Amazon & Customs Charges

shiraz99

cx6 said:

The OP said above they bought from the Amazon UK site

If so, they should expect to pay no duty fees etc

Not sure what Amazon remedy they have - if any

The Amazon UK site, like all Amazon sites, is purely a marketplace hosting many sellers from Amazon UK themselves but also, as you'll no doubt be aware, Amazon EU and Amazon Global and third party sellers. Just because someone buys something on the UK site doesn't mean there will be no duty etc to be levied, it'll be down to whoever is the seller, and Amazon are quite clear about this.

unholyangel

Sandtree said:

Nearlyold said:

Sandtree said:

Orders under £135 then Amazon charges the importation costs up front, anything over £135 it is like it always has been and you as the importer has to pay the importation costs. (Pre-Brexit importation was relative to the EU rather than UK)

It is not for the seller to tell you your country's importation costs but for you to know before buying

Particularly so if it was a Company/Business purchase - in the absence of any  offer by the supplier/exporter to cover your import costs the assumption is that as the importer you are aware of the costs (or ought to be) and thus prepared to pay them.

Its actually one area where there is no nanny state protection for consumers and businesses/consumers are treated equally.

It is an area where some sympathy can be given as there are circumstances where its reasonable to assume products will come from within the UK but in practice they come from overseas however it was clear in this case the OP knew the products were coming from Germany before they were dispatched. 

No its not. 

Consumers need to be given the total price for the goods and delivery, inclusive of all taxes. 

Now normally (as in how things were for decades, due to us being in the EU) you'd only have such a scenario because you had purchased outside of the EU, presenting the issue that the seller wouldn't be bound by the EU law.

However,  since the company is in Germany, then that wouldn't be an issue here. 

Phantom151

unholyangel said:

Sandtree said:

Nearlyold said:

Sandtree said:

Orders under £135 then Amazon charges the importation costs up front, anything over £135 it is like it always has been and you as the importer has to pay the importation costs. (Pre-Brexit importation was relative to the EU rather than UK)

It is not for the seller to tell you your country's importation costs but for you to know before buying

Particularly so if it was a Company/Business purchase - in the absence of any  offer by the supplier/exporter to cover your import costs the assumption is that as the importer you are aware of the costs (or ought to be) and thus prepared to pay them.

Its actually one area where there is no nanny state protection for consumers and businesses/consumers are treated equally.

It is an area where some sympathy can be given as there are circumstances where its reasonable to assume products will come from within the UK but in practice they come from overseas however it was clear in this case the OP knew the products were coming from Germany before they were dispatched. 

No its not. 

Consumers need to be given the total price for the goods and delivery, inclusive of all taxes. 

Now normally (as in how things were for decades, due to us being in the EU) you'd only have such a scenario because you had purchased outside of the EU, presenting the issue that the seller wouldn't be bound by the EU law.

However,  since the company is in Germany, then that wouldn't be an issue here. 

That is actually more difficult than you think. Tariff codes are a pain in the backside. Many things can fit into more than one code any will potentially have a different import duty depending on the code chosen. Then you have to factor in VAT. There is no easy way for the seller to pay that as far as I'm aware. Then you have different charges for customs clearance depending on carrier choice too. You then have to seperate business from personal buyers as business can reclain VAT if they are VAT registered.

It has become much more difficult for sellers and if they are small scalethen it is almost impossible to keep up to date with all the changes. I deal with imports and exports daily in my work role and still get caught out fairly frequently.

Sandtree

unholyangel said:

Sandtree said:

Nearlyold said:

Sandtree said:

Orders under £135 then Amazon charges the importation costs up front, anything over £135 it is like it always has been and you as the importer has to pay the importation costs. (Pre-Brexit importation was relative to the EU rather than UK)

It is not for the seller to tell you your country's importation costs but for you to know before buying

Particularly so if it was a Company/Business purchase - in the absence of any  offer by the supplier/exporter to cover your import costs the assumption is that as the importer you are aware of the costs (or ought to be) and thus prepared to pay them.

Its actually one area where there is no nanny state protection for consumers and businesses/consumers are treated equally.

It is an area where some sympathy can be given as there are circumstances where its reasonable to assume products will come from within the UK but in practice they come from overseas however it was clear in this case the OP knew the products were coming from Germany before they were dispatched. 

No its not. 

Consumers need to be given the total price for the goods and delivery, inclusive of all taxes. 

Now normally (as in how things were for decades, due to us being in the EU) you'd only have such a scenario because you had purchased outside of the EU, presenting the issue that the seller wouldn't be bound by the EU law.

However,  since the company is in Germany, then that wouldn't be an issue here. 

Only for parcels under £135, over that its the same as it always was... I was wrong and thought the £135 applied to B2B too.

unholyangel

Phantom151 said:

unholyangel said:

Sandtree said:

Nearlyold said:

Sandtree said:

Orders under £135 then Amazon charges the importation costs up front, anything over £135 it is like it always has been and you as the importer has to pay the importation costs. (Pre-Brexit importation was relative to the EU rather than UK)

It is not for the seller to tell you your country's importation costs but for you to know before buying

Particularly so if it was a Company/Business purchase - in the absence of any  offer by the supplier/exporter to cover your import costs the assumption is that as the importer you are aware of the costs (or ought to be) and thus prepared to pay them.

Its actually one area where there is no nanny state protection for consumers and businesses/consumers are treated equally.

It is an area where some sympathy can be given as there are circumstances where its reasonable to assume products will come from within the UK but in practice they come from overseas however it was clear in this case the OP knew the products were coming from Germany before they were dispatched. 

No its not. 

Consumers need to be given the total price for the goods and delivery, inclusive of all taxes. 

Now normally (as in how things were for decades, due to us being in the EU) you'd only have such a scenario because you had purchased outside of the EU, presenting the issue that the seller wouldn't be bound by the EU law.

However,  since the company is in Germany, then that wouldn't be an issue here. 

That is actually more difficult than you think. Tariff codes are a pain in the backside. Many things can fit into more than one code any will potentially have a different import duty depending on the code chosen. Then you have to factor in VAT. There is no easy way for the seller to pay that as far as I'm aware. Then you have different charges for customs clearance depending on carrier choice too. You then have to seperate business from personal buyers as business can reclain VAT if they are VAT registered.

It has become much more difficult for sellers and if they are small scalethen it is almost impossible to keep up to date with all the changes. I deal with imports and exports daily in my work role and still get caught out fairly frequently.

I didn't say the retailer has to pay it. But they do need to tell the consumer how much it is. The exception is where its not possible (not just that it's hassle the retailer would prefer to avoid) to calculate in advance. Then they must tell you that you will be liable for additional charges. 

unholyangel

Sandtree said:

unholyangel said:

Sandtree said:

Nearlyold said:

Sandtree said:

Orders under £135 then Amazon charges the importation costs up front, anything over £135 it is like it always has been and you as the importer has to pay the importation costs. (Pre-Brexit importation was relative to the EU rather than UK)

It is not for the seller to tell you your country's importation costs but for you to know before buying

Particularly so if it was a Company/Business purchase - in the absence of any  offer by the supplier/exporter to cover your import costs the assumption is that as the importer you are aware of the costs (or ought to be) and thus prepared to pay them.

Its actually one area where there is no nanny state protection for consumers and businesses/consumers are treated equally.

It is an area where some sympathy can be given as there are circumstances where its reasonable to assume products will come from within the UK but in practice they come from overseas however it was clear in this case the OP knew the products were coming from Germany before they were dispatched. 

No its not. 

Consumers need to be given the total price for the goods and delivery, inclusive of all taxes. 

Now normally (as in how things were for decades, due to us being in the EU) you'd only have such a scenario because you had purchased outside of the EU, presenting the issue that the seller wouldn't be bound by the EU law.

However,  since the company is in Germany, then that wouldn't be an issue here. 

Only for parcels under £135, over that its the same as it always was... I was wrong and thought the £135 applied to B2B too.

My point was that, contrary to your post, b2b and b2c are not treated equally. There are consumer rights which prevent it in consumer cases. 

But those only apply if the contract is governed by the laws of a country which makes it a lawful right. Like the UK, or Germany. 

Thrugelmir

cx6 said:

The OP said above they bought from the Amazon UK site

If so, they should expect to pay no duty fees etc

Not sure what Amazon remedy they have - if any

The OP knew the item was being shipped from Germany. 

Thrugelmir

Deejay1806 said:

I had to provide an EOIR number from my company to allow these into the country from Germany, with no mention of extra charges.

 

In January ParcelForce invoiced my company for over £130, and have since sent reminders, and now suspended the account for non-payment.

 

If it's a business purchase then your company can recover the VAT charge levied. 

Expect ParcelForce to take the appropriate action to recover the debt owed. Your bill may yet get even larger. 

ripplyuk

Sorry to briefly hijack your thread OP, but could anyone confirm if these new customs/VAT charges apply in Northern Ireland? I’ve just ordered stuff worth around £200 from Germany, from Amazon.de

Will I now be getting a customs or VAT bill? We’re now sort-of in the EU and sort-of out of it so I’ve no idea. 

Sandtree

unholyangel said:

Sandtree said:

unholyangel said:

Sandtree said:

Nearlyold said:

Sandtree said:

Orders under £135 then Amazon charges the importation costs up front, anything over £135 it is like it always has been and you as the importer has to pay the importation costs. (Pre-Brexit importation was relative to the EU rather than UK)

It is not for the seller to tell you your country's importation costs but for you to know before buying

Particularly so if it was a Company/Business purchase - in the absence of any  offer by the supplier/exporter to cover your import costs the assumption is that as the importer you are aware of the costs (or ought to be) and thus prepared to pay them.

Its actually one area where there is no nanny state protection for consumers and businesses/consumers are treated equally.

It is an area where some sympathy can be given as there are circumstances where its reasonable to assume products will come from within the UK but in practice they come from overseas however it was clear in this case the OP knew the products were coming from Germany before they were dispatched. 

No its not. 

Consumers need to be given the total price for the goods and delivery, inclusive of all taxes. 

Now normally (as in how things were for decades, due to us being in the EU) you'd only have such a scenario because you had purchased outside of the EU, presenting the issue that the seller wouldn't be bound by the EU law.

However,  since the company is in Germany, then that wouldn't be an issue here. 

Only for parcels under £135, over that its the same as it always was... I was wrong and thought the £135 applied to B2B too.

My point was that, contrary to your post, b2b and b2c are not treated equally. There are consumer rights which prevent it in consumer cases. 

But those only apply if the contract is governed by the laws of a country which makes it a lawful right. Like the UK, or Germany. 

You didn't read my comment even though quoting it?

Not sure I would describe it as a "consumer right" as its more an obligation between the overseas vendor and HMRC but only applies to lower value parcels. The obligation moves to the market place if the vendor is selling via one. 

How enforceable it all is? I'm sure HMRC did its analysis before deciding to scrap the low value exception for VAT and instead introduce the vendor/market place tax collection.