is included or not. Is there a case for not paying if the company in the States did not pre warn that the sales tax was excluded from the price stated on line?

Thanks

visidigi

What website did you order from?

dzug1

Ambledown1 wrote: »

Hi All,

I have recently been stung by this too. I ordered my wedding ring from the states and paid an extra 100 quid or so for shipping - this I was warned about by the company I brought the ring from. I then received a bill for over 100 quid from Fedex to pay for Customs Duty. I was unaware that I would incurr this additional cost. I guess if I purchase something in the UK they have to say if the VAT is included or not. Is there a case for not paying if the company in the States did not pre warn that the sales tax was excluded from the price stated on line?

Thanks

Anyone in the US knows that sales tax is always additional to quoted prices - so a US-centric company would see no reason to warn. It's a given.


Or is it UK duty you are complaining about?

wealdroam

Ambledown1 wrote: »

Is there a case for not paying if the company in the States did not pre warn that the sales tax was excluded from the price stated on line?

No............

visidigi

dzug1 wrote: »

Anyone in the US knows that sales tax is always additional to quoted prices - so a US-centric company would see no reason to warn. It's a given.


Or is it UK duty you are complaining about?

Its UK import duty.

fluffnutter

David Beckham and his lollipopped head missus got stung for this I seem to recall. She was spotted flashing her massive rock in all the papers when they got engaged proudly saying that 'Daaaaviiid got it in the States'. They got a call from HMRC shortly afterwards

earthstorm

visidigi wrote: »

Thats a fair call, ultimately the sender is liable for all charges,

Not True, how this works is the sender posts the item, this is placed in a shipping container and when it reaches the UK, you may be lucky in that the container your item is in does not get stopped for a search. If it does get stopped then the courier is charged by Customs, some couriers will deliver the item and invoice later and some will not release the goods too you until you pay the invoice.

Its a simple fact the courier has been charged duty on you item and now they want this money from you. why should the courier be out of pocket.

I have a wholesaler in the USA and i am always told and aware that you may be liable for customs charges when they enter the UK.

I was hit with a £500 customs bill 3 years ago, touch wood nothing since.

Hintza

visidigi wrote: »

Its UK import duty.

Import duty will be minimal it will be the 20% VAT that will make up the bulk of the charge.

earthstorm

Hintza wrote: »

Import duty will be minimal it will be the 20% VAT that will make up the bulk of the charge.

Import Duty is not just VAT it takes into account the country it comes from and the difference in retail/wholesale price depending if its a retail package or wholesale package using a scale Customs have set

wealdroam

My turn to sit back with the popcorn methinks.