UPS Delivery Charges (EU Import charges)

MikeMcC50

Hi folks, back in July I purchased a wooden wall map online from Enjoy The Wood and although the purchase was made in Dollars ($214) of which $58 was delivery (there had been a $25 discount on delivery) and I was happy with the whole price and made the purchase with my CC.
I used the "SHOP" app to track the delivery from the Ukraine to NI and all was going fine as I got regular updates as the package travelled although initially I was told delivery would happen on the 29th I did get an update to say it was delayed until the 30th July, no problem I had no time constraint. 
On the 30th a friendly UPS delivery driver delivered the package to my door at 12 in the afternoon however this is when things got strange. At 12:40 I received a contact from UPS to say that the delivery driver would require a payment before delivery, already too late, the SHOP app then gave me an option to pay for import charges which felt suss to me as I'd already paid delivery and received my map.
I received an invoice from UPS for £25.63 for "Non-Taxable Charges" even though their breakdown included £14.13 VAT with some text around EU Import charges but I did not pay this as it still seemed suss.
A couple of months later I received a letter from ControlAccount PLC claiming to be working on behalf of UPS and they now wanted £29.53 and in subsequent letters the fee has risen to £44.53 then £64.53.
I suppose I should have paid when UPS first made their claim but can anyone help me clarify if firstly I am liable to pay this delivery charge and then how much can this handling firm add on to an initial fee?
Really appreciate any help that can be offered here folks, I don't have a problem in paying for fee's I'm at fault for but feel that I'm being made liable for other people's oversight in the first place. 

user1977

Basic principles are that you're importing something, so it's your responsibility to deal with paying any necessary duties. And the norm is that the couriers helpfully deal with the customs clearance bureaucracy on your behalf, but they levy a charge for that service.

Whether the precise figures quoted are correct though, I don't know. 

powerful_Rogue

MikeMcC50 said:

Hi folks, back in July I purchased a wooden wall map online from Enjoy The Wood and although the purchase was made in Dollars ($214) of which $58 was delivery (there had been a $25 discount on delivery) and I was happy with the whole price and made the purchase with my CC.
I used the "SHOP" app to track the delivery from the Ukraine to NI and all was going fine as I got regular updates as the package travelled although initially I was told delivery would happen on the 29th I did get an update to say it was delayed until the 30th July, no problem I had no time constraint. 
On the 30th a friendly UPS delivery driver delivered the package to my door at 12 in the afternoon however this is when things got strange. At 12:40 I received a contact from UPS to say that the delivery driver would require a payment before delivery, already too late, the SHOP app then gave me an option to pay for import charges which felt suss to me as I'd already paid delivery and received my map.
I received an invoice from UPS for £25.63 for "Non-Taxable Charges" even though their breakdown included £14.13 VAT with some text around EU Import charges but I did not pay this as it still seemed suss.
A couple of months later I received a letter from ControlAccount PLC claiming to be working on behalf of UPS and they now wanted £29.53 and in subsequent letters the fee has risen to £44.53 then £64.53.
I suppose I should have paid when UPS first made their claim but can anyone help me clarify if firstly I am liable to pay this delivery charge and then how much can this handling firm add on to an initial fee?
Really appreciate any help that can be offered here folks, I don't have a problem in paying for fee's I'm at fault for but feel that I'm being made liable for other people's oversight in the first place. 

Whos oversight? You imported goods and as such are liable for the duties and taxes. The only oversight I can see is yours for ignoring the UPS email and also the notification in the shop app. If you was suspicious, you could have contacted UPS who would have confirmed this.

mattyprice4004

The oversight is yours - when you import things you need to pay VAT and duty (plus a small fee for the delivery company managing the import process which isn't easy). 
You're paying for your own oversight, just treat it as a (not too expensive) lesson. 
Chasing you for the money costs them money; staff hours and time aren't free so yes you'll have to pay some on top in recovery charges too. 

zoob

I thought under the Northern Ireland protocol that NI was still treated as a part off Europe so customs charges would not apply 

sheramber

Ukraine is not in the EU. 

Jasonh2015

Ukraine and the EU have their own Customs Union since 2014. This is one of the many benefits of brexit, you pay tax/duty twice on anything imported 👍

prowla

Jasonh2015 said:

Ukraine and the EU have their own Customs Union since 2014. This is one of the many benefits of brexit, you pay tax/duty twice on anything imported 👍

Can you explain haw brexit causes double taxation, please?

prowla

VAT is payable on the item and shipping; it should only be paid once, ie. UK VAT only.

Import duty is payable on goods not manufactured in the EU.

A courier will pay the due taxes on your behalf and invoice you, plus their handling fee (which is also subject to VAT, either included or extra).

sheramber

A retailer abroad , selling to the UK, has to register with HMRC so that they can charge VAT on goods up to the value of £135( including postage) and remit it to  .HMRC

For goods over that value the importer ( buyer) is responsible for paying any  VAT and import duty due.

Unless you arrange to clear the goods through customs yourself, then the courier will clear them, pay what is due- as determined by HMRC- .and bill the buyer along with their handling fee.

Once the debt passes to a debt collection agency they will add all costs they incur in chasing the payment. it is not  a handling fee. it is a fee to cover their costs which  will escalate with each request for payment.

cmthephoenix

sheramber said:

A retailer abroad , selling to the UK, has to register with HMRC so that they can charge VAT on goods up to the value of £135( including postage) and remit it to  .HMRC

For goods over that value the importer ( buyer) is responsible for paying any  VAT and import duty due.

Presumably the retailer can also choose to pay the VAT on goods over £135 to HMRC. I regularly buy from an EU retailer (Yoox) that ships from Italy to UK for values over £135 and they pay all the duty and fees and also state that on their website.