Scam or Rip Off

[Tailendcharley]

 :D Hi all,   About a month ago I bought a Nintendo DS on the Internet from a Company based in Hong Kong...I paid for it and chose DHL as the prefered carrier to deliver the said item...the Nintendo duly arrived 2/3 days later and all was well in my household,we were a happy and contented family...however...yesterday I received an invoice from DHL asking me for £10.17 to cover some form of import tax, the details of which I am unable to fathom due to their computerised coded invoice. Anyone out there gone through a similar experience or is this a scam or some form of rip off.....any replies would be appreciated.... :( :(

[xmob]

I'm afriad that's normal for DHL (and UPS).  With normal surface post, you take your chances.  Sometimes you won't get charged import duty, sometimes you will.  DHL declare everything that passes through them.

[Disco Matt]

It's legit, but highly unethical IMHO. The VAT imposed by Highwaymen Customs and Excise is bad enough, but then you get downright punitive "admin" charges from carriers on top. It's not as if you've had the chance to pay duty in advance and tried to dodge it, so what gives them the right to effectively punish you for buying from overseas?

[carbore]

Its legit.

I think.....Basically you have not paid VAT on the item as it bought outside the EU. DHL and UPS etc have paid the VAT for you and now charge it back id imagine you are paying the VAT if you work out the numbers etc. LIke they say, you may or may not get clobbered. its one one those things that  you need to remember if buying outside the EU.

[Bouncy]

like the others have said thsi is par for the course. I know cos i used to buy direct from my suppplier and import in Thailand (gemstones)
When we used standard mail there was no real issue but UPS and DHL are preferential high speed guys and you do get stung for what equates to the vat on the value of the item. my advice would be to bite the bullet . I'm pretty sure they declare this on their websites too.

Enjoy

[redhand]

If you can get the sender to write Gift or Used item on the box you don't get charged.

[V8MoneyPit]

If you can get the sender to write Gift or Used item on the box you don't get charged.

Actually, gifts and used items can still get charged for VAT. Basically anything imported into the EU is technically subject to duty. In certain cases, the item might be zero rated for VAT or exempt from VAT (different things, but with the same end result to the buyer!). It depends on the product and it's value as to whether it gets charged or not. Everything under £18 is zero rated (aren't the government generous?  :roll:). I believe the zero rated level for a gift is higher, so you might get away with it.

Then there is import duty on some products ..........  :roll:

And, as stated before, some shippers charge Customs clearance fees. After all, they are doing the paperwork for the item to pass through Customs. Well, they are rubber stamping a piece of paper!

[Eeyore]

Gotta agree with Mr Pit - writing 'gift' means nowt. I've been stung once or twice importing stuff - it's a hazard of buying overseas, I'm afraid.

Lordy, don't try bringing knives or tools in - man, they really do get stung at the border!

Cheers
Eeyore

[thermidorthelobster]

You have to pay VAT and potentially Import Duty on anything you import, by law.  The courier doesn't have much to do with it;  if the sender puts a value on the paperwork, all the courier can do is give it to customs to deal with.  The courier has no control over the declared value.  Given they have to liaise with customs to get your order through, personally I don't think it's unreasonable they charge you for it;  either the sender or the recipient will have to pay for it one way or another.

You're lucky you got the item first.  Mostly they'll make sure you pay the invoice before they release the goods, to avoid non-payment.

[Tailendcharley]

 :lol:...Thanks for that fellas...looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and pay the bill...I'll know better the next time I try buying anything that appears to be cheaper on the Internet from overseas.... :( :(



 :D :DSmithy :roll: :roll:

[V8MoneyPit]

:lol:...Thanks for that fellas...looks like I'll have to bite the bullet and pay the bill...I'll know better the next time I try buying anything that appears to be cheaper on the Internet from overseas.... :( :(

It can still be cheaper sometimes. You just need to allow for the possibilty of adding VAT. The unknown is the amount some carriers charge for Customs clearance admin.

[lee celtic]

If you want a laugh ...

I do the shipping at work but last month I had a day off and one of the other staff tried to send a box with tnt to a customer in Denmark (air sea rescue helicopter seat belt buckles) but when adding the size of the box she put it in mm instead of cm so it ended up with a bill for £5750  :shock: :shock:

the box was only 30 cm cube but she put 300 x 300 x 300  :lol: :lol:

It was sent on the customers account so you can imagine the phone call I got :lol: :lol: :lol:

[V8MoneyPit]

 :clap: :clap: :clap:

That's brilliant  :lol: But you would have thought alarm bells might have rung with someone at TNT. I'm not even sure you can airfreight a 3m square box!