Customs Fees on Medical Devices

CloudBecoming

I'm not sure if I've posted this in the right section, so mods/admin: feel free to move this post if needed.

I ordered a medical device designed to reduce symptoms of Parkinson's Disease from abroad. Royal Mail tried delivering it when I was out and left a card, saying that there is a customs fee to pay (along with a Royal Mail handling fee). Together the fees come to about 25% of the price I paid for the device (and I already paid more than I could really afford).

I was under the impression that there were no customs fees to pay when buying medical devices for self-treatment when you have Parkinson's Disease. Am I wrong about this? The company I ordered from asked me to complete a VAT exemption form before dispatching my device, but I'm now wondering whether I should also have completed a similar form for customs charges.

Anyone know?

By the way, I've already spoke to someone at HMRC who tried googling(!) whether such medical devices attracted customs fees whilst I was on the phone (to no avail). He told me that I should try looking up the commodity code for the device on the HMRC website but I'd already tried that (again to no avail!). I've also phoned the Parkinson's UK helpline but they were useless (despite featuring the device relatively prominently on their website). 

unforeseen

The only customs exceptions appear to be for donated equipment, not purchased.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pay-no-import-duty-or-vat-on-donated-medical-equipment

Woodstok2000

Whats the device, and more importantly where did you import it from?

Keep_pedalling

The problem you have is that you imported this item from overseas had you purchased from a UK supplier you should have been able to purchase it free of VAT. As a personal importer you have no such option. 

CloudBecoming

Keep_pedalling said:

The problem you have is that you imported this item from overseas had you purchased from a UK supplier you should have been able to purchase it free of VAT. As a personal importer you have no such option. 

There are no UK suppliers

CloudBecoming

Woodstok2000 said:

Whats the device, and more importantly where did you import it from?

It's a Vilim Ball, imported from Lithuania. It's reviewed on the Parkinson's UK website but I've not been a member here long enough to post a link.

Keep_pedalling

CloudBecoming said:

Keep_pedalling said:

The problem you have is that you imported this item from overseas had you purchased from a UK supplier you should have been able to purchase it free of VAT. As a personal importer you have no such option. 

There are no UK suppliers

I have had a good look at Parkinson’s UK website and I could not find anything that could not be obtained in the UK, could you enlighten us and tell us what it is please?

QrizB

Keep_pedalling said:

CloudBecoming said:

Keep_pedalling said:

The problem you have is that you imported this item from overseas had you purchased from a UK supplier you should have been able to purchase it free of VAT. As a personal importer you have no such option. 

There are no UK suppliers

I have had a good look at Parkinson’s UK website and I could not find anything that could not be obtained in the UK, could you enlighten us and tell us what it is please?

This product, I would guess?

https://techguide.parkinsons.org.uk/catalogue/vilim-ball/review

Woodstok2000

It seems to fit best under Code 9019, which includes massage apparatus.  That would have 0% import duty from the EU, but it would incur 20% VAT, so maybe that's what your invoice is for?  Does the letter specify exactly what the 'customs fees' are?

If it's import duty, contact HMRC and argue that the device under code 9019 should be 0 rated.

If it's VAT, you'd need to understand why they haven't applied your disabled persons exemption (per the form you filled out).

born_again

QrizB said:

Keep_pedalling said:

CloudBecoming said:

Keep_pedalling said:

The problem you have is that you imported this item from overseas had you purchased from a UK supplier you should have been able to purchase it free of VAT. As a personal importer you have no such option. 

There are no UK suppliers

I have had a good look at Parkinson’s UK website and I could not find anything that could not be obtained in the UK, could you enlighten us and tell us what it is please?

This product, I would guess?

https://techguide.parkinsons.org.uk/catalogue/vilim-ball/review

Does not exactly get glowing review.

CloudBecoming

QrizB said:

Keep_pedalling said:

CloudBecoming said:

Keep_pedalling said:

The problem you have is that you imported this item from overseas had you purchased from a UK supplier you should have been able to purchase it free of VAT. As a personal importer you have no such option. 

There are no UK suppliers

I have had a good look at Parkinson’s UK website and I could not find anything that could not be obtained in the UK, could you enlighten us and tell us what it is please?

This product, I would guess?

yes, that's it. note: I had to remove the quoted part of your post containing the link from my reply coz this site doesn't even let me post links if I'm quoting a preious post. Mods: can anything be done about that? I get you don't want newbies posting links, but if we're quoting a post by a trusted user, surely there should be an exception for that?