Non-payment of customs clearance fee on having importing goods from abroad

armz94

So I’m asking a question which I fee I have not really found satisfactory answers to as the answers given seem to contradict some related information.

The question in short is this: If push comes to shove, who is liable for DHL’s “Advance payment” (customs Clearance fee)? The importer or the sender.

I’m in the U.K. Based on previous advice from another forum and experience from testing the advice. I came to understand the the advancement fee, boils down to being the liability of the actual sender. 

For example. I had bought in item on Ali baba before, and the seller utilised the “Ali baba logistics” platform to send my goods. Fedex paid the 20% to HMRC, so they charged me 20% and also added an extra £12 fee for customs clearance. I found advice on the internet that it is the duty of the people who contracted the shipping company to also pay the customs clearance fee. So I sent the “copy-paste” email that was provided telling them that I was not in a contract with them nor was I made aware of this extra fee and that they would have to request it from the sender. They almost instantly waived the £12 charge and I only had to pay my VAT/Duty of 20% to them as they had already paid that to HMRC.

I have now bought another item on Ali Baba. This time, the U.K. shipper was DHL. The value is about £150, so naturally, I’m being charged about £30 for VAT/Duty but I’m also being charged an extra £11 by DHL for their “advance payment” and they’re refusing to remove this extra fee, despite FedEx removing this instantly upon my request. 

I don’t know if it’s relevant, but when I spoke to someone on the phone for FedEx they made me aware that their call centres were in the U.K. but when I spoke to the people on the phone for DHL, it was only contact centres in India. The DHL representatives also have lied to me twice, firstly saying that the £11 is paid to HMRC when the only thing that is paid to HMRC is the vat/duty. I have told them that I don’t intend to pay this, and they’re refusing to deliver my goods because of it. I do really want my items as it took 30
Days from ordering just to reach the U.K. anyway.

I’m considering to pay for it, but will I ever be able to reclaim that £11 either from DHL or from the sender (Ali Baba logistics), should I just get a refund and ask for them to send it back?

Martin_the_Unjust

As I understand it, the only people who knew the correct value of the items you bought were you and the seller.

The seller believes, quite rightly because you bought from outside the EU, that import duty etc are your responsibility.

The parcel delivery people have had additional costs and have added these onto their bill.

You pay those costs and get your things, you don't pay and don't get your things, simple really.

I'm not sure that the company you purchased them from will be happy to give you a refund as they will probably consider they have kept their side of the bargain.

Lomast

Legally the importer is responsible

soolin

When importing goods into the UK the recipient is liable for all costs of import. If you import the goods yourself (which is possible but can be complicated for a one off purchase) then you only pay the HMRC costs, if a company like DHL or Fedex do it in your behalf then you pay their costs. 

shaun_from_Africa

As you had previously imported goods into the UK, you were well aware that VAT and possible import duty would be payable and that this would involve some extra work by the courier company.
I doubt if you would be willing to work for nothing so why do you think it fair for the courier to have to do this?

All you needed to do was to get the sender to write "Goods to be customs cleared by consignee" then when the shipment gets to the UK, HMRC are notified and they calculate the amount owed, write to you asking for payment and when this payment has cleared, release the goods back to the courier who can then deliver to you.
It's a simple enough process but will probably add a couple of weeks onto the delivery time.