Wrongly Charged Customs

FishRFriends

Hi all,

Had a search around and couldn't find anyone with a similar situation so I thought I would ask here. Hopefully, someone can give me a clear answer.

I just got off the phone with Parcelforce who are holding my parcel as customs have slapped a £74 charge on it. My dispute with them is that I haven't bought the item in question (a mobile phone) or been a part of any traction at all. It's merely an old phone that my mother in law (in the US) kindly sent to me to help me out... or so she thought!

They told me you have to pay no matter what, then you can dispute it with customs after you get your parcel released and in your possession, and it was my fault for not saying I hadn't bought it. I'm very curious to see how they reached £74 in charges!

My question is: Do I have any standing with this? The phone has no value to either of us. In fact once I pay these charges I will be out of pocket for more than the phone is worth, taking into account shipping fees.

Thanks In advance

KatrinaWaves

Was the package marked as being worth around £250? Was it insured as such?

davidmcn

FishRFriends wrote: »

The phone has no value to either of us.

Then forget about it and let them do whatever they do with unclaimed parcels?

Or alternatively, pay up and then argue about it with HMRC.

molerat

FishRFriends wrote: »

My dispute with them is that I haven't bought the item in question (a mobile phone) or been a part of any traction at all.

All of no relevance. https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad

Anything posted or couriered to you goes through customs to check it isn’t banned or restricted and you pay the right tax and ‘duty’ (customs charges) on it.
This includes anything new or used that you:

• buy online
• buy abroad and send back to the UK
• receive as a gift

All that matters is the declared (or assessed) value.

FishRFriends

I believe USPS told my mother in law to pay extra for a box that included insurance on it. As she was sending a phone. That box has an up to $200 value attached to it.

FishRFriends

The lady on the phone made it very clear that I couldn't simply refuse to pay, whether i wanted the phone or not.

I guess it would still be classed as a gift. It seems there's no way around it. Thank you for your replies

davidmcn

FishRFriends wrote: »

The lady on the phone made it very clear that I couldn't simply refuse to pay, whether i wanted the phone or not.

Royal Mail's own leaflet says

What should I do if I don’t want the item?

If, while at the Delivery Office, you decide you no longer want your item, let them know and the item will be returned to sender.

Aylesbury_Duck

Wouldn't the charge still apply though? After all, the phone was imported.

davidmcn

Aylesbury_Duck wrote: »

After all, the phone was imported.

It isn't if it goes straight back to sender.

It would seem a devious way to make an unwilling "recipient" liable for possibly vast amounts of duty if that weren't the case.

Greta_Sharbo

FishRFriends wrote: »

The lady on the phone made it very clear that I couldn't simply refuse to pay, whether i wanted the phone or not.

Of course they would. They wont tell you something that means they wont get the money.

chili1496

do not pay tell them you do not want the parcel.