Am I entitled to be angry or have I been an idiot?

Kentuser123

Hi all,

First post here and hope you can help.

I recently bought an engagement ring from the US and I live in the UK. The ring was about $1500. I was charged an additional $50 for 'shipping and handling' at the checkout. Fast forward about 3 weeks later and I've taken a day off work to wait in for the ring, costing me about £450 in lost earnings as I am self employed. The delivery guy shows up at about 5pm (always happens) in an unmarked white van despite it being UPS who are supposed to be delivering the item. He then demands £220.12 in 'brokerage fees' and this must be paid by cash or cheque there and then for him to release the package. I was pretty incredulous and asked what these are for as no one has mentioned these to me and he doesn't know.

I tell him to re deliver the package in a couple of days while I sort it out as to me this seems very dodgy. I then send an email to the company who I bought the ring from and they tell me it is standard practice for duties and taxes to be charged for international shipping and that this is outlined in their 'FAQ' part of their site.

Now, maybe I'm being naive, but I didn't know this and I would expect some communication from someone, be it the people who sold me the ring or UPS that I would be charged these fees, at the very least so that I could have had the money ready on delivery rather than me now having to take another day off work and lose even more money. Having this information in the FAQ section of your site, far away from where my transaction actually took place seems like a bit of a cop out.

What do you think? Am I being unreasonable to expect compensation of some kind?

Thanks, T

Shaka_Zulu

Unfortunately you are being unreasonable, it is incumbrent upon you to know the law. You can't expect the seller to know all the duties etc payable in any one country. UPS are just the delivery agent.

You are being charged the VAT at 20% plus a clearing fee. The amount seems about right.

qwert_yuiop

It's correct that a ring imported from the USA is subject to customs duty.
Had they a warning on their website to suggest checking the law in your place of residence? I've seen this quite often.

soolin

I think it all depends on how often you buy from overseas, I buy a lot so to me having to pay tax, duty handling etc on imported items from outside the EU is entirely expected. I can't see why compensation for anything would be appropriate here at all

Tigsteroonie

I think you have been naive, and didn't realise that bringing goods into the country (even mail ordering) can result in the need to pay additional duties/taxes in the UK to obtain the item. Unfortunately, that is the case; and the company did explain this in their FAQ.

PasturesNew

You have a right to be angry ... because you didn't know that you didn't know - but this is all perfectly normal. Apparently random fees for duties/taxes - because the company receiving them at the port/warehouse on your behalf and forwarding them on will have had to pay these fees.

You are importing a high value item from outside the European Union, is your starting point.

It's unfortunate that in today's Internet world, most people don't think of it as importing until they're hit with the duty/tax/VAT/whatever is applicable to that item between those two countries.

Rainbowgirl84

~Three days wages on an engagement ring? Thought the figure it is said to be should ~three months?

Kentuser123

Ok thanks everyone for the advice. Definitely looks like I've been an idiot which is a situation I'm familiar with ��.

Kentuser123

Haha Rainbowgirl my girlfriend hates the idea of spending a lot on the ring and is very ethical about stone origin. Plus I'm tight.

wealdroam

Dove1991 wrote: »

Haha Rainbowgirl my girlfriend hates the idea of spending a lot on the ring and is very ethical about stone origin. Plus I'm tight.

Send the ring back then. I'm sure she'll understand.

hollydays

Dove1991 wrote: »

Haha Rainbowgirl my girlfriend hates the idea of spending a lot on the ring and is very ethical about stone origin. Plus I'm tight.

How are you sure about the origins on this site?
You do know us women are a Little complicated don't you? :eek:
You need to balance her requirements, your effort , and the fact that women will possibly remember things you did wrong thirty years later.
Why not suggest you both search for an ethical company?