Customs Clearance Fees

[rchadd]

Just wondering if this is standard practice when importing good in other countries...

i ordered some t-molding and router bit from t-molding.com and today it delivered to me in the UK via Royal Mail. I had note through the door from the post office saying that i needed to pick it up as i had import duty payable (as i expected). The total import duty was

[ericball]

Here in Canada foreign parcels delivered by Canada Post may be subject to being taxed (15% for me, different in other provinces) on the value of the item, plus a flat C$5 handling fee (to cover the costs of filling out the forms and handling the $$).  The $5 fee gets real annoying on small value items.

The couriers aren't much better, and some are worse (much worse), often charging very high "brokerage fees".

[Grasshopper]

There was an article about this in The Guardian newspaper some time ago. And yes, it is basically a scam.

I understand the industry regulator is unhappy about the arbitrary (and unavoidable) clearance fees and wants to get them abolished.

It seems to be pot luck which parcels are intercepted by customs. I've only been caught once and I suspect that was only because the parcel was particularly large.

I suggest you complain to the regulator. I certainly will the next time it happens to me. The more people who complain the more likely we are to see change.

Good luck.

[PedroSilva]

Just wondering if this is standard practice when importing good in other countries...

i ordered some t-molding and router bit from t-molding.com and today it delivered to me in the UK via Royal Mail. I had note through the door from the post office saying that i needed to pick it up as i had import duty payable (as i expected). The total import duty was

[rchadd]

hmmm....

now wondering what legal standing would be if you refused to pay the clearance fee?

I mean pay the duty part but not the clearance fee.

surely the post office would not be legally entitled to keep your goods? it is extortion in my opinion.

[Ghoward]

Don't feel bad I shipped a Mame Cab to the UK as a gift from Florida and it cost me $800 to ship it to by brother. However it cost him about $1000 in import dutes etc...... It's just a good job the cab was worth it.

Bottom line the UK really likes ripping people off with VAT, inport duty etc....

It's cheaper buy a ipac here and it costs less than buying it in the UK since the UK adds that nice 17.5% VAT.


Gary

[RayB]

Those UPS ---daisies--- use brokers that charge $50 on a $155 order. It's quite the rip-off.

[krick]

I can't speak for mailing to the US to the UK but a few years back, I ordered about 500 posters from a UK printing company to be shipped here in the US.  They came in several oversized and heavy boxes.  The company said that they will only ship FedEx because there is rarely any customs issues when FedEx is the carrier.  The shipping was expensive, but at least I got my posters without any hassle.

[Minwah]

I've been had twice I think...both times cost me ~

[Mr-Megalo]

I've been burned by customs fees a couple of times, varies in price and shipping method, never got burned for customs fees if EMS airmail was used, USPS to UK had charges tho, was

[microwrx]

Here in Australia we get them too.  However if the person shipping the item sends it via USPS instead of a courier company like FedEx or UPS (or in Ultimarc's case DHL) it comes in as regular mail.  If customs hold it they call you rather than the courier company and you just need to pay the duty.  If it comes in via a courier or shipping company they pay the duty then charge it to you along with a fee for paying it on your behalf AND for it to be processed by them.  So anybody getting stuff shipped to or shipping stuff to Australia send is USPS.  Not only do we not get the fees but duty is only payable on items valued over $1000 if it comes in via mail, but if it comes in via a shipping or courier service the limit is $250.