Import Duties

Tiptopdude6

I recently bought a product from a UK based company (based in York) which came with Free UK Next Day delivery.
The product didn't arrive, but 4 days after ordering I received an invoice through the letterbox from UPS regarding Import Duty totalling around £57.
It turns out that the company shipped the product from the Netherlands rather than the UK like I previously thought.
What are my rights and where do I stand with the import duty? 

Okell

Who did you buy it from?  (there's no issues in naming companies on here)

Tiptopdude6

Monstershop.co.uk 
They trade as Monster Group (UK) Ltd

Aylesbury_Duck

Speak to the retailer.  There may be a complication to unwind things, because UPS has imported it on your behalf and paid the fee, so as far as they're concerned you do owe them.  However, the retailer ought to sort that out.

born_again

Explore our online marketplace for unbeatable value and exceptional goods. With a relentless commitment to customer satisfaction, we strive to stand out as one of the best online retailers in the UK.

Customs/Tax Charges

International purchases may be liable to import customs charges/taxes upon delivery to the receiving country. This charge is the sole responsibility of the purchaser and MonsterShop will not be held liable for any customs/tax charges. If MonsterShop delivers a product internationally and the purchaser refuses to pay customs charges/taxes, the purchaser will receive a refund minus any associated charges incurred from recovering the item/s (including shipping and tax/customs charges). The refund will only be issued once the item/s is/are received at our company premises.

Tiptopdude6

born_again said:

Explore our online marketplace for unbeatable value and exceptional goods. With a relentless commitment to customer satisfaction, we strive to stand out as one of the best online retailers in the UK.

Customs/Tax Charges

International purchases may be liable to import customs charges/taxes upon delivery to the receiving country. This charge is the sole responsibility of the purchaser and MonsterShop will not be held liable for any customs/tax charges. If MonsterShop delivers a product internationally and the purchaser refuses to pay customs charges/taxes, the purchaser will receive a refund minus any associated charges incurred from recovering the item/s (including shipping and tax/customs charges). The refund will only be issued once the item/s is/are received at our company premises.

Read and understood. However at no point was it clear that this product was an international purchase. It stated free UK delivery from a company based in the UK- as they say "One of the best online retailers in the UK". At no point were import duties stated. 
It seems to be false advertising by stating it is free delivery when it actually costs £57

born_again

Tiptopdude6 said:

Read and understood. However at no point was it clear that this product was an international purchase. It stated free UK delivery from a company based in the UK- as they say "One of the best online retailers in the UK". At no point were import duties stated. 
It seems to be false advertising by stating it is free delivery when it actually costs £57

Custom charge has nothing to do with delivery.

Do you have a link to the actual item?

Aylesbury_Duck

Tiptopdude6 said:

born_again said:

Explore our online marketplace for unbeatable value and exceptional goods. With a relentless commitment to customer satisfaction, we strive to stand out as one of the best online retailers in the UK.

Customs/Tax Charges

International purchases may be liable to import customs charges/taxes upon delivery to the receiving country. This charge is the sole responsibility of the purchaser and MonsterShop will not be held liable for any customs/tax charges. If MonsterShop delivers a product internationally and the purchaser refuses to pay customs charges/taxes, the purchaser will receive a refund minus any associated charges incurred from recovering the item/s (including shipping and tax/customs charges). The refund will only be issued once the item/s is/are received at our company premises.

Read and understood. However at no point was it clear that this product was an international purchase. It stated free UK delivery from a company based in the UK- as they say "One of the best online retailers in the UK". At no point were import duties stated. 
It seems to be false advertising by stating it is free delivery when it actually costs £57


 While I think you've been hard done by, I don't think your assertion here is fully correct.  Delivery is free (and as stated by the previous poster, delivery isn't the same as customs charges) but unless the item description specifically said it would be dispatched from the UK, it's wrong to assume that because the retailer is based in the UK, all products would be dispatched from the UK.

pinkshoes

Aylesbury_Duck said:

I don't think your assertion here is fully correct.  Delivery is free (and as stated by the previous poster, delivery isn't the same as customs charges) but unless the item description specifically said it would be dispatched from the UK, it's wrong to assume that because the retailer is based in the UK, all products would be dispatched from the UK.

I'm going to disagree with this.

If you're buying from a UK company,  then I think it's a fair assumption that the product is dispatched from the UK unless it states otherwise. 

Otherwise any company could advertise/sell things cheaply based on the price they pay abroad rather than having to pay the import fee themselves then sell at a higher price which would put customers off. 

It's why when you purchase from a company abroad you DO have to factor in import costs. 

Nothing on that website makes it clear that it's coming from abroad so I believe their T&Cs would be deemed unfair.

screech_78

pinkshoes said:

Aylesbury_Duck said:

I don't think your assertion here is fully correct.  Delivery is free (and as stated by the previous poster, delivery isn't the same as customs charges) but unless the item description specifically said it would be dispatched from the UK, it's wrong to assume that because the retailer is based in the UK, all products would be dispatched from the UK.

I'm going to disagree with this.

If you're buying from a UK company,  then I think it's a fair assumption that the product is dispatched from the UK unless it states otherwise. 

Otherwise any company could advertise/sell things cheaply based on the price they pay abroad rather than having to pay the import fee themselves then sell at a higher price which would put customers off. 

It's why when you purchase from a company abroad you DO have to factor in import costs. 

Nothing on that website makes it clear that it's coming from abroad so I believe their T&Cs would be deemed unfair.

Agreed. 

Having looked at their terms, they’re a VAT registered company and state they operate under English law. 

Arunmor

born_again said:

Explore our online marketplace for unbeatable value and exceptional goods. With a relentless commitment to customer satisfaction, we strive to stand out as one of the best online retailers in the UK.

Customs/Tax Charges

International purchases may be liable to import customs charges/taxes upon delivery to the receiving country. This charge is the sole responsibility of the purchaser and MonsterShop will not be held liable for any customs/tax charges. If MonsterShop delivers a product internationally and the purchaser refuses to pay customs charges/taxes, the purchaser will receive a refund minus any associated charges incurred from recovering the item/s (including shipping and tax/customs charges). The refund will only be issued once the item/s is/are received at our company premises.

But this is not an International Purchase so this section is irrelevant.

UK registered company, UK address, UK phone number, it's not a fly by night Chinese company.  I can only assume VAT etc should have been pre-paid before shipping.