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Disputing a customs charge + Royal Mail fee

confusedmummy
confusedmummy Posts: 187 Forumite
in Ebay, auctions, car boot sales, post & parcels
I ordered something from a company in America (I have done this many times before). The total including postage was £14.67 (I am looking at my online invoice as I type this).

I have just received a Royal Mail charge card wanting me to pay £11.05 for "customs charge + £8 Royal Mail handling fee).

Obviously this is incorrect as no VAT is charged on imports under £15.

What can I do to dispute this?

Thanks

Comments

  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 74,794 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    confusedmummy wrote: »
    I ordered something from a company in America (I have done this many times before). The total including postage was £14.67 (I am looking at my online invoice as I type this).

    I have just received a Royal Mail charge card wanting me to pay £11.05 for "customs charge + £8 Royal Mail handling fee).

    Obviously this is incorrect as no VAT is charged on imports under £15.

    What can I do to dispute this?

    Thanks

    What figure did the sender declare? It is likely that the sender declared the price in dollars and a small difference in the conversion rate has pushed it over the limit.
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 74,794 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Also if you scroll down to the bottom of this page there is a form to dispute the charge:

    https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • confusedmummy
    confusedmummy Posts: 187 Forumite
    soolin wrote: »
    Also if you scroll down to the bottom of this page there is a form to dispute the charge:

    https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad/tax-and-duty

    Thank you. It looks like they only refund the customs charge if you are successful. Is there any way of disputing the Royal Mail handling fee too?
  • martindow
    martindow Posts: 10,674 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    confusedmummy wrote: »
    I ordered something from a company in America (I have done this many times before). The total including postage was £14.67 (I am looking at my online invoice as I type this).

    I have just received a Royal Mail charge card wanting me to pay £11.05 for "customs charge + £8 Royal Mail handling fee).

    Obviously this is incorrect as no VAT is charged on imports under £15.

    What can I do to dispute this?

    Thanks
    It looks like there is a substantial error or the US sender has considerably over-declared the value. The customs charge, presumably VAT at 20%, implies a value of 55.25 Pounds around 75 Dollars.

    Is this a second-hand item? Could the sender have declared the original price rather than the price they sold at?
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