DHL Icorrect VAT value

sarahe18

I need some advise on how to dispute with DHL about being mischarged.

I am happy to pay VAT. My issue is that the hong kong company marked the value of content as $636.93 when it was actually $70.77. I am required to pay 20% of the packages value plus an £8 admission fee. Because they have marked the package contents as being worth $636.93, i am required to pay 20% of that amount PLUS the admission charge. I should only be paying 20% of $70.77. DHL are now saying i need to pay them £84.60 immediately. I already actually have the parcel, this letter was sent out 2 months after i received the goods.
I tried contacting the website i got the stuff from they are admitting it is their mistake for the incorrect package value. However all they are offering to do is give me a gift card of half the bill. I have no plans to order from them again so that is no use to me.

I went ahead and emailed DHL about my issue. This is their reply.

"Thank you for your recent enquiry to which I have been asked to respond. As I understand, you are querying the import taxes charged as you believe that the declared value of the shipping charge has been overstated.

In order to consider an amendment of import taxes, Customs require that the correct commercial invoice be produced, along with proof of freight charges paid. On receipt of the required documentation I can submit a claim to Customs for the charges to be recalculated.

If proof of payment is not available, please supply the below mention declaration on your signed company letterhead.

I certify that the invoice number_______________ is a true representation of the price paid or payable, and of the goods contained in, shipment Air waybill number ______________. Where the invoice includes freight costs, either itemised or said to be otherwise included in the invoice total, these costs truly represent the amounts paid by the importer. Furthermore any other costs or considerations pertaining the imported goods are included in the amount declared. I authorise DHL to act as my representative in processing adjustments to Customs duties based upon the details provided. "

I have no idea what any of this means and no one on the dhl phone lines are any help. I need help understanding this email and through the process. I am 18 and £80 is a lot to pay due to the shippers mistake. I should only be paying around £16-£17 for VAT. All i have as proof of the actually packages value is screenshots of the order from the website and i paid on paypal so there's no bank statement proof.

Private Messages are welcomed, i really hope i can resolve this i don't want this to affect my credit or for bailiffs to turn up.

neilmcl

I thought it was pretty obvious myself. They want to see a copy of your original invoice incl. delivery charges to see what the true value of the item is. If you can't provide this then you use the template they sent you to self-certify the value and send this back to DHL.

Hintza

Looks as if you have used US£ to buy and they have used HK$ on the parcel?

sarahe18

Hintza wrote: »

Looks as if you have used US£ to buy and they have used HK$ on the parcel?

No, i see what you mean though. They put the unit value as $70 and there was 9 units, so its multiplied the value by 9 when in fact the whole parcel value was $70

sarahe18

neilmcl wrote: »

I thought it was pretty obvious myself. They want to see a copy of your original invoice incl. delivery charges to see what the true value of the item is. If you can't provide this then you use the template they sent you to self-certify the value and send this back to DHL.

I don't know if a screenshot of the order from the website counts. It even has a tracking number at the top. Would they accept that do you think?

neilmcl

Does the website not have an invoice you can download/display?

At the very least a screenshot wont do any harm, especally if the tracking number matches the DHL tracking info, included with template DHL sent you.

At the end of the day all that DHL are asking for is some evidence to provide HMRC of the real value of the item you imported.

wealdroam

sarahe18 wrote: »

I don't know if a screenshot of the order from the website counts. It even has a tracking number at the top. Would they accept that do you think?

Have you thought of asking DHL that question?

visidigi

Commercial Invoice is shipper's responsibility, you need to get this from the shipper and have it submitted to HMRC - a screenshot won't cut it as its not an official business provided document

sarahe18

visidigi wrote: »

Commercial Invoice is shipper's responsibility, you need to get this from the shipper and have it submitted to HMRC - a screenshot won't cut it as its not an official business provided document

Thanks for this info. For all i can remember the invoice may have been in the actual parcel but all the packaged has since been discarded. I will work on getting the invoice from the company. But they are terrible at english, it took me a long time to even explain what had happened.

I called DHL again today and they confirmed i am not required to make the payment immediately as the letter stated because i have opened a case via email. So hopefully they won't chase me for it.

visidigi

sarahe18 wrote: »

Thanks for this info. For all i can remember the invoice may have been in the actual parcel but all the packaged has since been discarded. I will work on getting the invoice from the company. But they are terrible at english, it took me a long time to even explain what had happened.

I called DHL again today and they confirmed i am not required to make the payment immediately as the letter stated because i have opened a case via email. So hopefully they won't chase me for it.

The CI is sent with the shipment, its whats used to clear as its a shipper signed document - you will need to get another one from the shipper. You can ask DHL if they can open a request for the shipper location to contact the shipper in local language if there are language issues.