How to avoid getting hit with customs change for something that is already owned?

Jon_01

Not sure if this is the right section?

My son's just come back from Hong Kong (where he lives and works) for a 3 months.
He's somehow left his mobile behind.

He can get it posted back here, but it'll need sending insured in case it gets lost.

How can we get it sent back without customs hitting him with import charges based on the insured value?
We have the invoice for the phone from the supplier he bought it from (in the UK) last year.

Anyone suggest how to do this or know where else to ask???

thanks...

pramsay13

Is it a uk sim?

Can he not just borrow a phone for a few months and then collect the other one when he goes back?

Jon_01

It has a UK sim and an HK sim (dual sim phone).

His life is on it along with stuff that he only has backup on his pc (which is, of course, in HK!) and need over here.

davidmcn

Jon_01 wrote: »

It has a UK sim and an HK sim (dual sim phone).

His life is on it along with stuff that he only has backup on his pc (which is, of course, in HK!) and need over here.

Can't whoever has access to his phone (or PC) upload his data somewhere?

Anyway, according to the very first page of HMRC's website about this, all you need to do is described it as "personal belongings" on the customs label.

Jon_01

davidmcn wrote: »

Can't whoever has access to his phone (or PC) upload his data somewhere?

Anyway, according to the very first page of HMRC's website about this, all you need to do is described it as "personal belongings" on the customs label.

Maybe, but there's a lot of 'stuff' (he tells me).

The info on the HMRC site would be great IF that's what they actually did.
He shipped some cloths home (all bought in the UK with M&S, BHS labels and like), marked the label 'Personal Belonging' and they sent us a bill for close to £100 for import tax.
It took 5 weeks of taking to them to get it sorted out.
Don't want to hit that problem again!

davidmcn

Jon_01 wrote: »

Maybe, but there's a lot of 'stuff' (he tells me).

The info on the HMRC site would be great IF that's what they actually did.
He shipped some cloths home (all bought in the UK with M&S, BHS labels and like), marked the label 'Personal Belonging' and they sent us a bill for close to £100 for import tax.
It took 5 weeks of taking to them to get it sorted out.
Don't want to hit that problem again!

Well, I don't think there's any magic way of avoiding it. Might teach him not to be so forgetful (or at least to backup somewhere in the cloud).

stragglebod

If it's an Android phone can he not access his content by logging into his Google account from here?

Les79

Jon_01 wrote: »

Maybe, but there's a lot of 'stuff' (he tells me).

The info on the HMRC site would be great IF that's what they actually did.
He shipped some cloths home (all bought in the UK with M&S, BHS labels and like), marked the label 'Personal Belonging' and they sent us a bill for close to £100 for import tax.
It took 5 weeks of taking to them to get it sorted out.
Don't want to hit that problem again!

Well, a third party may find it a bit strange that:

- Your son bought clothes in the UK, took them to Hong Kong and then shipped them back whilst remaining in the country! Could he not simply have put them in his luggage for this trip back?

- Your son has somehow managed to leave his phone there, despite it realistically being one of the only things you typically MAKE SURE to bring with you (maybe you might end up needing it in an emergency?).

Fair enough if the situation is legitimate like, but it isn't something which many *normal* people do. So I do appreciate why it would be queried and, sadly, that may lead to another back and forth with HMRC. But as long as they sort it out then no harm done.

Aylesbury_Duck

^^ this. It would be an easy way to buy items there for intended use here.