Duty and Vat, invoice after delivery - New question not previous addressed

DullGreyGuy

saltcod1 said:
the specific manner in which DHL delivered the parcel (simply leaving it on my doorstep after having only confirmed I lived at the address) denied my statutory right to accept or refuse an unsolicited parcel. 

If they really think that... what are they doing to stop couriers from leaving parcels when the occupant isnt in?

Its not like all the other couriers and RM dont do exactly the same.

inspectorperez

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79843005#Comment_79843005

Just as a matter of interest and some relevance perhaps (involvement of DHL), here is a link to a thread I started yesterday.

In this scenario, recipient residing in Germany, delivery was refused and the parcel was ultimately returned to the UK without duties or handling fee having been paid.

DullGreyGuy

inspectorperez said:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79843005#Comment_79843005

Just as a matter of interest and some relevance perhaps (involvement of DHL), here is a link to a thread I started yesterday.

In this scenario, recipient residing in Germany, delivery was refused and the parcel was ultimately returned to the UK without duties or handling fee having been paid.

With my own last DHL international parcel they charged the importation taxes even before the parcel had left the country of origin and stated they wouldnt deliver unless paid. This was sent via text and email.

In the OP's case they presumably wouldnt have had such details to be able to advise in advance

saltcod1

I think this was why the Trading Standards advisor told me (as an aside) that he had been eagerly awaiting for this sort of situation to be considered in the courts. As far as he was aware, this specific issue had never been examined and ruled on. He also said, just out of interest, that there had been a huge increase in this sort of thing during the social distancing requirements during the Covid lockdowns. I suppose that was understandable but probably not for courier companies to continue with such dubious practices thereafter.

As far as your question goes.. would they need not do anything to stop courier companies leaving unsolicited parcels which they have paid duty on because the courier companies themselves will very quickly stop if the courts ruled they were not be able to recover monies paid to HMRC in these specific circumstances. 

saltcod1

PS. As far as I'm aware Royal Mail will always send a communication to the addressee regarding any customs duty due on a parcel, either by note through the door or by letter.. which must then be paid before the item can be delivered. Failure to respond/pay simply results in the item being returned to sender or in some cases destroyed.   

Phantom151

Something occurs to me. Do you have an ongoing relationship with DHL? Do you run a business from the premises the parcel was delivered to? I only ask as whenever we have had international parcels dlivered, payment for duties and taxes is always up front if the courier can't link the address to a customer account. Was it addressed to a business?

saltcod1

DullGreyGuy said:

In the OP's case they presumably wouldnt have had such details to be able to advise in advance

For the record.. DHL had both my email and phone number from the beginning.. from when the parcel was initially handed over by the sender at a DHL office in the US.. and it was clearly written on the customs forms that accompanied the parcel.  

DullGreyGuy

Phantom151 said:

Something occurs to me. Do you have an ongoing relationship with DHL? Do you run a business from the premises the parcel was delivered to? I only ask as whenever we have had international parcels dlivered, payment for duties and taxes is always up front if the courier can't link the address to a customer account. Was it addressed to a business?

Could be a different part of DHL?  I know they are very fragmented as we had a DHL Express depot next to our offices but almost all our DHL parcels came from DHL UK who's depot is out in Dartford and one time we had a problem the Express guys said they cannot see any of the UK's systems or contact them or anything. 

Given how separate it is I'd be surprised if they have universal processes for these things.

PS. The one time I did have DHL Express it did come from next door but the guy drove out from the depot to our door  in his van, realised there was no parking so drove back past the depot and parked on the road to walk back. He laughed when he arrived saying had he realised he'd have walked it round as it was closer before he moved his van.

saltcod1

Phantom151 said:

Do you have an ongoing relationship with DHL? Do you run a business from the premises the parcel was delivered to? Was it addressed to a business?

I did not have any previous relationship with DHL. 
I do run a business from home but the parcel was addressed to me personally. 

user1977

Seems a bit odd that couriers are giving £500 of credit to recipients whom they presumably haven't checked out before (or who may not even exist).