Credit card protection

caterpillar789

I recently agreed to pay for two watches for my sons from a website we believed to be within the UK. Everything was priced in GBP and the website uses the word UK in their name.   We used my credit card believing this to be a safe method of payment as the total was £280. We never received a confirmation email or expected delivery date despite using the contact us page on their website numerous times to contact them.  Later my credit card showed a non sterling transaction  fee on my statement so I rang the bank and said we hadn't received the goods or any confirmation.  I was told I had to wait 28 days for them to raise a dispute. This was on Thursday this week. 
On Friday I got a call from DHL to say one watch was in Customs having been posted from Saudi Arabia.  I had to pay import duty and fees after providing them with proof of purchase so they could calculate the cost. She estimated it to be 150GBP.  
I have spoken to the bank and now the goods are here I can't raise a dispute for non delivery.  
As I was unaware the products were coming from SA and would be liable to import duty can I not return these to the supplier and still raise a dispute for my money back through the credit card as I was mis sold goods by not indicating their true cost ?
Thanks for any advice. 

shaun_from_Africa

What was the website the purchase was made from?

caterpillar789

Ukwatchespro. 
My son advised me a friend of his had already got one from there so I had no reason to doubt it. 

shaun_from_Africa

https://www.ukwatchespro.com/

So basically, you were trying to purchase an illegal counterfeit watch and are now surprised that the seller was a bit dodgy?

soolin

caterpillar789 said:

I recently agreed to pay for two watches for my sons from a website we believed to be within the UK. Everything was priced in GBP and the website uses the word UK in their name.   We used my credit card believing this to be a safe method of payment as the total was £280. We never received a confirmation email or expected delivery date despite using the contact us page on their website numerous times to contact them.  Later my credit card showed a non sterling transaction  fee on my statement so I rang the bank and said we hadn't received the goods or any confirmation.  I was told I had to wait 28 days for them to raise a dispute. This was on Thursday this week. 
On Friday I got a call from DHL to say one watch was in Customs having been posted from Saudi Arabia.  I had to pay import duty and fees after providing them with proof of purchase so they could calculate the cost. She estimated it to be 150GBP.  
I have spoken to the bank and now the goods are here I can't raise a dispute for non delivery.  
As I was unaware the products were coming from SA and would be liable to import duty can I not return these to the supplier and still raise a dispute for my money back through the credit card as I was mis sold goods by not indicating their true cost ?
Thanks for any advice. 

As Shaun_from_africa says you knew you were dealing with a dodgy company and despite that didn't do any research at all on them.
Basic research that anyone buying online should do surely is to firstly make sure they comply with any regulations you might need to later claim against? They have no geographic address showing, no contact details except for a web form, no real company information- didn't that worry you at all?

Interestingly on their front page it says:

Best made replica Swiss watches for sale with free shipping worldwide. Replica Swiss Watch what you want, we all have. According quality replicas cheap Asian to genuine Swiss watches ETA, with one click, we ship your package safely without any customs problem. In a word, these replica designer watches are really worth your money, such as TD us.

That to me screams 'we are overseas' , poor use of language etc . At that point knowing you were dealing with a dodgy company anyway selling replicas did no one wonder what to do if it went wrong? However it does also suggest that customs fees are paid by them- so assuming they bother to respond to you it might be worth asking them about that.

I'm not sure though about the legality of importing dodgy goods - and whether you might in fact be causing more problems for yourself if you persue this, I'm sure some one will know the answer - but can you even import fakes?

soolin

Looks like facebook might have shut them down already 'User opted out of platform: The action attempted is disallowed, because the user has opted out of Facebook platform.'

shaun_from_Africa

soolin said: 

, we ship your package safely without any customs problem.
However it does also suggest that customs fees are paid by them- so assuming they bother to respond to you it might be worth asking them about that.

To me, it simply means that they won't declare the goods truthfully or with the correct value so as to evade duty. 
If they were to declare them, the watches would get seized by customs as their import is illegal.

caterpillar789

As my son had said his friend/colleague had got one, I didn't research anything just suggested he use my credit card as safety. On reflection had I looked into it I wouldn't have entertained ordering anything from that  website. 
I have requested the goods be returned to the supplier so am not importing counterfeit goods into the UK. 
My question was relating to whether anyone had experience in whether the bank would be able to assist in getting a refund from him/his bank as it was a credit card purchase. 

shaun_from_Africa

caterpillar789 said:

My question was relating to whether anyone had experience in whether the bank would be able to assist in getting a refund from him/his bank as it was a credit card purchase. 

Your credit card company would only help if you could show that there has been a breach of contract.
As your consumer rights depend on the country in which the seller is registered or based, proving that such a breach has occurred may not be that easy.
Once your credit card issuer finds out that what you were attempting to purchase, they may not be very forthcoming with any assistance.

soolin

caterpillar789 said:

As my son had said his friend/colleague had got one, I didn't research anything just suggested he use my credit card as safety. On reflection had I looked into it I wouldn't have entertained ordering anything from that  website. 
I have requested the goods be returned to the supplier so am not importing counterfeit goods into the UK. 
My question was relating to whether anyone had experience in whether the bank would be able to assist in getting a refund from him/his bank as it was a credit card purchase. 

I agree entirely with Shaun_of_Africa's post- what exactly would you be claiming for from your card issuer? There isn't a claim for 'change of mind'.

caterpillar789

As I have returned the goods I was asking if they would be able to assist with obtaining a refund from him/his bank.