Scam claim for Customs Duty!!

Phantom151

Sandtree said:

Phantom151 said:

sheramber said:

Phantom151 said:

The only thing I can think of is to persue the person you sent the goods back to. Small Claims type of thing.

I wonder if getting in touch with HMRC might open a can of worms for the recipient of the returned goods as it might be fraud to get someone else to pay the import duties. There may be a pattern but proving it might be impossible.

I don't think the company is a UK company so small claims court no help.

 

They appear to have been returned to a UK address though. Might have to go after the recipeint of the returned goods instead of the company.

Ok, didnt pick up on that part... however still not immediately a customs "scam" as they wouldnt have the evidence that the importation taxes have been paid to be able reclaim them on exportation. Could they create a forgery? Dunno if the info given to HMRC by the courier has an identifier that isnt the tracking number and is on the invoice.


Probably best the OP confirm where the return address was... many of these issues involve returning the product overseas which is cost prohibitive 

It might not be a scam but then the company should refund the customs charges too.

Sandtree

Phantom151 said:

Sandtree said:

Phantom151 said:

sheramber said:

Phantom151 said:

The only thing I can think of is to persue the person you sent the goods back to. Small Claims type of thing.

I wonder if getting in touch with HMRC might open a can of worms for the recipient of the returned goods as it might be fraud to get someone else to pay the import duties. There may be a pattern but proving it might be impossible.

I don't think the company is a UK company so small claims court no help.

 

They appear to have been returned to a UK address though. Might have to go after the recipeint of the returned goods instead of the company.

Ok, didnt pick up on that part... however still not immediately a customs "scam" as they wouldnt have the evidence that the importation taxes have been paid to be able reclaim them on exportation. Could they create a forgery? Dunno if the info given to HMRC by the courier has an identifier that isnt the tracking number and is on the invoice.


Probably best the OP confirm where the return address was... many of these issues involve returning the product overseas which is cost prohibitive 

It might not be a scam but then the company should refund the customs charges too.

Why should they refund them? They arent in receipt of the tax monies.

To use a better illustration example... there was someone on here recently who bought a few cases of wine with the bottles being circa €1 each not realising that they'd be paying £2.23 per bottle for duty and then VAT on top of the lot. In the case here they had already started drinking it and so just ponied up the monies and chalked it to experience but lets imagine they had decided to return them instead before getting the courier bill as the OP did here and to avoid international shipping costs the company gives them a UK address to post to.

So they have paid the company £45 for 4 cases of wine, UPS have charged £150 for excise duty, vat and handling fees, you think that the company should refund them £195 despite only being paid £45? I'd agree in a post Brexit world they may want to change their processes but then we'd get the complaint on here about the cost of posting 4 cases of wine overseas.

Phantom151

Sandtree said:

Phantom151 said:

Sandtree said:

Phantom151 said:

sheramber said:

Phantom151 said:

The only thing I can think of is to persue the person you sent the goods back to. Small Claims type of thing.

I wonder if getting in touch with HMRC might open a can of worms for the recipient of the returned goods as it might be fraud to get someone else to pay the import duties. There may be a pattern but proving it might be impossible.

I don't think the company is a UK company so small claims court no help.

 

They appear to have been returned to a UK address though. Might have to go after the recipeint of the returned goods instead of the company.

Ok, didnt pick up on that part... however still not immediately a customs "scam" as they wouldnt have the evidence that the importation taxes have been paid to be able reclaim them on exportation. Could they create a forgery? Dunno if the info given to HMRC by the courier has an identifier that isnt the tracking number and is on the invoice.


Probably best the OP confirm where the return address was... many of these issues involve returning the product overseas which is cost prohibitive 

It might not be a scam but then the company should refund the customs charges too.

Why should they refund them? They arent in receipt of the tax monies.

To use a better illustration example... there was someone on here recently who bought a few cases of wine with the bottles being circa €1 each not realising that they'd be paying £2.23 per bottle for duty and then VAT on top of the lot. In the case here they had already started drinking it and so just ponied up the monies and chalked it to experience but lets imagine they had decided to return them instead before getting the courier bill as the OP did here and to avoid international shipping costs the company gives them a UK address to post to.

So they have paid the company £45 for 4 cases of wine, UPS have charged £150 for excise duty, vat and handling fees, you think that the company should refund them £195 despite only being paid £45? I'd agree in a post Brexit world they may want to change their processes but then we'd get the complaint on here about the cost of posting 4 cases of wine overseas.

In your example case I agree with you as there is no excuse for the customer not to make themselves aware of the potential costs involved.

However, from the original post:

"So I placed an order and received an acknowledgement for Five bottles, costing me £199 instead of the £39 the advert cleverly, led me to believe.
The same day I emailed the company complaining that this was not what there web site had said and after a lot of emails back and forth over the next few days I received a refund in full.
Next day I received the items, in touch with the company again and was given an address to whom I was to mail the parcel back."

It would appear that the customer was expeting a £39 delivery not a £200 one. Duties and taxes would be minimal/non-existant on the original parcle. Besides, the company has now benefitted from goods imported into the country tax/duty free to them so I would expect them to apologise and pay up as I would think they will sell the goods to another punter.

user1977

Phantom151 said:

Sandtree said:

Phantom151 said:

Sandtree said:

Phantom151 said:

sheramber said:

Phantom151 said:

The only thing I can think of is to persue the person you sent the goods back to. Small Claims type of thing.

I wonder if getting in touch with HMRC might open a can of worms for the recipient of the returned goods as it might be fraud to get someone else to pay the import duties. There may be a pattern but proving it might be impossible.

I don't think the company is a UK company so small claims court no help.

 

They appear to have been returned to a UK address though. Might have to go after the recipeint of the returned goods instead of the company.

Ok, didnt pick up on that part... however still not immediately a customs "scam" as they wouldnt have the evidence that the importation taxes have been paid to be able reclaim them on exportation. Could they create a forgery? Dunno if the info given to HMRC by the courier has an identifier that isnt the tracking number and is on the invoice.


Probably best the OP confirm where the return address was... many of these issues involve returning the product overseas which is cost prohibitive 

It might not be a scam but then the company should refund the customs charges too.

Why should they refund them? They arent in receipt of the tax monies.

To use a better illustration example... there was someone on here recently who bought a few cases of wine with the bottles being circa €1 each not realising that they'd be paying £2.23 per bottle for duty and then VAT on top of the lot. In the case here they had already started drinking it and so just ponied up the monies and chalked it to experience but lets imagine they had decided to return them instead before getting the courier bill as the OP did here and to avoid international shipping costs the company gives them a UK address to post to.

So they have paid the company £45 for 4 cases of wine, UPS have charged £150 for excise duty, vat and handling fees, you think that the company should refund them £195 despite only being paid £45? I'd agree in a post Brexit world they may want to change their processes but then we'd get the complaint on here about the cost of posting 4 cases of wine overseas.

the company has now benefitted from goods imported into the country tax/duty free to them so I would expect them to apologise and pay up as I would think they will sell the goods to another punter.

You'd have to find them first.

Sandtree

Phantom151 said:

user1977 said:

Phantom151 said:

sheramber said:

Phantom151 said:

The only thing I can think of is to persue the person you sent the goods back to. Small Claims type of thing.

I wonder if getting in touch with HMRC might open a can of worms for the recipient of the returned goods as it might be fraud to get someone else to pay the import duties. There may be a pattern but proving it might be impossible.

I don't think the company is a UK company so small claims court no help. 

They appear to have been returned to a UK address though. Might have to go after the recipeint of the returned goods instead of the company.

I doubt there is a UK legal entity at that UK address capable of being sued.

There may not be but there must be a link between the recipeint and the company otherwise why send the goods to them?

How much are the goods worth wholesale/to manufacture? Assuming they are junk its likely not cost effective to have them returned but to give the illusion they are valuable they are giving some random address as a return

When I did mail order work (pre-internet ordering) there were items where if they were damaged, or part missing, or change of mind etc you tried to get the customer to keep them with discounting but ultimately could give them away for free. We paid return postage and that could well be more than what we paid for the goods so no point paying to have something returned thats more than just buying extra from the wholesaler.

Phantom151

user1977 said:

Phantom151 said:

Sandtree said:

Phantom151 said:

Sandtree said:

Phantom151 said:

sheramber said:

Phantom151 said:

The only thing I can think of is to persue the person you sent the goods back to. Small Claims type of thing.

I wonder if getting in touch with HMRC might open a can of worms for the recipient of the returned goods as it might be fraud to get someone else to pay the import duties. There may be a pattern but proving it might be impossible.

I don't think the company is a UK company so small claims court no help.

 

They appear to have been returned to a UK address though. Might have to go after the recipeint of the returned goods instead of the company.

Ok, didnt pick up on that part... however still not immediately a customs "scam" as they wouldnt have the evidence that the importation taxes have been paid to be able reclaim them on exportation. Could they create a forgery? Dunno if the info given to HMRC by the courier has an identifier that isnt the tracking number and is on the invoice.


Probably best the OP confirm where the return address was... many of these issues involve returning the product overseas which is cost prohibitive 

It might not be a scam but then the company should refund the customs charges too.

Why should they refund them? They arent in receipt of the tax monies.

To use a better illustration example... there was someone on here recently who bought a few cases of wine with the bottles being circa €1 each not realising that they'd be paying £2.23 per bottle for duty and then VAT on top of the lot. In the case here they had already started drinking it and so just ponied up the monies and chalked it to experience but lets imagine they had decided to return them instead before getting the courier bill as the OP did here and to avoid international shipping costs the company gives them a UK address to post to.

So they have paid the company £45 for 4 cases of wine, UPS have charged £150 for excise duty, vat and handling fees, you think that the company should refund them £195 despite only being paid £45? I'd agree in a post Brexit world they may want to change their processes but then we'd get the complaint on here about the cost of posting 4 cases of wine overseas.

the company has now benefitted from goods imported into the country tax/duty free to them so I would expect them to apologise and pay up as I would think they will sell the goods to another punter.

You'd have to find them first.

True but they they have an address.

royP_2

Quote:

Phantom151 said:

the company has now benefitted from goods imported into the country tax/duty free to them so I would expect them to apologise and pay up as I would think they will sell the goods to another punter.

You'd have to find them first.

I only have a web site and email address for this company, they have acknowledged that I placed an order and have paid me a refund for the goods and I have now asked them for a refund via email for the Customs Duty, to date no reply.

Sandtree

royP_2 said:

Quote:

Phantom151 said:

the company has now benefitted from goods imported into the country tax/duty free to them so I would expect them to apologise and pay up as I would think they will sell the goods to another punter.

You'd have to find them first.

I only have a web site and email address for this company, they have acknowledged that I placed an order and have paid me a refund for the goods and I have now asked them for a refund via email for the Customs Duty, to date no reply.

Where did you return the goods to? Somewhere in the UK or overseas?

Alderbank

royP_2 said:

Quote:

Phantom151 said:

the company has now benefitted from goods imported into the country tax/duty free to them so I would expect them to apologise and pay up as I would think they will sell the goods to another punter.

You'd have to find them first.

I only have a web site and email address for this company, they have acknowledged that I placed an order and have paid me a refund for the goods and I have now asked them for a refund via email for the Customs Duty, to date no reply.

RoyP_2, in your first post you said

Next day I received the items, in touch with the company again and was given an address to whom I was to mail the parcel back.

sheramber

Phantom151 said:

sheramber said:

Phantom151 said:

The only thing I can think of is to persue the person you sent the goods back to. Small Claims type of thing.

I wonder if getting in touch with HMRC might open a can of worms for the recipient of the returned goods as it might be fraud to get someone else to pay the import duties. There may be a pattern but proving it might be impossible.

I don't think the company is a UK company so small claims court no help.

 

They appear to have been returned to a UK address though. Might have to go after the recipeint of the returned goods instead of the company.

Where do you see that they returned them to a UK address?


does this sound like a UK company?   - How long will it take to get my order?

A - All orders received by 3PM Eastern are shipping out the same day by expedited shipping, so you should have your order in a few days.

The OP has not said what address she returned the items to.  It may be a parcel hub that acts as a receiving depot with no company presence there.

The other  alternative is that the website the OP used was a scam website, as they say it is no longer available..