Vat Import charge conundrum

KatrinaWaves

custardy said:

When you order from a new site. Do you not bother checking the about them page,location,shipping?
These are my default checks at a minimum

This site defaults to USD when I look and advises free UK shipping on orders over $75. A small clue.
The shipping page is clearer than most on fees IME

Hahah it actually does mention fees as well. Beggars belief! 

mattyprice4004

I think expecting someone to read important information before ordering is a bit far-fetched - if they did, 9/10s of posts on here wouldn't exist!

battybetty

Wow, ok so I'd like to point out I came here for friendly help and advice, not a public bashing. I will whole heartedly admit next time I will read the fine print and have learnt from that mistake on my part. However, I still find it unethical and wrong for a company to deliberately choose not to mention this, it is so obvious that they do this knowing it will prevent potential buyers from deciding not to shop there if they are having to pay an extra 45% relative to the cost of their order... disagree with me all you like, I prefer an honest shopping experience. 

I have taken a screenshot of where it clearly delineates a difference between normal customs charges and VAT charges from the HMRC website. 

Katrinawaves, if a 'wall of text' is too much for you...move on? No one is forcing you to help, this is the second time you have admitted you are not prepared to read what my experience has been, that's great.. why are you here? Again, you might not have read this part....... I have paid customs and vat charges before on previous orders from the US, I know this is common knowledge. I do think a company should be transparent, I do think receiving a badly worded and dodgy email asking for the payment is strange and worrying. There are many other people who have bought from this company from other countries including the UK voicing their opinions on the matter, have a google . 



 

DiddyDavies

battybetty said:

I have taken a screenshot of where it clearly delineates a difference between normal customs charges and VAT charges from the HMRC website. 

What you have posted shows the difference between VAT and customs duty. Both of them are customs charges as they are charges levied by customs when importing certain goods into the UK.
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.

custardy

battybetty said:

Wow, ok so I'd like to point out I came here for friendly help and advice, not a public bashing. I will whole heartedly admit next time I will read the fine print and have learnt from that mistake on my part. However, I still find it unethical and wrong for a company to deliberately choose not to mention this, it is so obvious that they do this knowing it will prevent potential buyers from deciding not to shop there if they are having to pay an extra 45% relative to the cost of their order... disagree with me all you like, I prefer an honest shopping experience. 

I have taken a screenshot of where it clearly delineates a difference between normal customs charges and VAT charges from the HMRC website. 

Katrinawaves, if a 'wall of text' is too much for you...move on? No one is forcing you to help, this is the second time you have admitted you are not prepared to read what my experience has been, that's great.. why are you here? Again, you might not have read this part....... I have paid customs and vat charges before on previous orders from the US, I know this is common knowledge. I do think a company should be transparent, I do think receiving a badly worded and dodgy email asking for the payment is strange and worrying. There are many other people who have bought from this company from other countries including the UK voicing their opinions on the matter, have a google . 




 

battybetty said:

Wow, ok so I'd like to point out I came here for friendly help and advice, not a public bashing. I will whole heartedly admit next time I will read the fine print and have learnt from that mistake on my part. However, I still find it unethical and wrong for a company to deliberately choose not to mention this, it is so obvious that they do this knowing it will prevent potential buyers from deciding not to shop there if they are having to pay an extra 45% relative to the cost of their order... disagree with me all you like, I prefer an honest shopping experience. 

I have taken a screenshot of where it clearly delineates a difference between normal customs charges and VAT charges from the HMRC website. 

Katrinawaves, if a 'wall of text' is too much for you...move on? No one is forcing you to help, this is the second time you have admitted you are not prepared to read what my experience has been, that's great.. why are you here? Again, you might not have read this part....... I have paid customs and vat charges before on previous orders from the US, I know this is common knowledge. I do think a company should be transparent, I do think receiving a badly worded and dodgy email asking for the payment is strange and worrying. There are many other people who have bought from this company from other countries including the UK voicing their opinions on the matter, have a google . 



 

All you have included is a section of info on import VAT/customs duty.
It adds nothing to the point you think you are making.
Its not 'small print',its plainly obvious on their site.
You will find many people moaning about import fees here and all over the net. People who read sites and buy with knowledge arent going to post online about it.

KatrinaWaves

How many times do we need to tell you it’s not unethical. There are 195 countries in the world. Do you expect them to list all 195 countries policies?

I do agree there will be tonnes of people moaning on the internet as there’s loads of people who, like you, haven’t a clue! 

Considering you didn’t even read the info they did provide on charges, I doubt you’d have waded through 195 countries to find out your own countries policy... 

davidmcn

battybetty said:

I still find it unethical and wrong for a company to deliberately choose not to mention this

It's not the job of foreigners to explain your own country's taxes to you.

DiddyDavies

davidmcn said:

It's not the job of foreigners to explain your own country's taxes to you.

Of course it is.
Surely you know by now that for many people, it's always someone else's fault and personal responsibility is an alien concept.

battybetty

KatrinaWaves said:

custardy said:

When you order from a new site. Do you not bother checking the about them page,location,shipping?
These are my default checks at a minimum

This site defaults to USD when I look and advises free UK shipping on orders over $75. A small clue.
The shipping page is clearer than most on fees IME

Hahah it actually does mention fees as well. Beggars belief! 

Apparently reading is too difficult for you, the irony.
Beggars belief you cannot digest there is an issue with the way this company has dealt with this and how they are dealing with extremely dodgy couriers...
Again, do your self a favour and research a bit online if you don't get it, - *hint* Reddit - there are more people with the same issue. I digress...

Thank you everyone for your replies, and some for your help on the matter. I find myself in the same position I started with a phishing looking email,

It's been interesting. 

dinglebert

You state

 I'd like to point out I came here for friendly help and advice

What did you expect people to do?  There is no get out clause.  You want the goods you have to pay the duty.  You choose to buy from a foreign country there are import charges.  Wait till January 1st thats when the real fun will begin.