Bill from FedEx?

Craig1981 · 10 Oct 2011 at 19:24

I got a bill through the door today from FedEx. Its relating to an order I made from Blizzard during their Blizzcon presale. It says I owe them £23.53 for some sort of customs charge.

The thing is I've already recieved the parcel. How can they charge me this after the fact? And what happens If I tear up the letter and refuse to pay?

Deleted member 77746 · 10 Oct 2011 at 19:25

Craig1981 said:
I got a bill through the door today from FedEx. Its relating to an order I made from Blizzard during their Blizzcon presale. It says I owe them £23.53 for some sort of customs charge.

The thing is I've already recieved the parcel. How can they charge me this after the fact? And what happens If I tear up the letter and refuse to pay?

Ring them and ask? Does it look genuine?

Morgoth · 10 Oct 2011 at 19:26

It's legit.

If you don't pay they'll keep chasing.

Craig1981 · 10 Oct 2011 at 19:28

It all looks above board to me. It has the full details of the order I made, a FedEx invoice and a booklet explaining duty and taxes invoices.

Craig1981 · 10 Oct 2011 at 19:29

Morgoth said:
It's legit.

If you don't pay they'll keep chasing.

But why didnt they refuse to send me the parcel until after I payed up then? Why only now contact me? What if I said I couldnt afford to pay their hidden fees?

Brian8bit · 10 Oct 2011 at 19:29

Craig1981 said:
The thing is I've already recieved the parcel. How can they charge me this after the fact? And what happens If I tear up the letter and refuse to pay?

If the parcel came from outside the EU, it's subject to taxes. The courier usually pays the tax and fees themselves then chase the recipient for the money back.

jojothemonkey69 · 10 Oct 2011 at 19:29

Have to say I don't know Bill from Fedex only Ted.

Nexus · 10 Oct 2011 at 19:31

You might not have got your delivery as quick if you had to wait for them to call you first to ask for the fees.

Cosimo · 10 Oct 2011 at 19:32

I assume the package has come from the US and you’ve been charged VAT and a customs handling fee. Looks like they send out the package and then billed you. Give them a call.

Dunks · 10 Oct 2011 at 19:33

They've done you a favor by paying the tax for you and delivering your parcel rather than holding it until you pay.

Craig1981 · 10 Oct 2011 at 19:35

*sigh* Guess I dont have a choice, other than coughing up the cash.

Morgoth · 10 Oct 2011 at 19:35

Craig1981 said:
But why didnt they refuse to send me the parcel until after I payed up then? Why only now contact me? What if I said I couldnt afford to pay their hidden fees?

Don't be a knob about it. Just pay them their due.

Aedus · 10 Oct 2011 at 19:39

My girlfriend had this once.

Ignore it and see if they come back to you about it, she ignored it and hasn't heard from them since. But in all honesty OP, they're completely within their right to do this. Sucks I know.

Cosimo · 10 Oct 2011 at 19:43

Dunks said:
They've done you a favor by paying the tax for you and delivering your parcel rather than holding it until you pay.

It's a good favour. Our Parcelforce friends would spend days waiting to tell you that you have to pay before they deliver.

Craig1981 · 10 Oct 2011 at 19:43

Morgoth said:
Don't be a knob about it. Just pay them their due.

I said I was gonna!

Pestilence · 10 Oct 2011 at 20:10

That's how FedEx do it. Got stung on a guitar about 10 years ago and they did the same with me. Not a word on delivery, then a letter shortly after. They pay all the due taxes themselves on import.

Pudney · 10 Oct 2011 at 20:31

Pestilence said:
That's how FedEx do it. Got stung on a guitar about 10 years ago and they did the same with me. Not a word on delivery, then a letter shortly after. They pay all the due taxes themselves on import.

Mainly because it would be a nightmare not to.

Pestilence · 10 Oct 2011 at 20:38

Pudney said:
Mainly because it would be a nightmare not to.

Yep, it's very understandable and the best thing for the customer in my opinion.

It would be nice if they notified you on receipt of the goods that there was a further bill to pay, though.

Pudney · 10 Oct 2011 at 20:41

Pestilence said:
It would be nice if they notified you on receipt of the goods that there was a further bill to pay, though.

That would be a nightmare too

The customs work is done locally (but not the same location) to where the goods come into the country but all the billing paperwork gets done centrally. Seeing how the packages move around the hub and onto trucks means it would be a logistical nightmare to get the correct paperwork onto the packages.

Lynx · 10 Oct 2011 at 20:42

Happened to me when I ordered a new phone from abroad but it was with DHL. Thought I had got away with paying the tax because I was expecting a bill at first and didn't get one but it ended up coming through a few days later after the phone.

Just best off paying it, there might be a surcharge if you don't pay it off within a certain time and such!