My Parcel from the US arrived at my door, though I got an email asking to pay import fees?

icicat

Hey all, so quick question. I ordered something from the US and it arrived at my door. I was surprised I didn't get hit with a sting of import duty fees. However checking my inbox I have received an email asking me to pay the fees? It looks legit as it states details of where my parcel is from.

So what now? It says they are holding the parcel and will only deliver once the fees are paid, though a bit late for that lol! Anyway I obviously don't want to pay them having received my parcel already and it looks like whoever delivered it made the mistake. Should I just ignore this now? 

Keep_pedalling

Some companies deliver first and bill you later, others like parcel force charge first then deliver. Whether it is the former or the later who may have accidentally released the parcel makes no difference you as the imported you owe the money, and they will not let it go if you refuse to pay.

cymruchris

If you've imported something and there are fees to pay - then no - don't ignore it - doesn't matter if you've had your item before or after the bill - it still needs paying. They'll no doubt pursue you and add on lots of extra costs if you don't. They know where you live after all. 

diggingdude

Don't pay it via email. Pick up the phone and speak to the delivery company using their customer service desk number not any number on the email. If they confirm you owe it then pay it 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

When you import goods OP there can be customs fees and they are the responsibility of the importer, the courier companies often handle everything for a small to medium extra fee which is really due to be paid.

That said I've yet to read of anyone being taken to small claims by the courier companies. 

Ergates

icicat said:

Hey all, so quick question. I ordered something from the US and it arrived at my door. I was surprised I didn't get hit with a sting of import duty fees. However checking my inbox I have received an email asking me to pay the fees? It looks legit as it states details of where my parcel is from.

So what now? It says they are holding the parcel and will only deliver once the fees are paid, though a bit late for that lol! Anyway I obviously don't want to pay them having received my parcel already and it looks like whoever delivered it made the mistake. Should I just ignore this now? 

The fees are due and you owe them (you imported goes, you have to pay the duties).  If you have no ethical qualms about not paying  people money you legally owe them, then  you could ignore the email.  They might pursue it, or they might not.

From an ethics standpoint, it's no different from theft.

icicat

Though surely that's their mistake to release the parcel before paying the fee? It doesn't state anywhere that the parcel has been delivered and I must pay the fee. They are under the assumption that I have not received the parcel. I can't see any mention of failing to pay may result in criminal court action? Just says that payment should be made by April as your goods can only be held in our Customs Bonded area for 14 days, thereafter we have to either return to sender or pass for destruction. For all I know the email could well be a clever scam as I've never heard anyone requesting customs duty after delivering the package. The whole point in getting people to pay is that they are holding your package (at ransom!) Anyway, I might phone them up and see what they think. Though if they took me to court would also need to provide proof it was delivered as I didn't sign anything.

Ergates

icicat said:

Though surely that's their mistake to release the parcel before paying the fee? It doesn't state anywhere that the parcel has been delivered and I must pay the fee. They are under the assumption that I have not received the parcel. I can't see any mention of failing to pay may result in criminal court action? Just says that payment should be made by April as your goods can only be held in our Customs Bonded area for 14 days, thereafter we have to either return to sender or pass for destruction. For all I know the email could well be a clever scam as I've never heard anyone requesting customs duty after delivering the package. The whole point in getting people to pay is that they are holding your package (at ransom!) Anyway, I might phone them up and see what they think. Though if they took me to court would also need to provide proof it was delivered as I didn't sign anything.

It's not necessarily a *mistake* in their part - they could just be offering good service.   Rather than make you wait for your parcel until you've paid your bill, they delivery it first then collect later.   Lots of companies work like that and it's based on trust that you'll actually pay up when the time comes.  Trust that you're contemplating breaching.

What you're considering here is fundamentally dishonest.  You *have* received the parcel, you know this and you've admitted this.  You *know* you're due to pay for the import duties (you were expecting to be be asked to pay for them).  Now, because you already have the parcel, you're planning on finding out if you can rip the company off by not paying them monies you *know* you owe them.  There is no way to mask what you're doing here - it is morally no different from theft.

Whether or not you can get away with it is another matter.  Maybe you will, maybe you wont.  Is that how you decide whether or not to do things?


"The whole point in getting people to pay is that they are holding your package"    It's because of people like you that the import companies feel they need to do that.   If everyone was honest then it wouldn't be necessary.

Aylesbury_Duck

icicat said:

Though surely that's their mistake to release the parcel before paying the fee? It doesn't state anywhere that the parcel has been delivered and I must pay the fee. They are under the assumption that I have not received the parcel. I can't see any mention of failing to pay may result in criminal court action? Just says that payment should be made by April as your goods can only be held in our Customs Bonded area for 14 days, thereafter we have to either return to sender or pass for destruction. For all I know the email could well be a clever scam as I've never heard anyone requesting customs duty after delivering the package. The whole point in getting people to pay is that they are holding your package (at ransom!) Anyway, I might phone them up and see what they think. Though if they took me to court would also need to provide proof it was delivered as I didn't sign anything.

I don't think that's correct.  I understand that it's assumed that an item has been delivered, which is why people are advised not to use signed-for or registered post when sending a legal letter - the recipient can refuse to accept something they're prompted to sign for, whereas proof of posting is deemed as reasonable evidence it's been delivered.  Anyway, when asked in a court if the item was delivered, are you seriously going to lie and say it wasn't?

Thrugelmir

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

That said I've yet to read of anyone being taken to small claims by the courier companies. 

Acting in the capacity as a collection agent for the HMRC they'll have no qualm in collecting the charges due. They'll have a debt collection agency lined up. 

powerful_Rogue

icicat said:

Though surely that's their mistake to release the parcel before paying the fee? It doesn't state anywhere that the parcel has been delivered and I must pay the fee. They are under the assumption that I have not received the parcel. I can't see any mention of failing to pay may result in criminal court action? Just says that payment should be made by April as your goods can only be held in our Customs Bonded area for 14 days, thereafter we have to either return to sender or pass for destruction. For all I know the email could well be a clever scam as I've never heard anyone requesting customs duty after delivering the package. The whole point in getting people to pay is that they are holding your package (at ransom!) Anyway, I might phone them up and see what they think. Though if they took me to court would also need to provide proof it was delivered as I didn't sign anything.

 I ordered something from the US and it arrived at my door.

1) Civil

2) Now that would be criminal. Are you seriously going to lie in court if asked?

Seriously, the dishonesty on here sometimes amazes me.