Royal Mail's £8 customs handling charge - any way to avoid? Is it legal?

Nemo1966

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

Do your own clearance then and see how much longer it takes.

I have had customs requests directly from other operators and it delayed the package 2 days. So I guess it took minus 12 days longer. The operator sent me a letter (the next day) telling me I owed the amount stated - I rang them and paid. Sorted. With Parcelfarce I have waited 10 days just to get the letter from them!!!


This for is the main problem with Parcelfarce, they hold your package for ransom and don't even have the curtousy to act in a prompt manner. They know they have you by the short and curlies and don't give a tom tit.



I like the old system where you got your parcel and then got a bill from customs with an import bill, the pacel wasn't delayed at all and I wasn't FORCED to pay an admin fee to a company who I did not hire or authorise to interfere my my parcel.


Perhaps a good basis for a new company here though, I could follow postmen around and then intercept them at peoples gates, take the mail off them and then go to the door and charge the recipient an admin fee for processing it for that short distance. Would I get arrested??? Well yes of course.... but I guess Parcelfarce are above such litigations.

shaun_from_Africa

powerful_Rogue wrote: »

Do your own clearance then and see how much longer it takes.

At a guess 3-4 weeks is probably more likely.

The goods get passed to Royal Mail in the UK who then have to separate the self clearance items from the ones they process and put them in a bonded store.

They then contact HMRC and provide details of the package.
HMRC then have to calculate the duties payable (bearing in mind that they will have plenty of other business to attend to and this will far from being a priority)

Once they have worked out what is due, they then write to the importer to advise them of the charges.
Once the importer has received this letter, sent the payment and they payment has cleared, HMRC then contact Royal Mail to let them know that the package can be released from bond and it will then be delivered in the normal way.

I've never done it myself as I'm more than happy to spend £8 to make my life easier and whenever I've bought stuff from the USA, it has always taken far less than two weeks to get to me once it had arrived in the UK.

Nemo1966

shaun_from_Africa wrote: »

At a guess 3-4 weeks is probably more likely.

Complete an utter BS, you should stick to facts as guesses really don't help. I've been ordering from the states for some 20 years and never had a parcel delayed for that time. Did you just think of a number and quadruple it for fun?


Other couriers manage to get customs work done in mere days, but Parcelforce take weeks. Simply because they are useless, like our councils, Police, MP's etc

powerful_Rogue

Nemo1966 wrote: »

Complete an utter BS. I've been ordering from the states for some 20 years and never had a parcel delayed for that time. Did you just think of a number and quadruple it for fun?


Other couriers manage to get customs work done in mere days, but Parcelforce take weeks. Simply because they are useless.

For items that have been marked for clearance by the importer, a full declaration will be sent to you to complete and return to the appropriate customs postal office.


They will calculate any import charges and write and advise you of your tax liability.


When you have paid this and the funds have been cleared, your goods will be released for delivery.


However, as a manual procedure there could be a considerable delay in the receipt of your goods.

https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/how-declare-goods-when-importing-post

Ive never had any issues with Parcel Force. They also dont hold your parcel to ransom, simply self declare, but as you already do that, I cant see what the issue is.

shaun_from_Africa

Nemo1966 wrote: »

Complete an utter BS, you should stick to facts as guesses really don't help. I've been ordering from the states for some 20 years and never had a parcel delayed for that time. Did you just think of a number and quadruple it for fun?

So you've been importing from the States for over 20 years and yet you still rely on RM to do the clearance for you despite complaining that it can delay the packages for up to 2 weeks?
If you are so experienced, why aren't you doing it yourself?


If my estimate of 3-4 weeks is wrong, how long do you think the process that I described will actually take?

custardy

Nemo1966 wrote: »

Well pointing out what a tool custardy is for a start. Worth it's weight in gold as far as I am concerned.

ShALLaX

I've opened a change.org petition regarding this. If anyone feels the same way, feel free to sign: https://www.change.org/p/ofcom-reform-international-postage-carrier-handling-fees

This isn't about trying to get out of paying the duties imposed by HMRC, but more about clarifying the recipient's position and suggesting a way in which the fee could be abolished.

LilElvis

ShALLaX wrote: »

I've opened a change.org petition regarding this. If anyone feels the same way, feel free to sign: https://www.change.org/p/ofcom-reform-international-postage-carrier-handling-fees

This isn't about trying to get out of paying the duties imposed by HMRC, but more about clarifying the recipient's position and suggesting a way in which the fee could be abolished.

If you don't want to pay a handling fee then organise the clearance yourself. No changes required. No petition required.

LilElvis

ShALLaX wrote: »

I've opened a change.org petition regarding this. If anyone feels the same way, feel free to sign: https://www.change.org/p/ofcom-reform-international-postage-carrier-handling-fees

This isn't about trying to get out of paying the duties imposed by HMRC, but more about clarifying the recipient's position and suggesting a way in which the fee could be abolished.

And please stop bumping ancient threads (3 I've seen) just so that you can post spam about your petition.

lovinituk

ShALLaX wrote: »

I've opened a change.org petition regarding this. If anyone feels the same way, feel free to sign: https://www.change.org/p/ofcom-reform-international-postage-carrier-handling-fees

This isn't about trying to get out of paying the duties imposed by HMRC, but more about clarifying the recipient's position and suggesting a way in which the fee could be abolished.

Have you actually read either of the threads you have posted this in? As above, you can do your own clearance to avoid fees but it is a longer process. Why should the carriers do this for you for free? Yes, I'd love it to be free but I also understand that they are businesses, not charities.

Perhaps you could start your own clearance charity to ensure that no-one in the country ever has to pay a clearance fee again? Would be interesting to see where your funding comes from!