Import tax

[Chippie]

Royal Mail posted a card through my letter box today, “can’t deliver your item because there is a fee to pay”,
“REASON. There is a custom charge”
I had ordered some gaskets and a drive belt for my 35is from AUTODOC, which was posed from Germany at a total cost of £90.79 including £8.45 postage, now HM Customs wants £12.47, I thought we were still in the EU until the 1st January so how come there’s suddenly a Customs charge.
So I now have 2 options
1- pay the extra £12.47 or
2- don’t pay it and Royal Mail will return it to AUTODOC, who will either refund me the money or credit it to my account to use at a later date.
I’ve ordered things from AUTODOC and also other places in Europe before and never had any customs charges before, so why now?

 

[mr.tourette]

I also assumed you wouldn't pay customs quite yet, Id give Royal Mail a call, tbf the CS staff ive spoke to in the past are usually knowledge enough, sadly the shape of things to come though. Ive often bought stuff from within the EU due to more favourable pricing.. all out the window now

 

[Chippie]

Right.
I’ve tried ringing hmrc and basically get the run around saying I have to take it up with Royal Mail and fill in a form BOR286 if I think there shouldn’t be a charge. So I rang Royal Mail again waiting for 30min to get an advisor, he tells me he still nothing to do with them, either pay it or have it sent back :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:
The charge is £4.47 import VAT and £8.00 Royal Mail handling fee.
It really makes my p*ss boil.

 

[Ole gits rule]

I ordered from Autodoc in Germany and did not pay any import tax a few months back and seeing as we are abiding by EU rules then there should be no charge, now a deal is done I still don't think there should be any charge.

By the way the majority of that charge will be the Royal Mail handling fee which is probably 75% of the total.

OGR

 

[Rucky]

We actually left the EU on 31 Jan 2020.
That having been said I bought BMW stuff from Latvia with no charges.
Might be the way Autodoc declared it

 

[Ole gits rule]

Even though we left on 31st Jan 20 we are still following all EU rules up until today at 23.00 so there's mould be no charge and I paid nothing when I purchased a cambelt from Autodoc in Sept 20

 

[MerBrook]

According to the post office website customs forms for parcels (and I guess) charges, came in on the 29th December 2020. That is for mail being sent abroad and again I assume its for post coming back.
I checked the other day as I send a fair bit of mail to my parents in Spain.
One of the many benefits of Brexit. :x

 

[Ole gits rule]

That seems a few days early but who the hell knows with this mob

 

[MerBrook]

That seems a few days early but who the hell knows with this mob

That’s what I thought, I heard a news report about it on the 29th so I checked the Post office website out and unfortunately found it to be correct.

 

[DSGRNMCM]

I always get hit when getting stuff from the USA or Japan (Parcel force are part of royal mail and always charge import fees, where as DHL etc only check x amount and you may dodge it, my mate works in customs in Coventry Airport)

I also got parts from Autodoc without charges, but I think this is the future and may be an end to cheaper prices from abroad. Sad face...

 

[Ole gits rule]

That seems a few days early but who the hell knows with this mob

That’s what I thought, I heard a news report about it on the 29th so I checked the Post office website out and unfortunately found it to be correct.

I would still be checking the requirement against the new deal, seems like a ploy to make a quick buck

 

[mr.tourette]

I guess at this point if you want the part then you'll need to pony up, gets to the point where its not worth it..I bought a 15 dollar watch strap from the US last year and got a similar charge of around 12 quid..fkin annoying but not worth wasting my time arguing with royal mail and hmrc

 

[Nictrix]

You wouldnt mind paying the customs charge but the charge to royal mail is a joke. How do they work out how much you pay them?

 

[Chippie]

You wouldnt mind paying the customs charge but the charge to royal mail is a joke. How do they work out how much you pay them?

The chap at the counter said it was a standard charge, but of a bugger if you’re items only a few quid.

I’ve also emailed hmrc but not holding my breath, I’ll probably be better off letting the parcel being returned and then re ordering, I’d also forgotten to order the oil cooler gasket so will add that next time.

 

[IRD]

Like many folk we have had quite a lot of deliveries during the COVID era. We have found both DPD and Hermes to be completely reliable and good to deal with. Parcelforce have been dreadful. They claim to have delivered two parcels which never arrived and communication with them has been a nightmare. Neither situation has been resolved. They just don’t care and insist that as the parcels have been delivered the matter is closed. So if you are hoping to have any worthwhile discussion with Parcelforce I wish you more luck than we had.