uk customs & vat charges

[Peter Mackin]

Just been hit with charges of £145 for a jacket costing $630 inc postage..got to go pick up the jacket & pay the ransom fee on monday.be interested in how they came up with this figure..i thought i would be bout 40quid less..i now know how our american friends feel about having to pay vat....no more usa buys for this fella

 

[tonypaj]

Just been hit with charges of £145 for a jacket costing $630 inc postage..got to go pick up the jacket & pay the ransom fee on monday.be interested in how they came up with this figure..i thought i would be bout 40quid less..i now know how our american friends feel about having to pay vat....no more usa buys for this fella

You can get a detailed invoice when you get the jacket. I'd guess it's just the VAT + customs fees + any possible handling costs by anybody dealing with the file. It adds up rapidly. There are negotiations going on between the EU and the US to create a free trade area. It may help one, undetermined, day in the future

 

[Capesofwrath]

They've been charging for everything particularly from the US for a year or so now. VAT at 20% on the total cost, including shipping. Plus duty on some items, plus the Parcelforce fee. I used to buy from all over the world and never got charged but I don't anymore after being hit on a couple of items.

The focus is on the US because so many people were buying computers and the like from there were they are cheaper, and not declaring them for VAT. One main reason they seem cheaper is because is no VAT there of course. Only state sales taxes which are not so high and which are not payable on exports. So though it is a pain to get hit for second hand goods there is a reason for it.

 

[schitzo]

Christ that is daylight rape!


EDITED. Reason: I got up too suddenly


God save the Queen

 

[Capesofwrath]

Christ that is daylight rape!

Whenever I buy from the US I ask the seller to mark a low value - under $40 -to avoid exactly this, and if he doesn't want to do that I have it sent to one of my American pals who send it on later

Some people will do that but it is a criminal offence in both countries to put wrong declarations on a customs form. Or to declare something as a gift when it isn't.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

The parcelforce handling charge is a scam. I think it's £12, plus VAT. This isn't such a problem on an expensive jacket. Quite often the parcelforce charge is greater than the customs/VAT amount. That's irritating.

You can contest the charge, and get some of it refunded. Check that the costs have been calculated on the pound value of the item. Often, they will simply take $630 and count that as £630 and calculate VAT and customs charges on that value, rather than the correct £ value (in this case, today, £422). Another scam.

In addition, you should check the import fee calculated. Leather goods are charged at a lower band than other clothing (it used to be 4% of value rather than 23% of value for other clothing). They will also calculate this based on the rather dubious $£ conversion described above. Another scam.

I have no problem with customs duties and VAT being charged. That's simply the reality of buying from a non-free market. It's the principle of the Excise - the Government - cynically and purposefully scamming people, because they know most people can't be bothered to do anything about it, that gets my goat.

Always fight for the excess charges to be refunded. Even if it's only pennies. I get a thrill out of knowing how much that refund costs these morons to process. They end up losing, simply by trying to scam the customer.

 

[pauleway]

Just received an Aero 30's HB 2-tone from Scotland. They shipped thru DHL. It took three days to get here (Western New York) and I did not get charged anything!

 

[Peter Mackin]

I have no issues paying whats due it just seems excessive..plus to rub salt in my open wounds..i cant collect it till monday....they wanted to send a letter telling me it had fees to be paid !!!!i said you have just told me..i will come pay now....no cant do that we havnt done the paperwork !!parcelforce 48..aye right....roll on monday....just hope it fits now....

 

[FAFOO68]

Hello,
Here in France, i had the same thing, bought a 70's Schott 674 Steerhide from an US ebay seller, declared on the customs form for the real value (230 $), caught by the french customs at the arrival in France and payed VAT, taxes and something else on the total amount = + 32 % on the final price !!!
No matter so, it's the price to pay on a non free market area, and this kind of stuff is really hard to find in France in good shape...
Cheers,
F68

 

[Peter Mackin]

Prob is. the new highwayman that im expecting to pick up from gala this week may have to go to fund this...either that or my new hercules..not happy ..i tried to sneak this one in without the mrs noticing...ooops

 

[PHIL1959]

the British government would tax breathing if it could!

 

[Fanch]

Just been hit with charges of £145 for a jacket costing $630 inc postage..got to go pick up the jacket & pay the ransom fee on monday.be interested in how they came up with this figure..i thought i would be bout 40quid less..i now know how our american friends feel about having to pay vat....no more usa buys for this fella

Peter, I'm curious: What did you buy and from whom? I will say that US Customs are easier on us than VAT, etc. is on you guys across the Pond.

 

[Edward]

The parcelforce handling charge is a scam. I think it's £12, plus VAT. This isn't such a problem on an expensive jacket. Quite often the parcelforce charge is greater than the customs/VAT amount. That's irritating.

You can contest the charge, and get some of it refunded. Check that the costs have been calculated on the pound value of the item. Often, they will simply take $630 and count that as £630 and calculate VAT and customs charges on that value, rather than the correct £ value (in this case, today, £422). Another scam.

In addition, you should check the import fee calculated. Leather goods are charged at a lower band than other clothing (it used to be 4% of value rather than 23% of value for other clothing). They will also calculate this based on the rather dubious $£ conversion described above. Another scam.

I have no problem with customs duties and VAT being charged. That's simply the reality of buying from a non-free market. It's the principle of the Excise - the Government - cynically and purposefully scamming people, because they know most people can't be bothered to do anything about it, that gets my goat.

Always fight for the excess charges to be refunded. Even if it's only pennies. I get a thrill out of knowing how much that refund costs these morons to process. They end up losing, simply by trying to scam the customer.

Agreed on all counts. Taxing on the dollar amount as if pounds and taxing on the shipping cost really enrages me. Especially as the reason I buy outside the UK is generally only because I can't get a particular item here...

Just received an Aero 30's HB 2-tone from Scotland. They shipped thru DHL. It took three days to get here (Western New York) and I did not get charged anything!

Keep an eye on the post - some folks from your part of the world have been hit by it later on, alas. Over here they won't release your parcel until you've paid upfront - including their ridiculous "handling fee".

 

[Peter Mackin]

Peter, I'm curious: What did you buy and from whom? I will say that US Customs are easier on us than VAT, etc. is on you guys across the Pond.

hi fanch..it a nice lostworlds raider..i always fancied one...for a couple of hundred more i coulda collected it in person

 

[schitzo]

Christ that is daylight rape!

Whenever I buy from the US I ask the seller to mark a low value - under $40 -to avoid exactly this, and if he doesn't want to do that I have it sent to one of my American pals who send it on later

I think I must have got up too suddenly before typing this. What I meant to say was, that is what I would do were it not for the huge amount of respect I have for Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs, and all of the great work they do

 

[Peter Mackin]

I think I must have got up too suddenly before typing this. What I meant to say was, that is what I would do were it not for the huge amount of respect I have for Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs, and all of the great work they do

lol.i prefered your 1st post

 

[Fanch]

I think I must have got up too suddenly before typing this. What I meant to say was, that is what I would do were it not for the huge amount of respect I have for Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs, and all of the great work they do

Schitz, one must be especially careful what one says in writing when the Gestapo might be looking.:eeek:[bad]:kick:shhhhhhhhlollollol Have to love those Smilies

 

[schitzo]

.

Always fight for the excess charges to be refunded. Even if it's only pennies. I get a thrill out of knowing how much that refund costs these morons to process. They end up losing, simply by trying to scam the customer.

Love this. Thanks man

 

[Fanch]

hi fanch..it a nice lostworlds raider..i always fancied one...for a couple of hundred more i coulda collected it in person

Problem is that you couldn't have collected it in person because Stuart wouldn't have given it to you since I am told he only ships and doesn't allow in store P/U.:gossip:

 

[rocketeer]

If you mark down the value and the item is damaged, what value do you claim?
How does it work out if you were buying, lets say an Aero jacket and re-importing it back to the UK?

I believe that the postal charges to the UK are made up of: total Item value including postage from country of origin, import duty, Post office clearing charge, then add VAT to all that.
I have not bought from the USA for ages but that is how the charges were laid out a few years ago.