I know its been said before, but......

[WINI]

Fookin UK customs, the robbing theiving scum sucking parasites.

Got a package from the States yesterday, customs charge of £12.50 to pay.  Thought it was a set of rims I've got coming, but I get to the Post Office and its a couple of sets of bar ends and a couple of sets of swivel nuts, value including shipping costs of $33.

£4 odd in VAT to pay and a handling charge of £8!  The charges in total were nearly as much as the items minus shipping!  How can this be right?  The Aussies have a grand threshold before paying any duties

Rule Fookin Britannia 

[griff]

swivel nuts? bet matt's been looking everywhere for those...

[WINI]

swivel nuts? bet matt's been looking everywhere for those...

    

[ukoldschool]

was the package insured? if the sender sticks an insurance value of say $100 they will charge the VAT on the insured value

[brummie]

open a dispute and claim it back mark

[WINI]

open a dispute and claim it back mark

It hardly seems worth it for the value, but I might do just on principle.  Can't see me getting anywhere with the tw@ts but worth a go I guess!

 

[brettypeeps]

No logic what so ever with customs

[theRuler]

was the package insured? if the sender sticks an insurance value of say $100 they will charge the VAT on the insured value

That's usually the case.
The seller puts an unrealistic "value" on it, and you pay accordingly.

Except for the handling charge - no way around that, I'm afraid.

When I post something abroad I always mark it is "children's toys" and that can dodge the fees.

I have ordered 1000's and 1000's worth of stuff in from the US and far east, and only been hit for import tax a handful of times.
It's just pot luck - you win some you lose some.

[pickle]

there's no logic to them at all, I just got a frame delivered from the states and didn't get charged a thing!

[That Swan Guy]

there's no logic to them at all, I just got a frame delivered from the states and didn't get charged a thing!

I got stung on only 1 out of the 4 frame sets I've imported yet as Mark did, I got hammered on a pissy item!

[WINI]

Just waiting to see what they fook me over for on my rims now.  Probably nowt as they actually have a high value 

[ukoldschool]

No logic what so ever with customs

On the contrary - there is absolute logic to it.
Royal Mail:
"for goods imported from non-EU countries, Customs charges do apply, these may include import duty, excise duty and import VAT.  Goods with a value exceeding £18 (for commercial items including internet/mail order purchases), or £36 in the case of gifts between private individuals, are generally subject to Customs charges.  Normally charges are calculated upon the declared value (plus postage for commercial items)"

HMRC:
"Customs Duty is charged as a percentage of the total value of the goods - that is the sterling equivalent of the price paid abroad.
To work out the percentage, each type of product is given a 'commodity code'. This tells you what the Customs Duty rate percentage is for that particular product, based on whether it's being imported or exported.
There are around 14,000 different classifications. The duty rate percentage for each may vary according to the country the goods come from. The average percentage is between 5 and 9 per cent, but it can be as low as 0 per cent or as high as 85 per cent.

Goods imported to the UK from outside the EU are subject to Import VAT, unless they are brought in as part of your duty free allowances
The Import VAT percentage rate is applied to the total value of the goods. In the case of goods brought in this is the sterling equivalent of the price paid abroad, as shown on the receipt. In the case of goods posted from outside the EU, it is the amount on the Customs Declaration, which includes the price paid for the goods, the cost of transport, postage and packing, insurance and any duty that may be payable."

Its really very simple if you dont want to pay any duty. Get the seller to mark everything as 'Gift' and make sure they DONT insure it, and declare the value of the item as $10. Of course this is no hlep at all if it gets lost.... your choice!

[Del]

dont tell me they were Peregrine Swivel nuts Mark?

[WINI]

dont tell me they were Peregrine Swivel nuts Mark?

You're gonna tell me you've a box full now aren't you Del     

[ORANGEZIPPY]

i've just paid £94 quid fine for just 1 bike.

 

[Glynnyboy]

Almost everything that comes in the national postal system USPS TO ROYAL MAIL gets pulled now.

You can either ask the guys to do the old gift or if the item is too big for that to be gotten away with, ask them to lower it to take out the sting a bit.

I am realising now that what ever you may ask the one thing you really need to specify is that they don't put the item down as any higher.

If you pay through paypal the transaction is insured at your end. Some sellers think they are doing you a favour putting a higher value on the posting forms.

I just got charged an extra £50 on something because the sender rounded it up from $275 to $500. " i thought i was helping you out buddy"  
DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU.

[WINI]

Ouch Glynn, extra sting just where you don't need it!

Got back tonight to find my rims have arrived too.  And are in Nottingham awaiting a £20 customs payment......