TNT asking me to pay 'duty'...

nobile

Hi, in January a very close friend of mine who had moved home & had no fixed address asked me if it was OK to have a parcel delivered to my home for his collection - not a problem.

It was from abroad, just clothing etc with a low value (addressed to me in my name) About a month after receiving it, I got a letter/invoice in the post from TNT requesting £27 - they said that they had paid it, and I now owed it to them.

I ignored it - 4 months on they've requested the payment again, & said they would consider legal action.

My friend is long gone & emigrated. I wouldnt hassle him for the money anyway. The plonker who sent it foolishly said the package was worth $70 when in fact it was worth no more than about £20!

Any advice? I'd rather not pay it - I didnt ask them to! What would you guys do?

ballisticbrian

Relax man! Pay your tax!

19lottie82

They won't consider legal action. You didn't sign anything saying you would agree to pay it before or after the parcel was sent. I wouldn't worry about it.

Loanranger

Pay the tax, it is owed and has already been paid by TNT to HMRC.
Then tell your !!!!less friend he owes you 27 pounds.

[simon]

Hello.

Pay it

theoretica

Might you ever want to receive things through TNT again? They have been known to blacklist addresses.

superbigal36

I would call TNT to discuss the invoice.
If you explain that the shippers commercial value declaration was wrong you may end up with a couple of choices.
TNT may put the invoice on hold and send you various links that you can convince HMRC that the bill is incorrect.
If you pay it again you should then be able to possibly reclaim yourself from HMRC assuming you can provide evidence.


https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/import-and-export-application-for-repaymentremission-c285

RFW

No one has asked if the parcel was addressed to you?
I assume it was given you've opened subsequent invoices.
If it wasn't then you can tell them it isn't your debt or problem.

If it was you can, as suggested, call TNT and discuss it, ignore it and it will probably go away, or pay up.

In my opinion the couriers should only be allowed to charge for the HMRC charge, what they do is add £10-£20 on top as some kind of service charge. As the recipient is (usually) not the one who has had the contract with the courier, I believe that that charge is not enforceable in law.

unforeseen

RFW wrote: »

No one has asked if the parcel was addressed to you?

From the original post

It was from abroad, just clothing etc with a low value (addressed to me in my name)

RFW

unforeseen wrote: »

From the original post

Ah yes, I wondered who'd be the first to spot that

theonlywayisup

I shouldn't worry too much the OP hasn't been back.