Interesting customs charge

[edd_jedi]

I just got a figure through with the value marked at $30, and they've whacked an £18 customs charge on it. I thought that:

a) You don't get charged for items under $30
b) If you did get charged, it would be at a rate less than 100%!!

I don't get it - the breakdown is VAT £10, and handling £8. How is VAT EXACTLY £10 on a $30 (£20) figure!?

 

[Ron]

That is a joke Edd

 

[plantman]

It has to be marked a gift mate i think. otherwise its anything under £18 that gets through free.

£38 if its marked as a gift.

Also they can open it and get their own value, they then charge you based on their valuation.

Anything to rip you off.

 

[Paul-itoy]

If it was marked as a 'commercial item' they factor the postage into it too.

Just got one totalling £39.00 on a £130 figure. Gutted really as it takes the fun out of it arriving.

 

[Stuarte76]

It's a rip off, I bought 2 modern figures from the states for £14 plus postage which put it just over the £18 limit, seller didn't mark it as a gift so had to pay £3 customs, oh and royal mail £8 to handle it. Robbing b*stards!

 

[weasel]

As the others have said it's just a way to bleed more money out of you.
Especially that £8 "handling" charge. HOW do they even get close to justifying that?

 

[edd_jedi]

I'm most interested at how they work out a £10.00 VAT charge on a $30 item... I think somebody plucked the figure out of thin air! :evil:

 

[plantman]

I'm most interested at how they work out a £10.00 VAT charge on a $30 item... I think somebody plucked the figure out of thin air! :evil:

You can ring them up and question it, if you can be arsed that is, but they probably do this on every parcel, thats a fair few quid over the space of a year....theiving twats

 

[weasel]

Yeah I'd definitely be getting in touch with them about that!

 

[Josh]

.

 

[DarthStanley]

Edd,

That VAT/Customs charge is completely wrong!

Anything under the value of £18 is ok but if its marked as a gift,you're allowed up to £40!

IIRC the VAT/Customs charge should be about 15-20% which is nowhere near the £10 you were charged,you can ring them up & query it & they'll tell you to send the labels/paperwork you got with the charges on it & they'll refund you the difference,sadly there's nothing you can do about the £8 handling charge! :roll:

Hope this helps,

Mark.

 

[Imperial nut]

:shock: jesus thats steep,, in ireland we dont have postcodes yet but we dont have custom charges either,, well not any that are enforced!

if anyone wants to ship here and i will post on, thats cool if it helps.
as i have had a few packages now from the U.S. and not one penny more than the postage.

 

[edd_jedi]

Thanks guys, good to know for future reference but I can't be arsed to get involved in writing letters etc for the sake of a tenner. Still bloody annoying/criminal though.

 

[tigerham]

Thats bloody daylight robbery Ed and they know that most people wont contact them disputing it, twats! It's a tough one because it is alot of hassle to right to them and then they send you round and round in circles.

Sorry to hear that dude.

 

[plantman]

Thanks guys, good to know for future reference but I can't be arsed to get involved in writing letters etc for the sake of a tenner. Still bloody annoying/criminal though.

Thats the exact reason they do it right there...who can be arsed

 

[Badboybez1]

I thought you could pay the customs charge with stamps? Go and buy £39.00 in 1p stamps! It'll stop them pocketing it :mrgreen: