Frightening import charge on low value item.

marliepanda

V_Harte wrote: »

A few weeks ago my daughter bought a pair of trouser for around £38 from an american website. The website stipulated what the delivery costs were for international delivery which she paid and was approx an extra £10. However, she received an email asking for an extra £15 for import duty. She was not told she had to pay this and it is not stated anywhere on the sellers website anywhere. She has explained this to them but they will not do anything about it and won't cancel her order nor refund her £38. Does anyone have any experience of this and can offer advice? Despite being an american website is there some clause in the consumer rights act 2015 that will cover her, particulalry for the lack of detail on the sellers website or is it a case of paying the extra £15 import duty. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Absolutely nothing to do with the sellers. Nothing at all.
They have no responsibility for this, it is your daughters fault for not knowing about customs fees.

its_all_over

V_Harte wrote: »

A few weeks ago my daughter bought a pair of trouser for around £38 from an american website. The website stipulated what the delivery costs were for international delivery which she paid and was approx an extra £10. However, she received an email asking for an extra £15 for import duty. She was not told she had to pay this and it is not stated anywhere on the sellers website anywhere. She has explained this to them but they will not do anything about it and won't cancel her order nor refund her £38. Does anyone have any experience of this and can offer advice? Despite being an american website is there some clause in the consumer rights act 2015 that will cover her, particulalry for the lack of detail on the sellers website or is it a case of paying the extra £15 import duty. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

Anything from America could be liable for import vat and or import duty. It is the importers responsibility to be aware of those charges. Legally the importer is the person in the UK who buys and imports the item. There is a duty free catergory but it's only for parcels costing less than £17 or £18 per parcel.

Unfortunately there is no one else to blame but your daughter herself.

[Deleted User]

V_Harte wrote: »

She was not told she had to pay this and it is not stated anywhere on the sellers website anywhere.

Why would they mention foreign import duty? Our own Exchequer receives this tax, not the company.

Their customers are primarily in the USA.

It was your daughter's choice to buy from a foreign website and the import duty is her responsibility alone.

The website has done nothing wrong and is under no obligation to refund.

Sorry.

mattyprice4004

Do you expect the site to list the customs regulations for every country in the world?

It’s her job to know what duty etc it’ll attract - not theirs. Ignorance is no defence - it’ll have to be paid.