Customs + Parcelforce.

[Fragil1ty]

Hey guys, was wondering if someone who has more knowledge on this subject could help me out.

Basically, what's happened is the following, I've gone ahead and bought a HHKB Pro 2 from a place called Smartimports, they've a very good site and help you when they can and what not. I bought the more expensive shipping (EMS I believe it's called?) and everything seemed to be going well, but then I thought about the customs and how much it's going to cost etc and I started to get slightly concerned.

Now the guys over at smartimports told me that they marked it as a USB keyboard worth 4500Y which equates to around £25.82, so obviously if that managed to get through customs, I'd be paying little to no custom charges and probably just the handling fee.

So everything was going semi-well I suppose until I noticed this in the tracking information:

15-07-2014 00:53 International Hub Revised charges to be paid

With doing research, I've found out it could be one of two things;

a.) They've looked inside the package, re-evaluated the package and now I'm going to be charged a lot more than previously anticipated.

or

b.) They've charged me a lot but then before leaving customs, they've realised an error and I'm to be charged less.

I'm just slightly anxious at the moment because I don't want to be paying some huge customs bill when I've already paid so much for the keyboard/shipping etc.

Does anyone have any more knowledge than me on this subject? I'd be extremely grateful.

 

[KaHn]

You'll need to pay custom fees as its over £18quid, if they weren't paid. If they've realized you've got a much more expensive keyboard in there then unlucky and cough up.

KaHn

 

[Fragil1ty]

You'll need to pay custom fees as its over £18quid, if they weren't paid. If they've realized you've got a much more expensive keyboard in there then unlucky and cough up.

KaHn

Do you know anything about the revised charges? that's the thing that has me baffled.

 

[memyselfandi]

I wouldn't worry about the revised charges message in the tracking. I think every time I've ordered something which has gone through Customs I have had that and it never indicated an issue by the time it's got to me.

There has been nothing indicated on the paperwork showing an actual change so I suspect it is actually changing the charging to Customs + Parcelforce fee instead of just Customs alone.

 

[Flukester]

This is why things appear such a bargain when buying abroad... you are liable for 20% VAT plus Duty / Admin charges when applicable.

You may still not be charged anything, but always allow for the charges, you are after all really meant to pay them when the system works as it should


When buying goods to resell as a business I actually despair when I don't get charged as I should as it creates a massive headache in sorting it out. (I want to be charged!!), those Chinese sellers are useless at marking parcels correctly

 

[Fragil1ty]

I wouldn't worry about the revised charges message in the tracking. I think every time I've ordered something which has gone through Customs I have had that and it never indicated an issue by the time it's got to me.

There has been nothing indicated on the paperwork showing an actual change so I suspect it is actually changing the charging to Customs + Parcelforce fee instead of just Customs alone.

Oh okay, that makes sense, well a lot more sense anyhow.

This is why things appear such a bargain when buying abroad... you are liable for 20% VAT plus Duty / Admin charges when applicable.

You may still not be charged anything, but always allow for the charges, you are after all really meant to pay them when the system works as it should


When buying goods to resell as a business I actually despair when I don't get charged as I should as it creates a massive headache in sorting it out. (I want to be charged!!), those Chinese sellers are useless at marking parcels correctly

Yeah, I paid like 180 quid for the keyboard + shipping and he marked it down for me, as he's an American who operates through Japan or whatever, but I'm just curious is all.

 

[memyselfandi]

@Flukester Oh I agree absolutely ... always work on the principal that you will be charged (including the admin fee) when deciding to import something as it is a "bargain" and then it's just a nice bonus if you aren't.


It's slightly different if you can only get something by ordering internationally but in that case you still need to make the same judgement to decide whether it is affordable.

 

[Fragil1ty]

@Flukester Oh I agree absolutely ... always work on the principal that you will be charged (including the admin fee) when deciding to import something as it is a "bargain" and then it's just a nice bonus if you aren't.


It's slightly different if you can only get something by ordering internationally but in that case you still need to make the same judgement to decide whether it is affordable.

What is this admin fee exactly? I don't think I've heard that term much.

Do you know what Parcelforces handling fee is? Last time I used their services, it was 8 GBP, is that still the same?

 

[memyselfandi]

You are paying for them providing the service of clearing the package through Customs and paying any charges in advance for you. This is classed as the admin/handling fee in this case and is charged by all Courier/Postal services on packages which generate Customs fees when they enter the UK.

Last time I had a Parcelforce fee I think it was £12 but I could be wrong as it was a few months ago.

 

[Fragil1ty]

You are paying for them providing the service of clearing the package through Customs and paying any charges in advance for you. This is classed as the admin/handling fee in this case and is charged by all Courier/Postal services on packages which generate Customs fees when they enter the UK.

Last time I had a Parcelforce fee I think it was £12 but I could be wrong as it was a few months ago.

Oh okay man, thanks a lot.

 

[Loosecannon]

What did you pay for shipping?

I would expect a bill for:

£12 parcel force fee
£5 charge on the item value
£?? Which is 20% of the shipping fee

So £17 minimum, but you can work out the maximum.


Unless the suppliers are known to customs, in which case they may have opened it up and used the actual value on the invoice.

 

[Raymond Lin]

I just got a £28 bill for $175 item ($15 shipping), £8 was handling charge.

I am not sure why you are surprised at the charges, if you are caught. I always buy things abroad on the proviso that I will get caught and take that into account when compared to UK prices. I would also never ask them to adjust the value of the custom form to suit!

 

[Fragil1ty]

I just got a £28 bill for $175 item ($15 shipping), £8 was handling charge.

I am not sure why you are surprised at the charges, if you are caught. I always buy things abroad on the proviso that I will get caught and take that into account when compared to UK prices. I would also never ask them to adjust the value of the custom form to suit!

Never said I was surprised at the changes, I didn't know what revised charges to be paid meant and I also didn't ask them to adjust prices so that it can get through customs cheaper.

I asked him if he an inkling of how much the custom charges were going to be as I've never dealt with such a high value product before, I normally keep my international transactions <150gbp.

Was just concerned encase I was going to be hit with some massive 50GPB+ bill, if that's the case fine, then obviously I'm going to pay it, just thought that someone here may or may not have more insight on the subject than myself.

But thanks for your input.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Never said I was surprised at the changes, I didn't know what revised charges to be paid meant and I also didn't ask them to adjust prices so that it can get through customs cheaper.

I asked him if he an inkling of how much the custom charges were going to be as I've never dealt with such a high value product before, I normally keep my international transactions <150gbp.

Was just concerned encase I was going to be hit with some massive 50GPB+ bill, if that's the case fine, then obviously I'm going to pay it, just thought that someone here may or may not have more insight on the subject than myself.

But thanks for your input.

I had that once too, and on the customs form it was listed with the correct item and price. And that message still came up.

The item wasn't open as far as I can tell but the fee I paid is as I expected so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[spoffle]

Never said I was surprised at the changes, I didn't know what revised charges to be paid meant and I also didn't ask them to adjust prices so that it can get through customs cheaper.

I asked him if he an inkling of how much the custom charges were going to be as I've never dealt with such a high value product before, I normally keep my international transactions <150gbp.

Was just concerned encase I was going to be hit with some massive 50GPB+ bill, if that's the case fine, then obviously I'm going to pay it, just thought that someone here may or may not have more insight on the subject than myself.

But thanks for your input.

I have in the past asked to inspect the item at the Parcel Force depot on more than one occasion, before signing for it or paying any customs fees.

Once I have the item in my hands, I refuse to pay their handling fee, and state that I am only willing to reimburse them for the customs fees that they have paid already.

Both times I walked out with my items because they were too stubborn to knock the handling fee off, they said I either pay all they're asking for, or nothing. So I opted for nothing and left. I don't think the people I dealt with really understood what they were saying, and it's not as if they are actually going to attempt to take your parcel back.

 

[413x]

Sometimes you get stung.
I always go for cheap post. When it doesn't come via courier (Ie standard RM) I have always avoided charges

The worst time was when I got stung for an iPhone 1st gen before available in uk
.. Luckily it was marked refurbished and had a low (but just about realistic) price!

My Motorola razr maxx hd.. That got through all clear

It's somewhat a lottery
Helped if value is low
Helped if you don't go for Expediated del

My canon camera was the time I was most worried lol

 

[Raymond Lin]

I have in the past asked to inspect the item at the Parcel Force depot on more than one occasion, before signing for it or paying any customs fees.

Once I have the item in my hands, I refuse to pay their handling fee, and state that I am only willing to reimburse them for the customs fees that they have paid already.

Both times I walked out with my items because they were too stubborn to knock the handling fee off, they said I either pay all they're asking for, or nothing. So I opted for nothing and left. I don't think the people I dealt with really understood what they were saying, and it's not as if they are actually going to attempt to take your parcel back.

I understand where you are coming from but I don't agree the way you done it.

Why not just ask to inspect the item, take it and run without signing while you are at it?

 

[memyselfandi]

I have in the past asked to inspect the item at the Parcel Force depot on more than one occasion, before signing for it or paying any customs fees.

Once I have the item in my hands, I refuse to pay their handling fee, and state that I am only willing to reimburse them for the customs fees that they have paid already.

Both times I walked out with my items because they were too stubborn to knock the handling fee off, they said I either pay all they're asking for, or nothing. So I opted for nothing and left. I don't think the people I dealt with really understood what they were saying, and it's not as if they are actually going to attempt to take your parcel back.

And people wonder why they charge so much ... there will be a cost to them for providing the service which they will, as a business, want to pass on to those using the service. So by doing this they now have to recoup the cost to them of clearing your package(s) from everyone else.

Are their charges a lot higher than their cost ... probably but we don't know as we don't know their bottom line cost.

If you don't want to pay it then you should import via a different method and handle the customs clearance yourself.

 

[Amp34]

Oh okay, that makes sense, well a lot more sense anyhow.



Yeah, I paid like 180 quid for the keyboard + shipping and he marked it down for me, as he's an American who operates through Japan or whatever, but I'm just curious is all.

So you're openly posting about breaking the law?

Well done...

With OcUKs policy on discussion of copyright infringement (which isn't illegal) I find it odd they allow threads like this that are openly discussing illegal acts...

 

[Raymond Lin]

So you're openly posting about breaking the law?

Well done...

With OcUKs policy on discussion of copyright infringement (which isn't illegal) I find it odd they allow threads like this that are openly discussing illegal acts...

Haha, people in the Photography forum gives others grief for using some Far East retailer as they often put on inaccurate info on the declaration form, all without asking. I mean how would one supposed to know if they use them for the first time and know if they still does it? You have no control over what they put on the form.

But asking on purpose ! I never !