Ugg Boots from £62 delivered

Lisa_x wrote: »

My husband ordered some tools from USA and Fedex delivered them. No mention of customs until 2 weeks later when we got a bill from Fedex for £80. I rang them (as I wasn't impressed :eek: ) and really didn't have an option. It had to be paid.

I have had parcels sent to me, & have been opened by customs. But as they were birthday gifts, there were no charges. I thought(and maybe I am wrong all the time my hubbie says) that they have to have a custom sticker on to get charged...

Thanks

Ginga

The limit on gifts is £37 I think and normal goods is £17. Customs won't always open it...it's luck if they don't. And I think all goods regardless if it's a gift have to have customs declaration on it.

About customs charges.

To be honest, I think customs are really cracking down on what people can get away with. It used to be that kids were VAT free but they are now charging VAT and Duty on kids boots imported. I called the VAT Office and asked them and they actually asked me 'what kind of boots' and I said UGGs and they said it was 17% duty plus the VAT. I questioned that they were infants boots but they were quite firm and said no, vat and duty was to be added. Does anyone know if they have changed their policies over the last few weeks/months at all?

Not being funny but I bet they are following this thread with real interest and they are seeing where we are all having them sent from overseas and are now estimating the costs of the packages if nothing is noted on the form. It does say the importer is liable as well so it can come back on YOU if the form is filled in wrong. I know someone else said they have bigger fish to fry but I think you are wrong, the Government will want their money at all costs and if they think we are avoiding paying it will try and get it anyway where they can and this is how they are doing it.

They do also charge the VAT and Duty on the postage costs (I asked this as well) so if you pay $60 but the person shipping only pays $20 you lose out there as well. It is easy for them to look at the package and check on the internet from the company that you have bought from how much they charge - the sizes and shapes of the boxes are probably a dead giveaway if so many people are buying them. In fact, I bet they have a list of what company charges what and how much their shipping is to add the charge on. I would guess that the days of getting away with the customs charge is going to be gone now purely because everyone has been talking about it and saying they did not get charged. While sites like this a great in showing us the bargains they also tell the HMRC that parcels are being marked as gifts when if sold in the UK they would get around £30 in the VAT, they are not going to be getting this if we buy overseas.

The other thing is that they do not make it viable to shop over here. One company selling in the US and UK has them on the US site for $160 and the UK site for £160. Even if they added the VAT and import duties it would not make them this price so it is still cheaper for us to buy from overseas.

After much military precision planning and studying, I ordered a tall pair of Chocolate Uggs from REI.com and have just got a letter from Parcelforce charging £15.27 VAT and £13.50 Parcelforce clearance fee....£28.77 in total, but have already paid it online as I want my boots! Ordered them 2 weeks ago, and hopefully will be on my feet tomorrow, woopwoop!