Customs charges

lady_lucan

Firstly, hello to all MSE's - have been avidly reading this site the past fortnight and this is my first post. Thanks for all the info so far.

My problem: Ages ago I ordered some toiletries and over the counter medicine form a shop called drugstore dot com. I decided to do this, despite a high shipping charge, because these were brands that are either difficult/impossible to get here in UK. The value of the items was around £75. When I was completing my order a charge was also levied for 'customs, duties, taxes and insurance'.

Fast forward 7 weeks, past several emails from myself to comerxia, their shipping agent, wondering what on earth had happened to my order. Their customer service was really delayed and evasive.

Today a driver from ParcelForce Worldwide brought the order round. He said that the parcel had a customs charge of £14.30 on it. I told him that I had already paid a charge when I placed the order, but he just mumbled something to the effect of 'If people want it, they pay it'.

I tried phoning Parcelforce Worldwide but the number is 0870 automated hell.
I have emailed the company stating I have been charged twice and am awaiting a reply.

Is this legal? I can prove I paid this money upfront - why are PF adamant about their right to charge this?

TheChillPill

Not sure if this is relevant or not, but I believe some couriers (in this case perhaps Parcelforce) add their own admin charges that are seperate from those made my Customs.

Whether this is the case here or not I'm not sure - but in any event I suggest the supplier is the one to take it up with, you're not likely to get any joy at all from Parcelforce because their contract is not with you.

zzzLazyDaisy

I once ordered a laptop table for disabled people from the US (it was not available here). No mention was made of customs charges, so I was shocked when it arrived to be told there was quite a hefty surcharge for duty, not only on the value of the item, but also on postage, which was quite high due to the weight.

On top of that, the courier also made a charge, for collecting the money on behalf of C & E.

Now, I was't happy, and I complained to the company as I felt I should have been warned about this.

BUT in my case the courier had to deliver the parcel, collect the money owed in customs charges, and pay it over to C & E. So I can undertsand why they made an extra charge for the service. In your case, all the fees had been paid (I am assuming that is the case?) in which case it is difficult to understand the basis on which Parcel Force has levied the extra fee. They should at least be able to tell you why they have done this.

foxsake

TheChillPill wrote:

Not sure if this is relevant or not, but I believe some couriers (in this case perhaps Parcelforce) add their own admin charges that are seperate from those made my Customs.

Whether this is the case here or not I'm not sure - but in any event I suggest the supplier is the one to take it up with, you're not likely to get any joy at all from Parcelforce because their contract is not with you.

this is true i was charged £20 in vat and duty and a flat rate £20 admin fee from parcelforce.

raeble

It is highly likely that Parcelforce has not received money for the customs duty that HMC&E levied or anything to state that HMC&E have been paid. It sounds like you've paid the overseas customs, duties, taxes & insurance but not the UK ones. I've seen some reputable overseas companies state that their UK carrier will add a customs charge on delivery of X and to please allow for that.

There is something here about Customs and overseas purchasing

foxsake

raeble wrote:

It is highly likely that Parcelforce has not received money for the customs duty that HMC&E levied or anything to state that HMC&E have been paid. It sounds like you've paid the overseas customs, duties, taxes & insurance but not the UK ones. I've seen some reputable overseas companies state that their UK carrier will add a customs charge on delivery of X and to please allow for that.

There is something here about Customs and overseas purchasing

if goods are being exported you are only liable to charges on this side of the border. I would suggest contacting the company where you made the purchase from and ask them for a partial refund.

Being an importer from the USA i know what i'm talking about.

Laffinboy

Hi,

having worked in Manchester and Mount Pleasant postal depots, I think i'm fairly well placed to try give some advice on this.

When an item is purchased abroad, it is obviously subject to local taxes ie duty. It may also attract local export duty rates - or customs charges of that country.

When an item is exported from that country the exporter may claim relief of duty on certain goods so that the goods are in fact duty free.

Goods that don't attract Duty and/or VAT when imported into this country from inside the EU are; goods purchased under a guideline value of (i think) £50 / $90 (altho' this is not law but a guideline followed as otherwise there'd be too many items to process); personal items owned longer than 6 months ; or if you are foreign student relocating.

This does not include alcohol or tobacco products purchased inside or outside of the EU as they will probably still be seized - as the law states they must travel with the person who purchases them.

The only other thing is that purchasing prescribed drugs over the internet could possibly end up with you being arrested. The reason for this is that many drugs are controlled ie morphine aka heroin (diamorphine hydrachloride). If in doubt contact either HM Revnue & Customs as it's now known on it's advice line of 0845 010 9000 or via the websire at https://www.hmrc.gov.uk.

To finish up, goods from outside the EU will attract a payment of duty and/or VAT (depending on discretion etc) and what you pay over the Internet for any goods does not include this.

Always find out the total price and if unsure contact HMRC to discover how much Duty and/or VAT could be levied to evaluate the real cost before purchase.

It's a minefield what can I say lol !!

Paul

Hintza

This will have nothing to do with Parcelforce they will have received a charge from HMC&E and will add a service charge probably £4 but miught be £12 if the package is large.


You beef is with the seller of the goods not parcelforce. Thank your lucky stars it didn't come by courier they appear to make up the costs as they go along!!

RufusA

I believe that drugstore use Comerxia who were set up primarily to make shipping from US internationally painless with all costs being paid upfront.

I suspect that Parcelforce have mucked up, but I'd suggest you contact Drugstore about it as:

1) Your contract is with them, not Parcelforce.
2) I suspect that American customer service may be a little better!

HTH - Rufus.

derrick

Some geo phone numbers

HMRC Advice line 0208 9290152
Parcel Force Helpline 0191 5127055 & 0191 5127123
" " all depts 0191 5127003

HTH

lady_lucan

Thanks very much folks - loads of good advice here. I am going to contact comerxia and parcelforce direct to find out what's going on - at the very least I shouldn't have to pay any US customs charges.

I will update and let you know how I get on.