Charged the wrong import duty by Chonopost - Need help to claim it back

undescriptive

Hello everyone,

This is going to be quite a long post - so apologies in advance!

I ordered some goods from china (from !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).
I have used the company before and I have been happy with the goods and service.

I placed my order for my goods which totalled $68.13 with free delivery

This time I ordered however, they shipped my package via Chronopost (based in france)

A week after ordering, I received an email from Chronopost stating that I would have to pay duty.

This was expected and I had no issues with paying expected duty on my package, however, the duty I was told I had to pay was 214 EUROs ($230 USD - 160UKP)!

I got in touch with both the shipper and Chronopost to try and resolve this.

I was told by the Focalprice that they are not allowed to accept electronic returns back to Hong Kong and would likely lose my goods and not get a refund if Chronopost returned them.

I paid the customs charge using Chronopost's online system.

The package arrived and I noticed that it had been opened and resealed - I checked that all items were present (they were) and then I saw that Chronopost had calculated the duty on $953.82!

They had taken the original total cost of the package and then multiplied it by the number of items in the box.

The package consisted of a couple of "cheap" mobile phones, some cables and some components to repair some gadgets.

Focalprice have been very helpful and have sent through all the paperwork to me for the purchase, however, Chronopost do not want to help - even though I have given them proof of their mess up

Chronopost also do not seem to have an email address to contact them, but they have been responding to my enquiries by Twitter.

As the customs stuff was done in France (and not the UK), the HMRC have told me they can't help and I have to go via the French authorities.

Has anyone had any experiences of claiming back wrong duty from France (or another country) with an unhelpful courier?

What can I do? My duty charges should have been at most 20UKP (not the 160 I paid)

If any further info/images of invoices/etc are required, I'll gladly post them here...

Any help greatfully received,
Pete

Exile_geordie

I take it you paid the charges by card? If so speak to your card issuer to see if they can help -

undescriptive

Cracking Idea!
Yes, I did make the payment by credit card.... I'll get in touch with the issuer

Exile_geordie

I only have 2 a month so I use them wisely.

InsideInsurance

undescriptive wrote: »

I saw that Chronopost had calculated the duty on $953.82!

They had taken the original total cost of the package and then multiplied it by the number of items in the box.

You need to work out if this really is a mistake by Chronopost or DGFIP.

On a single package its normally the tax authority that will have invoiced the importer and then in this sort of arrangement the merchant just bills you the same + some handling fee.

If they are importing in bulk and the breaking out into consignments then they are going to have to calculate the proportion of tax/ duty that is relevant to your share of the consignment.

undescriptive

I have the postage label here with a very clear 14x statement value on it.

I also have the original shipping info from the seller....

Definitely Chronopost's fault (all on their headed stuff)

wealdroam

undescriptive wrote: »

The package arrived and I noticed that it had been opened and resealed - I checked that all items were present (they were) and then I saw that Chronopost had calculated the duty on $953.82!

They had taken the original total cost of the package and then multiplied it by the number of items in the box.

Firstly, Chronopost have calculated nothing.
Chronopost are only reporting what the French Customs have told them.

undescriptive wrote: »

I have the postage label here with a very clear 14x statement value on it.

I also have the original shipping info from the seller....

Definitely Chronopost's fault (all on their headed stuff)

Unfortunately, your 'very clear' statement isn't clear enough.

If the customs declaration, completed by the sender, says or implies that there are fourteen items in the package and each one is valued at $68.13, then it is reasonable for French Customs to calculate the total value as a somewhat larger sum.

As said earlier, you need to get into a dialogue with the French Customs people and/or Chronopost.

stevenhp1987

Why would you pay £160 duty on <$70 worth of goods? Surely you would know something is up before you pay... generally, you can't get duty back!

George_Michael

Exile_geordie wrote: »

I take it you paid the charges by card? If so speak to your card issuer to see if they can help -

It's very unlikely that the card issuer will do anything as the transaction that they were involved was not in any way fraudulent.
The OP asked their credit card issuer to make a payment of £160 to Chronopost and they have done exactly what was asked of them by the account holder.