custom charges

[crud]

bought a chainset from someone here from the US, have a letter from parcel force asking for 20 quid VAT and 8 quid parcelforce clearance fee!!

why is there a vat charge?

is there anything i can do? parcel force say pay it or your not getting the parcel

:evil: :evil: :cry:

 

[cannondale king]

go down to the depot and pay by credit card then request a payment recall see how they like it plus phone the ombesman of fair trading and report them for taking your pacel from customs before you could pick it up yourself that normally f**k's them as you did not ask them to pick it up on your behalf simple really

 

[crud]

thanks for the reply i dont understand tho, parcel force picked it up from customs? forgive my niavity im new to all this

cheers

crud.

 

[stew-b]

just pay it,its totally normal

 

[konahed]

Next time you buy from US tell the seller to put a low value on the customs declaration slip. I just bought a titanium riser bar from a US seller on ebay and they did this without me asking, I like sellers like that

 

[cannondale king]

it is normal but there is only two things you can do pay the bill and grit your teeth or complain that they had no right to pick the parcel up and that you were planning to pick it up yourself from customs and that your unhappy with there ubrupt cheek and over priced charge's and to take it back to customs for you to collect its hard to do it the second way but not impossible but for the sake of the charge its not worth it unless your bringing in a container load of goods :roll: :roll: :shock: :shock:

 

[pete_mcc]

why is there a vat charge?

VAT is chargable on all goods sold in the UK, that includes any items bought in to the UK from outside the EU.

I'm one of those who asks sellers to put low values on, although you have to careful on that as if the item goes missing them you only get to claim the declared value. For expensive items use the 'returned goods' selection or the 'engineering samples' section as you don't pay on those but can insure for high value. It's very hit and miss with carriers, most so with Parcel Force, the worst offenders are Fed Ex who hit you everytime without fail, and often make up the value of the goods!?!!
I tend to ask that high value items from the US go via USPS as you know that parcel force are responsible at this end and I have had my best hit rate with them!