Current customs policy

[Devilock]

Thought it might be useful for a quick reference.

[griff]

Got a parcel en route from mr porkchop - fingers crossed I don't get raped by them!

[bobbbbsy]

What are you telling us rich ? You had charges today ?

[Gnarlyscoots]

What's customs and/or VAT charges   

[PHIL9HUF]

Just paid £16 on an £80 order from porky 

[region11]

It's the 8 quid handling fee the post office charge that bugs me!

[Devilock]

What are you telling us rich ? You had charges today ?

I did incur a £27 charge on an item valued at $35...

What's customs and/or VAT charges   

It concerns the value indicated Terry but it doesn't make sense because my item was marked as gift & valued well below £36 & I was still charged...

It appears to be a random process.

[BMX1973]

Always confusing these customs forms. 

[BMX1973]

I thought Porkchop always put a low value on his items like $20! 

Just paid £16 on an £80 order from porky 

Got a parcel en route from mr porkchop - fingers crossed I don't get raped by them!

[griff]

Just paid £16 on an £80 order from porky 

Meh, not good 

My tracking now says 'London  - Departed'
No idea what that means yet as it said it yesterday too, hopefully will arrive at work next week (don't have stuff sent home if I can help it as my postie is a twat)

[snoopy72]

But if they cant get you on the value they will now get you on a percentage of the postage cost or weight/size of the box and call it handling charge, the only way to get around it is if you are sending a feather in a matchbox valued at £18 MAX or they happen to be eating their lunch when your item goes through.

[Devilock]

But if they cant get you on the value they will now get you on a percentage of the postage cost or weight/size of the box and call it handling charge, the only way to get around it is if you are sending a feather in a matchbox valued at £18 MAX or they happen to be eating their lunch when your item goes through.

 

[rodriguez]

What are you telling us rich ? You had charges today ?

I did incur a £27 charge on an item valued at $35...

What's customs and/or VAT charges   

It concerns the value indicated Terry but it doesn't make sense because my item was marked as gift & valued well below £36 & I was still charged...

It appears to be a random process.

If it is sent by a business the maximum value is £15 whether it is marked gift or not.

If the parcel is insured for more than the declaration your parcel will be rated on the insured value, I was told this when I queried a charge that had been marked gift and value below £36 so I thought it would get through with no charge, however, the seller was a business and insured it for the full value and I got a bill for £38.

[griff]

managed to avoid paying any charges 

[midschooljon]

I just received a Customs Notice of £130.00 for an item I paid only $42.00 for!!!   

Sorting this out should be a lot of fun.....

[MartyC]

I just received a Customs Notice of £130.00 for an item I paid only $42.00 for!!!   

Sorting this out should be a lot of fun.....

How much was the postage and the insured value?

[ED209]

over £36 then they charge you VAT on the price of the item AND the shipping.

eg. £50 item that cost £50 to post ... you'll have to pay VAT on £100 ... and pay the £8 handling fee.

That is SO wrong if you ask me

[leehunt1]

If you can speak to the sender ask them to put on the customs note 'goods returned'
this will avoid any fees.. worked on 4 or 5 high value items sent to me from USA

once tho they tried to charge me so i rang parceforce and asked the lady to check the note on the box
she did and it said goods return.. fee was cancelled

[midschooljon]

I just received a Customs Notice of £130.00 for an item I paid only $42.00 for!!!   

Sorting this out should be a lot of fun.....

How much was the postage and the insured value?

Postage was $50. Problem is the sender stated goods have zero value, so customs opened the box and came to the conclusion they are worth £500??

I'm on my way there now to discuss with Parcelforce, however they have already said they can't do anything. Apparently I have to pay and then open up a query with HMRC via post....

[MartyC]

I had something similar years ago and had tp pay then go through HMRC to get a refund once they had copies of my ebay and paypal receipts, etc.  Mine was for £200 odd ended up paying £36 and getting a refund for the rest.

[snoopy72]

I've been stung a few times but also not had to pay for items I thought I would pay for so really it's evened out but the whole system is wrong.
I was at the depot of Parcel force a few years ago, Their was an oriental lady at the desk arguing which the postal worker, she had worthless goods in a box about 50cm x 50cm x 50cm, and believe me I was standing next to her and saw the contents, it was just personal junk really and clothing but were her items from back home.
Anyway the contents were worthless to anyone but herself,  they said she had to pay £90 import to take the contents away so she told them to return them .