I feel for you Iain, but that is exactly what they are doing, you get charged on postage costs & actual value combined which is a right bloody farce, so you are left with but a few options which are as follows (IME)
1. - mark the parcel as low value & send via cheapest option, as the express or priority option will instantly tip the scales in there favour.
1A. - Always remember to send the seller 2 payments 1. to the marked low value 2. the remainder, as they WILL ask for proof of payment!
2. Send it with the following criteria -
2A - vintage action figures
2B - In original packaging
2C - Over 30 years old
2D - commodity code clearly marked on the label & preferably on the box
2E - don't forget rule - 1A!
As I have checked & double checked with HMRC about this & its water tight!
They can still argue the fact but if these steps are taken they WILL LOOSE if you take them to court & "should" honour there own rules & ad-hear to them, not that they will, as I just got a parcel through with all the above bar 1A - muppet! so I can now not make that claim!, the parcel I had sent had the commodity code clearly marked on 3 sided in LARGE red font & on the label & they still bloody charged me, BUT! if I had followed 1A I could have easily claimed the excess taxes back.
This 2nd method will entightle you to the vintage toys import tax which is 5% not the usual 20%, you will still have to pay the Parcel force handling fees though which are -
£8 for standard post or (wait for it)
£13.50 if sent via express or priority - total wank bags! what a farce charging more for priority services
See my other thread on this for the correct commodity code guys
