Import Charges

Cakeasaur

I took part in a gift exchange and received my gift a couple of weeks ago. It was sent from the USA and valued at $20. I have just had a letter from FedEx saying that I now need to pay £61.57!! This can't be right surely? Their own website states that items valued under £36 and marked as gifts (it was) are exempt from import taxes. I don't understand how the fees can be this high from something they value at £13.76 by their own exchange rates. If I had known before that it would have cost this much to receive it I would have refused delivery.

How do I go about contesting this charge as by their own T&Cs this is incorrect.

visidigi

What was in the parcel?

Browntoa

its not the stated value on the "gift" but the actual value that's used for import charges

Cakeasaur

That was the actual value of the parcel is the thing. It was various shop bought food, crisps, chocolate, a bottle of maple syrup etc. The receipt was even in the parcel if they had opened to check it out.

I get your point with marking values as lower than they should be to avoid charges but that wasn't what happened in this case.

visidigi

sounds like a mistake - it wasn't delivered to a business address was it?

Cakeasaur

No, sender had a residential address and was sent to a residential address.

I'll pop them an email to check with them. Wanted to see if this was a normal level of taxes for something like that before I challenge them.

pendragon_arther

I had this once and it was a mistake, their computer cocked it up.

Alter_ego

pendragon_arther wrote: »

I had this once and it was a mistake, their computer cocked it up.

I think it's fair to say that computers cannot do that!

unholyangel

To qualify as gifts, goods must be:

described as gifts on the customs declaration
for a birthday, anniversary or other occasion
bought and sent between individuals (not companies)
intended for personal use

You pay VAT on goods sent from non-European Union (EU) countries and EU special territories (eg the Canary Islands) if they’re:

gifts worth more than £34
other goods worth more than £15
alcohol, tobacco products and fragrances (eg perfume, eau de toilette and cologne) of any value

Looks like they have interpreted the $20 as £20 and then charged VAT on the item cost + shipping possibly. Do you know how much the shipping was?

They can be pains in the !!! with $ values - I've repeatedly had issues with them taking the value as £. If you pay the fee, you can then contact HMRC @ mount pleasant or something similar (sorry, memory isn't always the best!) and they'll refund the tax paid when you provide proof the value is below the limit, but you won't be refunded the handling fee (which is usually between £8-£12 if memory serves) because they "provided the service" - despite the fact the service was wrongly provided! .