Amazon & Customs Charges

Phantom151

ripplyuk said:

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. 

I believe so. Happy to be corrected though.

unholyangel

Sandtree said:

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.

Did you read mine? This post and your previous response to me implied you either hadn't read or had read and misunderstood my post. 

You don't think the rights conferred by the consumer contracts (information, cancellation and additional charges) regulations are consumer rights or enforceable? Why not? 

Deejay1806

I've opened a can of worms here, sorry!
Taking on board all your comments which would have led me to believe I'd no chance of re-imbursement, Amazon have surprised me by doing just that, straight to my credit card. Persistence can work!
The German seller has intimated, however, that they will no longer trade with the UK.....
Thanks again to all who commented.
D

Thrugelmir

Deejay1806 said:

Taking on board all your comments which would have led me to believe I'd no chance of re-imbursement, Amazon have surprised me by doing just that, straight to my credit card. Persistence can work!
The German seller has intimated, however, that they will no longer trade with the UK.....

Most likely a goodwill gesture by the company. Amazon being the ones who applied the pressure. As it's their reputation not the suppliers it seems.