Customs charge

[thebennyboy]

I have an NZXT Grid+ that has been sent from LA in the USA by NZXT. It's been sent as my unit has a firmware fault causing the fans connected to the controlled to remain jammed at 100%.

Anyway. The value of this item is ~£30 and i'm fairly certain i'll get a "fee to pay" card demanding some silly amount for it. Now as it's a warranty replacement would i be able to dispute this with HMRC or Royal Mail? I have done some googling but couldn't get my head around anything on gov.uk or HMRC's website.

Anyone else been stung by a customs charge for a warranty replacement item? Can you actually dispute it? and more importantly, is it even worth the bother disputing it? With the £8 "handling fee" and ~£6 in VAT it'll probably be around £14.

 

[norm]

You have to claim the VAT fees back.

The handling fee you have to pay regardless because RM have paid the fee on your behalf. Same with any other shipper e.g. Fedex/UPS.

 

[Jono8]

I told Fed Ex to stick their handling fee up their ass and only paid the money owed to HMRC last time I imported something.

 

[thebennyboy]

I'm not too fussed with the handling fee but i'm not sure i should be paying VAT on something which is merely replacing a faulty item.

 

[~Divine~Wind~]

Have them mark it as a warranty replacement and have them declare the value at 0

 

[thebennyboy]

Have them mark it as a warranty replacement and have them declare the value at 0

Bit late for that, it was sent on saturday from LA and arrived in the UK today.

 

[mattyfez]

You're panicking about a fee you might get that you can ignore anyway.

 

[Glaucus]

Bit late for that, it was sent on saturday from LA and arrived in the UK today.

They almost certainly will have done it already, why are you panicking before you even get it.
Companies now about charges and will mark it warranty replacement.

 

[norm]

You're panicking about a fee you might get that you can ignore anyway.

No Royal Mail won't release the item until the fee is paid.

 

[thebennyboy]

They almost certainly will have done it already, why are you panicking before you even get it.
Companies now about charges and will mark it warranty replacement.

I sincerely hope it was marked as a warranty replacement.

 

[mattyfez]

No Royal Mail won't release the item until the fee is paid.

Royal mail?

 

[Five.Stars]

Royal mail?

Yes, the rather large company who process and deliver letters and parcels throughout the UK. You may have seen them driving around in red vehicles.

 

[Lopéz]

If the sender has accurately declared the item as a warranty replacement then you should not have to pay additional duty. So hopefully they have done this.

 

[mattyfez]

Yes, the rather large company who process and deliver letters and parcels throughout the UK. You may have seen them driving around in red vehicles.

Not the company that ships warranty returns from the US then.

 

[mattyfez]

You'll be fine OP, don't stress.

 

[Glaucus]

Not the company that ships warranty returns from the US then.

Royal mail does final delivery for many over sea shipments. All depends on the courier.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

I told Fed Ex to stick their handling fee up their ass and only paid the money owed to HMRC last time I imported something.

Good luck with next item that's shipped to you using Fed Ex...

 

[Jono8]

Good luck with next item that's shipped to you using Fed Ex...

They agreed to waive it . They know they cant enforce it so a simple template letter emailed to them saved me £15