Fed Ex Customs Invoice - But I've Already Had My Item!

no1wf

I bought a video game from Japan the other week, cost me about £160-odd, it's arrived and everything is fine.

Today I've received an invoice from Fed Ex for:
Disbursements out of the scope of EU VAT £28.23
Clearance Adminstration Charge Vatable at 0% £10.75

I've had a quick search online and seen some people getting out of paying because there was never a contract agreed about something so it was let go, I'm wondering if anyone knows about it?

I've already got my item though, would they be any the wiser if I just didn't pay!?

Buzby

Not really. You imported goods, and you need to pay the fees as a consequence of this. FedEx will have paid HMR&C at the month end. If you do not pay, they may recall the payment and pass your details to a Debt Collector.

When it comes to taxes, there is no requirement for a contract or acceptance. Your POD signature will have you bang to rights - and tax evasion is not treated lightly. FedEx also put you on a blacklist,nose no other deliveries will be made to your address in the future.

Also, the clearance fees seem very reasonable - it's usually twice that.

no1wf

To be fair though they shouldn't have given me my item if there was a charge to pay, that's a bit backwards to me!

However, the admin charge I'm seeing I shouldn't have to pay as there's been no contract between me and fedex to ship my parcel, the contract is between fedex and the company who hired them. And I was not made aware that I'd have to pay any such fee when receiving my item.

http://gug.sdf-eu.org/fedex.html

http://www.craig-west.co.uk/2008/11/how_to_beat_unlawful_admin_charges_by_fedex/

bazzyb

no1wf wrote: »

And I was not made aware that I'd have to pay any such fee when receiving my item.

By whom? You were the importer, it was your responsibility to find out the costs of importing said item!

How were HMRC to know that you were planning on importing goods from Japan, and what did you expect them to do? Turn up on your doorstep and talk you through it before you ordered it?

no1wf

bazzyb wrote: »

By whom? You were the importer, it was your responsibility to find out the costs of importing said item!

How were HMRC to know that you were planning on importing goods from Japan, and what did you expect them to do? Turn up on your doorstep and talk you through it before you ordered it?

Sorry I should have been more clear, I was talking about the administration charge

lisyloo

Sorry I should have been more clear, I was talking about the administration charge

You haven't said where you bought it from, but normally the seller would have terms and conditions to cover this.
Normally the Ts&Cs say something to the effect that YOU are responsible for all customs charges and related admin fees.

Did you not know fees applied to imports?
Did you read the Ts&Cs.

If not then I guess it's a slightly expensive lesson - but presumably you bought from Japan because you saved some money? so you could look at the overall price if that make you feel not so bad.

terra_ferma

I'm not an expert but it seems obvious to me that the admin charge is not enforceable (totally different story for the custom charges and vat obviously).
You don't have a contract with Fed Ex (the arrangement is missing the most basic elements of a contract, e.g. offer and acceptance). They can't just knock at your door and demand you to pay for a service that you didn't agree to.

What could happen is that if you don't pay they will charge the retailer (their contract is with them and likely to include some clause about them being responsible for any customs/admin fees that they are not able to collect). In theory the retailer could come after you if their t&c are tight, but seems unlikely, as they are in Japan.

As for Fed Ex blacklisting you, I've never heard of it and have not found any examples online, but the I'm sure the poster who mentioned it will be able to provide some links.

I have to say that you were lucky that it wasn't Royal Mail though, they simply refuse to give you the parcel until you have paid all charges in full.