#AskEden - UK Customs

Contributor: AliMc AliMc
I just received a letter from Parcel Force asking me to pay Import VAT and a Clearance Fee. Does this mean they opened my package to calculate the charges?
08/07/2012
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Contributor: AskEden AskEden
Possibly.

Customs varies from country to country. It's possible they only went by the paperwork. They may have also opened the package.

For over-seas orders and assignments, don't forget that you are responsible for any customs charges.

#AskEden
08/07/2012
Contributor: Incendiaire Incendiaire
Quote:
Originally posted by AliMc
I just received a letter from Parcel Force asking me to pay Import VAT and a Clearance Fee. Does this mean they opened my package to calculate the charges?
It's unlikely. If you look carefully at the shipping label on the parcel you'll notice that there's a box which lists the contents as "massager", and next to it it states the value in USD.

Typically what happens is HMRC will look at the dollar value, convert it into Sterling using the exchange rate of the day, then charge you 20% of that as VAT. Parcel Force will pay this money to HMRC, then send you a bill for it with an added £8 "clearing fee" to cover their admin costs.

I hope that helps.
09/25/2012
Contributor: PassionCpl PassionCpl
Something else I (and my wallet) have just found out is that sending items back home to family in the UK is even more expensive than I thought.

I've tried sending some small items (2 x bubble baths, 1 x men's shorts) with a combined value of £24. You're allowed £40 in gifts but since they were shipped directly from EF there's no way of marking them as a gift, so I've been hit with Duty and the ParcelForce £8 'handling' fee.

Does anyone happen to know whether using an affiliate code lowers the $ amount on the shipping label or is the label marked with the full EF retail price of the items? Or better still, a way of marking a package as 'Gift'?
12/20/2012
Contributor: roskat roskat
Quote:
Originally posted by PassionCpl
Something else I (and my wallet) have just found out is that sending items back home to family in the UK is even more expensive than I thought.

I've tried sending some small items (2 x bubble baths, 1 x men's shorts) with a combined ... more
The amount on the shipping label will the the same amount you paid. If you bought something with a discount, the sum will be the discounted price. As far as I know there isn't a way to mark Eden packages as gifts.
12/23/2012
Contributor: PassionCpl PassionCpl
Quote:
Originally posted by roskat
The amount on the shipping label will the the same amount you paid. If you bought something with a discount, the sum will be the discounted price. As far as I know there isn't a way to mark Eden packages as gifts.
That's great, thanks for the info (And Happy Christmas!)
12/23/2012