DHL / Control Account - Pay Customs Tax Fee for something I never ordered!

PishPosh

Hello,

So my mother received a letter from DHL saying that she needs to pay £40 custom tax charge for an item that she bought, but she never ordered it! 

Also, it wasn’t addressed to her, it was addressed to “Height Adjustable Punts Ltd”. There is no company registered like that at her address, she lives alone. Also, I can’t find the company on Companies House. 

I called DHL and explained everything. They are absolutely useless, sometimes even hanging up on me. I explained many times that that the item was sent to the wrong address. When I asked what is the item they said wall mounts from Costa Rica. This is something no one in the house has bought. 

Now my mother has received a letter from Control Account with the fee now £90! 

I emailed, called, etc. but DHL are absolutely refusing to do anything about it. No one cares! My mother now has panic attacks and I am trying to calm her down but she’s just worried the bailiffs will turn up at her door. 

I literally can’t call DHL anymore as they never do anything. Shall I just ignore? 

Thank you in advance for any advice. 

Aylesbury_Duck

Your mother simply needs to tell them that she's not the person named, in the unlikely eventuality that anyone turns up.  She hasn't received a letter from DHL, she's opened a letter intended for someone else.  

If someone wrote to Joe Bloggs at my address, it would simply go back into a postbox with "NOT AT THIS ADDRESS" written on it.  I wouldn't open it and begin correspondence with the sender.

Mutton_Geoff

Not addressed to her? Why even open the mail? Highly likely a scam, don't get involved.

It's worth educating your Mum exactly when bailiffs can be used to enforce a debt, ie only after court finds against her and she fails to make payment. Since this is none of her doing, file letters in the bin.

PishPosh

Mutton_Geoff said:

Not addressed to her? Why even open the mail? Highly likely a scam, don't get involved.

It's worth educating your Mum exactly when bailiffs can be used to enforce a debt, ie only after court finds against her and she fails to make payment. Since this is none of her doing, file letters in the bin.

Thanks. I will tell her. She unknowingly opened the letter thinking it was related to  her and since then has been worried. 

PishPosh

Mutton_Geoff said:

Not addressed to her? Why even open the mail? Highly likely a scam, don't get involved.

It's worth educating your Mum exactly when bailiffs can be used to enforce a debt, ie only after court finds against her and she fails to make payment. Since this is none of her doing, file letters in the bin.

Thanks. I will tell her this. 

Keep_pedalling

I wonder if this is the company. I don’t think there is such a thing as a height adjustable punt. 

https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/12957810

DullGreyGuy

PishPosh said:

Mutton_Geoff said:

Not addressed to her? Why even open the mail? Highly likely a scam, don't get involved.

It's worth educating your Mum exactly when bailiffs can be used to enforce a debt, ie only after court finds against her and she fails to make payment. Since this is none of her doing, file letters in the bin.

Thanks. I will tell her. She unknowingly opened the letter thinking it was related to  her and since then has been worried. 

So she thinks she works for “Height Adjustable Punts Ltd”? 

If she gets post thats not addressed to her then just cross out the address, write next to the address "Return To Sender - Addressee Unknown" and stick it back in a postbox, no need to put any postage on it. Because of the cycle you may get a couple more but rinse and repeat. Unfortunately some will try the trick even if it is addressed to them so it's not a golden bullet but for most companies they'll make enquiries/stop sending after a couple of such letters have come back. 

If they do step up the activities she just need to restate that the company named is unknown to her... dont need to try and be "helpful" by pointing out that there is no company of that name registered in the UK etc.