Controlaccount debt recovery letter

annakins

I have received a letter from Controlaccount claiming that I owe money to DHL for unpaid Import Duties & VAT. The letter says they are the appointed agents for DHL and will pass the matter for "further action" if I don't respond within 7 days. I have no idea exactly where the charges would have originated from, I do receive parcels from time to time but at no point have I been notified that any payment was due. It was my understanding that the shipping company would have asked me to pay before releasing the parcel, is this correct? What is the best way to respond to this, is the debt enforceable? 

sourcrates

No it is not usually enforcable.

Occasionally parcels are released from customs without any VAT and/or import duty being paid on them, usually you have to pay this upfront, before release of the goods, sometimes, i don`t know why, but this dosen`t happen, and you get a letter in the post like the one you have received.

The DCA can be ignored, as its not their debt, they are just acting for DHL.

DHL are in the wrong as the goods should not be released without payment being made, you may get another letter, but then it will be forgotton.

How much do they want from you ?

Normally the amounts are fairly small, its up to you if you choose to pay it or not.