hassle from ControlAccount plc

Bookishgardener

I recently bought a tablet from a Hong Kong company, good price etc..A couple of weeks ago I had letters/calls from Control account plc chasing unpaid invoice from DHL for VAT not paid on my item. The supplier isn't interested. I've had no invoice yet but someone at Controlaccount said it was for the unpaid VAT (£35.38) plus a £10 admin fee. Control account have added £40 of their own fees plus are charging interest. I've still had no invoice despite requests. If i have to pay the VAT (do i?) that's fine I can reclaim it but the £50 plus fees seems a mickeytake to me, do I have to pay those as well.
Grateful for any help/advice. cheers

hollydays

You may have to pay fees for importing it.im guessing control acount are debt collectors.you could have sorted this out in the initial phone calls?

http://www.dutycalculator.com/country-guides/Import-duty-taxes-when-importing-into-the-United-Kingdom/

agrinnall

You say they are chasing an unpaid invoice from DHL, it's not clear from your post if you did in fact receive an invoice from DHL that had the VAT and their charge on it. If you did, you should have paid it and that way you'd have avoided the additional debt collection charge. If you didn't get anything from DHL then take it up with them in the first place.

bris

When you buy from outside the EU you need to pay duty and Vat(varies by product).

DHL pay this for you to save you the hassle of clearing customs and charge the fee for doing so, @ £10 it's a cheap service so you avoid the hassle of the clearance process, without this it doesn't leave the customs clearance at all until you do it.

They then invoice you and you are due this whether you thought so or not. It is your duty to know VAT and duty is payable on imported goods, the seller doesn't have to tell you as they don't care where they ship it.

You would have had invoices and reminders for this, but some people think it's a scam and bin the letters. Pay it before the debt spirals and it goes all the way to trashing your credit file for the next six years.