Dispute duty and tax invoice

sandaltax

I've received a duty and tax invoice from FedEx that has resulted in a not insignificant outstanding amount to be paid (£155.24). I'd appreciate any advice you might have on how to dispute the amount and have it reduced to be reflect the value of the item.

The item in the package was a pair of sandals from Mexico that came to the UK via the USA. I paid $590.00MN/£23.89 and the seller specified this as the value on the customs declaration.

The HMRC employee has valued them at $500USD, which I believe they either A) mistakenly recorded currency and specified USD instead of MN; recorded the value as being $500USD instead of $50USD; or C) decided that the value was signficantly higher than the seller declared.

Whilst I accept that FedEx are obliged to collect this on behalf of HMRC, I would appreciate any advice you have about how to either A) seek reimbursement from HMRC if I choose to pay the outstanding amount in full; contest the charge; C) have HMRC review the amount and adjust it to be more representative of the item.

Any help appreciated!

shaun_from_Africa

Your best bet would be to call FedEx customer services and explain to them what has happened.
03456 07 08 09

I wouldn't recommend paying the money and then trying to claim it back as this may well take months and may not be successful.

forgotmyname

I found the customer support at Fed-Ex to be quite good.

I has a fairly expensive item coming from China, I expected a fee and duty/tax etc.
But when the tracking said 2 items and one empty box arrived i was not pleased. Delivery driver knew the box to be empty and hid the fact when handing it over and drove away quickly not asking for a signature.

2nd box arrived a few days later in a battered state. Seller sent me a replacement item and i got 2 sets of bills which Fed-Ex waived entirely.

No fee and no customs charges either.

MataNui

Dont pay. FedEx are the importer and they charge you a fee (on top of the postage you already paid) for them clearing the item through customs for you. Its their responsibility to sort it out so make them do some work for their money.

sandaltax

I sent FedEx an email on May 28 2018 with all of the relevant information required to contest a valuation. I repeatedly tried chasing it up but I've had no response until receiving a letter on Friday telling me the invoice was overdue and that I had 10 days to pay.

I've sent an email to Frederick Smith, William Martin, the appropriate department, faxed it over and will give them a phone tomorrow. I'm quite appalled by how crap FedEx have been! Wish me luck!

bris

MataNui wrote: »

Dont pay. FedEx are the importer and they charge you a fee (on top of the postage you already paid) for them clearing the item through customs for you. Its their responsibility to sort it out so make them do some work for their money.

No the OP is the importer, fed ex can only go on the declaration, it's not their fault or problem. The OP needs to take it up with the seller and HMRC.

forgotmyname

Copies of an expensive brand shoe?

Via the USA? Is that just the tracking or did it get shipped to a US address?

unholyangel

sandaltax wrote: »

I sent FedEx an email on May 28 2018 with all of the relevant information required to contest a valuation. I repeatedly tried chasing it up but I've had no response until receiving a letter on Friday telling me the invoice was overdue and that I had 10 days to pay.

I've sent an email to Frederick Smith, William Martin, the appropriate department, faxed it over and will give them a phone tomorrow. I'm quite appalled by how crap FedEx have been! Wish me luck!

Its HMRC you need to contact. They assess what taxes are due.

You'd need to send the invoice and the packaging the item arrived in to their mount pleasant address. But call them first and double check as its been a few years and the address may be different.

sandaltax

No the OP is the importer, fed ex can only go on the declaration, it's not their fault or problem. The OP needs to take it up with the seller and HMRC.

Oh, really? The automated response from FedEx said the following.

If your enquiry requires a claim or amendment to be submitted to the local Customs Authorities, we may need to contact you for further information before we can proceed. Please be aware that claims for clearance errors not caused by FedEx may incur an administration fee of £53.00 + VAT.

Was this something you experienced? If so, how did you do this? If not, do you have a link to a reference to somewhere on the HMRC website?

sandaltax

Its HMRC you need to contact. They assess what taxes are due.

You'd need to send the invoice and the packaging the item arrived in to their mount pleasant address. But call them first and double check as its been a few years and the address may be different.

I don't think this is necessarily true. It's unclear whether it was the shipping clerk in Mexico or a FedEx employee that made the clerical error of specifying the wrong currency (I forgot to update the post that this had since been established, sorry!).

In any case, I received the original invoice more than a month after receiving the sandals, which is now around two months ago, so that ship has sailed somewhat.

sandaltax

Copies of an expensive brand shoe?

No - cheap, traditional, Mexican huaraches (sandals).

Via the USA? Is that just the tracking or did it get shipped to a US address?

That's just the route FedEx took. I have no idea why it went to the USA first but they were shipped directly to me.