Customs Charge - Royal Mail

tickledpink123

Hi all,

I'm getting married in October and ordered a custom veil off Etsy. The seller is based in Poland (I'm in Scotland).

Breakdown of cost for the veil is as follows:-

Item total £60.61
Delivery total £8.78
Subtotal £69.39
Tax £13.88
Order total £83.27

I've had a grey card through the door from Royal Mail stating a customs charge of £21.88 is due before they will release the item.

I messaged the seller to query this and her response was:

"I see that your parcel has arrived in the UK. Regarding the customs payment - we from our side attached the invoice with the indication "Vat collected" - unfortunately can not further affect the customs payments, in the UK with this can be unpredictable (often discuss it in the chat with other sellers) Try to send them your invoice from Etsy where it says that you have already paid the duty - this is the only thing I can help in this case.."

I'm trying to look online and i can't get my head round what is and isn't due on customs charges.

Does anyone have any advice? Or understand the whole custom charges thing because i am really confused.

I feel i'm being charged when i shouldn't be (have paid it meantime to get the veil anyway but aware i can claim it back if it's wrong).

Spoonie_Turtle

The tax in your breakdown of charges is the import VAT.  Etsy collects it on orders under £135 then pays it to HMRC.

Your charge from Royal Mail is likely made up of import VAT and a handling fee (used to be £8, don't know if that's changed).  I don't know whether you can get the whole charge refunded or just the import VAT.

DullGreyGuy

For anything under £135 landed price the merchant should be collecting the taxes, in the case of it being bought via a market place like Amazon, eBay, Etsy etc the market place collects the taxes. 

Sounds like the sender hasn't correctly completed the forms etc, though it's the first time I've heard of someone being charged for an under £135 parcel since the rules changed. In the first instance I'd contact Etsy given they are the ones holding the money already paid over for taxes

Brie

Can't help but wanted to congratulate you on the upcoming celebrations.  Hope this is the only hiccough along the way.

superbigal

Pay the charges and then appeal via the correct form.  as long as you can provide proof of payment all will be refunded.