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

sheramber

And the debt collection agency will add on their fees  so you end up with a bigger bill.

cymruchris

Most deliveries these days are gps logged anyway - so the driver will have been recorded as standing at your front door when the parcel was released. Money saving we encourage - dishonesty we don’t. If you want to try and get away with it, Is of course your choice - but when the bill comes through from the debt collection agencies with additional fees, you’ll be in a far worse position than just paying what you owe. If there’s a chance you think it’s a scam - then you need to call up your courier to clarify. It’s highly unlikely that a scam email will have arrived containing all the right details at just the point you received your parcel - but there’s no harm to check. 

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

cymruchris said:

- but when the bill comes through from the debt collection agencies with additional fees, you’ll be in a far worse position than just paying what you owe

Below suggests otherwise as OP hasn't got a contract with agreed charges. 

https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/debt-collection/debt-passed-to-a-collection-agency.aspx

Will a collection agency add more interest and charges?

If the debt has been sold to a collection agency interest and charges will usually stop. The original creditor may already have stopped these after the account defaulted.

However, in some cases a debt collection agency may continue adding interest and charges. They can only add amounts which are allowed in the contract you signed with the original creditor.

If the debt is still owned by the original creditor they may continue adding interest and charges while the collection agency is contacting you.

powerful_Rogue

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

cymruchris said:

- but when the bill comes through from the debt collection agencies with additional fees, you’ll be in a far worse position than just paying what you owe

Below suggests otherwise as OP hasn't got a contract with agreed charges. 

https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/debt-collection/debt-passed-to-a-collection-agency.aspx

Will a collection agency add more interest and charges?

If the debt has been sold to a collection agency interest and charges will usually stop. The original creditor may already have stopped these after the account defaulted.

However, in some cases a debt collection agency may continue adding interest and charges. They can only add amounts which are allowed in the contract you signed with the original creditor.

If the debt is still owned by the original creditor they may continue adding interest and charges while the collection agency is contacting you.

I would imagine as the importer, the OP is liable for any fees charged in reclaiming the import duties. Believe this is covered by s105 (3) Postal Services Act 2000.

noitsnotme

Postal Services Act 2000

"Duties (whether of customs or excise) charged on imported goods or other charges payable in respect of postal packets to which this section applies (whether payable to a postal operator or to a foreign administration) may be recovered by the postal operator concerned and in England and Wales and Northern Ireland may be so recovered as a civil debt due to him."

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/26/section/105

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

powerful_Rogue said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

cymruchris said:

- but when the bill comes through from the debt collection agencies with additional fees, you’ll be in a far worse position than just paying what you owe

Below suggests otherwise as OP hasn't got a contract with agreed charges. 

https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/debt-collection/debt-passed-to-a-collection-agency.aspx

Will a collection agency add more interest and charges?

If the debt has been sold to a collection agency interest and charges will usually stop. The original creditor may already have stopped these after the account defaulted.

However, in some cases a debt collection agency may continue adding interest and charges. They can only add amounts which are allowed in the contract you signed with the original creditor.

If the debt is still owned by the original creditor they may continue adding interest and charges while the collection agency is contacting you.

I would imagine as the importer, the OP is liable for any fees charged in reclaiming the import duties. Believe this is covered by s105 (3) Postal Services Act 2000.

Duties (whether of customs or excise) charged on imported goods or other charges payable in respect of postal packets to which this section applies (whether payable to a postal operator or to a foreign administration) may be recovered by the postal operator concerned and in England and Wales and Northern Ireland may be so recovered as a civil debt due to him.

So by small claims? The post above implies debt collectors can simply add fees when sending a bill but Step Change says they can't beyond what is in the contract, the link (interest and charges) goes on to explain

Extra charges may be added if you miss payments or you’re late paying, but your creditor can only add charges if they’re explained in your credit agreement. These charges must be fair and based on actual costs.

For example, it wouldn’t be fair to charge you £100 for a letter, even if this was included in your credit agreement, because this is a lot more than the actual cost of writing and posting a letter.

Any actual costs would be awarded via small claims, but this goes back to "that said I've yet to read of anyone being taken to small claims by the courier companies" 

This kind of topic comes up a lot, maybe the courier companies do go all the way to small claims, maybe people just pay, maybe enough people pay for the courier companies not to chase those who don't. OP hasn't said how much it is either, £30 and maybe it's forgotten about as it's not worth the trouble, £300 and maybe it's chased. No idea really but it would be interesting to know. 

mattyprice4004

You have a very weird view on duty and having to pay what’s owed. 

You’ve imported goods, and from your comments you’re already aware that you’ll be ‘stung’ for duty and VAT (not that paying this is any different from buying goods in the UK with VAT in the price). 

You’ve imported goods, you need to pay what’s owed. The fact you’ve already received the goods changes absolutely nothing. All you’ll do by messing about is incur late payment fees etc. 
FYI there’s no signature needed, the parcel will have been scanned when delivered and that’s plenty of proof. 

Ergates

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

powerful_Rogue said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

cymruchris said:

- but when the bill comes through from the debt collection agencies with additional fees, you’ll be in a far worse position than just paying what you owe

Below suggests otherwise as OP hasn't got a contract with agreed charges. 

https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/debt-collection/debt-passed-to-a-collection-agency.aspx

Will a collection agency add more interest and charges?

If the debt has been sold to a collection agency interest and charges will usually stop. The original creditor may already have stopped these after the account defaulted.

However, in some cases a debt collection agency may continue adding interest and charges. They can only add amounts which are allowed in the contract you signed with the original creditor.

If the debt is still owned by the original creditor they may continue adding interest and charges while the collection agency is contacting you.

I would imagine as the importer, the OP is liable for any fees charged in reclaiming the import duties. Believe this is covered by s105 (3) Postal Services Act 2000.

Duties (whether of customs or excise) charged on imported goods or other charges payable in respect of postal packets to which this section applies (whether payable to a postal operator or to a foreign administration) may be recovered by the postal operator concerned and in England and Wales and Northern Ireland may be so recovered as a civil debt due to him.

So by small claims? The post above implies debt collectors can simply add fees when sending a bill but Step Change says they can't beyond what is in the contract, the link (interest and charges) goes on to explain

Extra charges may be added if you miss payments or you’re late paying, but your creditor can only add charges if they’re explained in your credit agreement. These charges must be fair and based on actual costs.

For example, it wouldn’t be fair to charge you £100 for a letter, even if this was included in your credit agreement, because this is a lot more than the actual cost of writing and posting a letter.

Any actual costs would be awarded via small claims, but this goes back to "that said I've yet to read of anyone being taken to small claims by the courier companies" 

This kind of topic comes up a lot, maybe the courier companies do go all the way to small claims, maybe people just pay, maybe enough people pay for the courier companies not to chase those who don't. OP hasn't said how much it is either, £30 and maybe it's forgotten about as it's not worth the trouble, £300 and maybe it's chased. No idea really but it would be interesting to know. 

I would imagine that most people pay, as most people are honest and accept that they owe the money and/or because some companies won't deliver the item until the debt has been paid.  If a significant number of people start behaving as the OP was contemplating then the obvious route for the courier companies would be either for them to withhold delivery until the bill is paid, or to simply stop paying the bills on the recipients behalf (just informing them they have a bill to pay to HMRC).   Neither of these would be good outcomes - but they could be the cost that all of us pay as a result of liars and thieves.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Ergates said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

powerful_Rogue said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

cymruchris said:

- but when the bill comes through from the debt collection agencies with additional fees, you’ll be in a far worse position than just paying what you owe

Below suggests otherwise as OP hasn't got a contract with agreed charges. 

https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/debt-collection/debt-passed-to-a-collection-agency.aspx

Will a collection agency add more interest and charges?

If the debt has been sold to a collection agency interest and charges will usually stop. The original creditor may already have stopped these after the account defaulted.

However, in some cases a debt collection agency may continue adding interest and charges. They can only add amounts which are allowed in the contract you signed with the original creditor.

If the debt is still owned by the original creditor they may continue adding interest and charges while the collection agency is contacting you.

I would imagine as the importer, the OP is liable for any fees charged in reclaiming the import duties. Believe this is covered by s105 (3) Postal Services Act 2000.

Duties (whether of customs or excise) charged on imported goods or other charges payable in respect of postal packets to which this section applies (whether payable to a postal operator or to a foreign administration) may be recovered by the postal operator concerned and in England and Wales and Northern Ireland may be so recovered as a civil debt due to him.

So by small claims? The post above implies debt collectors can simply add fees when sending a bill but Step Change says they can't beyond what is in the contract, the link (interest and charges) goes on to explain

Extra charges may be added if you miss payments or you’re late paying, but your creditor can only add charges if they’re explained in your credit agreement. These charges must be fair and based on actual costs.

For example, it wouldn’t be fair to charge you £100 for a letter, even if this was included in your credit agreement, because this is a lot more than the actual cost of writing and posting a letter.

Any actual costs would be awarded via small claims, but this goes back to "that said I've yet to read of anyone being taken to small claims by the courier companies" 

This kind of topic comes up a lot, maybe the courier companies do go all the way to small claims, maybe people just pay, maybe enough people pay for the courier companies not to chase those who don't. OP hasn't said how much it is either, £30 and maybe it's forgotten about as it's not worth the trouble, £300 and maybe it's chased. No idea really but it would be interesting to know. 

I would imagine that most people pay, as most people are honest and accept that they owe the money and/or because some companies won't deliver the item until the debt has been paid.  If a significant number of people start behaving as the OP was contemplating then the obvious route for the courier companies would be either for them to withhold delivery until the bill is paid, or to simply stop paying the bills on the recipients behalf (just informing them they have a bill to pay to HMRC).   Neither of these would be good outcomes - but they could be the cost that all of us pay as a result of liars and thieves.

I agree, I also don't see why all couriers don't just hold the parcels until payment anyway (I understand it seems to be a mistake in this instance) but regardless of other people's dishonesty I still think information provided here should be correct and that is that companies and debt collectors can't just add amounts to debts racking up the amount owed significantly as was implied (not by yourself). 

icicat

Woa, hold your horses guys I never said I am refusing to pay the duty, just seeing what my options were as it's just a very strange situation, deliver first and then asking for a payment via email from a company I've never heard of (TransGlobal) and can't find much info on the net about, other than their website. They also claim to be holding the parcel which doesn't make much sense. Parcel was left at the door with no card or anything to link to this company. It does say delivered on the tracking info, nothing about import duty payment. So just a bit confusing and a little suspicious. For all I know I may have already paid it with the shipping cost. Also wondering how many people here would buy say an i-phone abroad and declare it at the airport coming back? Or just keep it in your pocket as if you had it all along? No one likes to pay more money at the end of the day. I'm an honest person, declare my earnings etc. Just asking a question. Anyway I'm phoning the company up via their official site to double check it all.