Can DHL pay UK duty on my behalf without my agreement?

Maccygee

I bought some wine online having forgotten about the impact of Brexit. 3 weeks after it arrived I got an invoice from DHL for the duty plus their admin fee. HMRC say that a courier contacts the buyer in advance and if the duty isn't paid, the goods are returned to the country of origin. DHL didn't contact me and the fees weren't mentioned when they delivered the goods. Given the option I would have refused delivery, returning the goods would've been cheaper. I had no contract with DHL to pay this on my behalf, or for their admin fee. My dealings were only with the supplier who chose DHL as their courier. I've contacted them to say so and have had an intimidating reply and threats of debt collection companies. I did offer to pay half if they provided proof of payment and if they waived they're fee but since then have had another demand for the full amount in the post. Can they pursue me for this? 

screech_78

You did give them your agreement when you imported goods from another country. It’s your responsibility as the importer to be aware of the charges applied.
Many couriers pay the duty on your behalf and then reclaim it. They have paid HMRC and you now owe DHL. There’s no getting out of it I’m afraid. 

powerful_Rogue

Nothing to do with Brexit, excise goods imported via post have always been liable to duties.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/26/section/105

HeinzVarieties

Maccygee said:

I bought some wine online having forgotten about the impact of Brexit. 3 weeks after it arrived I got an invoice from DHL for the duty plus their admin fee. HMRC say that a courier contacts the buyer in advance and if the duty isn't paid, the goods are returned to the country of origin. DHL didn't contact me and the fees weren't mentioned when they delivered the goods. Given the option I would have refused delivery, returning the goods would've been cheaper. I had no contract with DHL to pay this on my behalf, or for their admin fee. My dealings were only with the supplier who chose DHL as their courier. I've contacted them to say so and have had an intimidating reply and threats of debt collection companies. I did offer to pay half if they provided proof of payment and if they waived they're fee but since then have had another demand for the full amount in the post. Can they pursue me for this? 

Can't see why they'd turn down your generous offer of clearing it through customs for free and them paying half the duty/VAT on your plonk.

Maccygee

I didn't give my agreement to DHL to pay HMRC on my behalf. HMRC guidance is that the courier contacts the buyer and asks for the duty to be paid. If it isn't the goods are returned. Did I not have the right to refuse delivery? 

Maccygee

HeinzVarieties said:

Maccygee said:

I bought some wine online having forgotten about the impact of Brexit. 3 weeks after it arrived I got an invoice from DHL for the duty plus their admin fee. HMRC say that a courier contacts the buyer in advance and if the duty isn't paid, the goods are returned to the country of origin. DHL didn't contact me and the fees weren't mentioned when they delivered the goods. Given the option I would have refused delivery, returning the goods would've been cheaper. I had no contract with DHL to pay this on my behalf, or for their admin fee. My dealings were only with the supplier who chose DHL as their courier. I've contacted them to say so and have had an intimidating reply and threats of debt collection companies. I did offer to pay half if they provided proof of payment and if they waived they're fee but since then have had another demand for the full amount in the post. Can they pursue me for this? 

Can't see why they'd turn down your generous offer of clearing it through customs for free and them paying half the duty/VAT on your plonk.

I was attempting to resolve it in an affordable way, I made the purchase during my chemo and had been off work 6 months. It would've been cheaper for me to refuse delivery but seeing as they've gone ahead and paid it I offered to meet them half way. I thought that was reasonable. 

HeinzVarieties

Maccygee said:

HeinzVarieties said:

Maccygee said:

I bought some wine online having forgotten about the impact of Brexit. 3 weeks after it arrived I got an invoice from DHL for the duty plus their admin fee. HMRC say that a courier contacts the buyer in advance and if the duty isn't paid, the goods are returned to the country of origin. DHL didn't contact me and the fees weren't mentioned when they delivered the goods. Given the option I would have refused delivery, returning the goods would've been cheaper. I had no contract with DHL to pay this on my behalf, or for their admin fee. My dealings were only with the supplier who chose DHL as their courier. I've contacted them to say so and have had an intimidating reply and threats of debt collection companies. I did offer to pay half if they provided proof of payment and if they waived they're fee but since then have had another demand for the full amount in the post. Can they pursue me for this? 

Can't see why they'd turn down your generous offer of clearing it through customs for free and them paying half the duty/VAT on your plonk.

I was attempting to resolve it in an affordable way, I made the purchase during my chemo and had been off work 6 months. It would've been cheaper for me to refuse delivery but seeing as they've gone ahead and paid it I offered to meet them half way. I thought that was reasonable. 

It's not.  You as the importer are liable for any duty and VAT that is due.

Maccygee

HeinzVarieties said:

Maccygee said:

HeinzVarieties said:

Maccygee said:

I bought some wine online having forgotten about the impact of Brexit. 3 weeks after it arrived I got an invoice from DHL for the duty plus their admin fee. HMRC say that a courier contacts the buyer in advance and if the duty isn't paid, the goods are returned to the country of origin. DHL didn't contact me and the fees weren't mentioned when they delivered the goods. Given the option I would have refused delivery, returning the goods would've been cheaper. I had no contract with DHL to pay this on my behalf, or for their admin fee. My dealings were only with the supplier who chose DHL as their courier. I've contacted them to say so and have had an intimidating reply and threats of debt collection companies. I did offer to pay half if they provided proof of payment and if they waived they're fee but since then have had another demand for the full amount in the post. Can they pursue me for this? 

Can't see why they'd turn down your generous offer of clearing it through customs for free and them paying half the duty/VAT on your plonk.

I was attempting to resolve it in an affordable way, I made the purchase during my chemo and had been off work 6 months. It would've been cheaper for me to refuse delivery but seeing as they've gone ahead and paid it I offered to meet them half way. I thought that was reasonable. 

It's not.  You as the importer are liable for any duty and VAT that is due.

Is that you DHL?

HeinzVarieties

Maccygee said:

HeinzVarieties said:

Maccygee said:

HeinzVarieties said:

Maccygee said:

I bought some wine online having forgotten about the impact of Brexit. 3 weeks after it arrived I got an invoice from DHL for the duty plus their admin fee. HMRC say that a courier contacts the buyer in advance and if the duty isn't paid, the goods are returned to the country of origin. DHL didn't contact me and the fees weren't mentioned when they delivered the goods. Given the option I would have refused delivery, returning the goods would've been cheaper. I had no contract with DHL to pay this on my behalf, or for their admin fee. My dealings were only with the supplier who chose DHL as their courier. I've contacted them to say so and have had an intimidating reply and threats of debt collection companies. I did offer to pay half if they provided proof of payment and if they waived they're fee but since then have had another demand for the full amount in the post. Can they pursue me for this? 

Can't see why they'd turn down your generous offer of clearing it through customs for free and them paying half the duty/VAT on your plonk.

I was attempting to resolve it in an affordable way, I made the purchase during my chemo and had been off work 6 months. It would've been cheaper for me to refuse delivery but seeing as they've gone ahead and paid it I offered to meet them half way. I thought that was reasonable. 

It's not.  You as the importer are liable for any duty and VAT that is due.

Is that you DHL?

Of course it isn't, don't be silly.

Thrugelmir

Maccygee said:

I didn't give my agreement to DHL to pay HMRC on my behalf. HMRC guidance is that the courier contacts the buyer and asks for the duty to be paid. If it isn't the goods are returned. Did I not have the right to refuse delivery? 

Unusual set of circumstances. Due to the cliff edge of Brexit. Smaller value transactions were released rather than held. In normal times the goods would be held until customs cleared. 

A battle you are not going to win. If the matter results in court action your bill is going to be even higher. 

Maccygee

Thrugelmir said:

Maccygee said:

I didn't give my agreement to DHL to pay HMRC on my behalf. HMRC guidance is that the courier contacts the buyer and asks for the duty to be paid. If it isn't the goods are returned. Did I not have the right to refuse delivery? 

Unusual set of circumstances. Due to the cliff edge of Brexit. Smaller value transactions were released rather than held. In normal times the goods would be held until customs cleared. 

A battle you are not going to win. If the matter results in court action your bill is going to be even higher. 

Thank you. I am worried about the potential for increased costs but I'm also concerned that this practice isn't lawful. They've effectively created a credit agreement with me and added on their own fee so they're profiting from this process.