Ebay/Customs Question..

fendi

fendi

fendi

Associate
Joined
23 May 2005
Posts
2,156
Good morning all.

I bought this item just over a week ago, 290126553082
Today I received a letter from HM Customs and Excise saying customs can't deliver my parcel until I provide further information. Now my problem. On the auction nowhere does it state that the Items won come from abroad (HK). Seller is registered in the UK, and Item location also states the UK. So I bid thinking it was coming from the UK.

I emailed the seller a week later and (s)he said it was coming from Hong Kong and should take 4-5 days. I looked at his feedback and others who bought the same camera got it within a similar time scale.

But here is my problem, I don't know what to do. Customs say I have to complete this form C160, but what do I put. I am guessing I can get charged for Vat etc. But if I had known about it coming from HK I would never have bid.

Has anyone been in the same situation, and can anyone offer any advice?

Regards
 
Firstly, the seller should have marked it as a gift, then customs would not have held it there. They now probably want you to pay some duties over it.

If you really want the item, print your ebay purchase receipt and send it to customs, then pay the duties.

If you don't, just refuse to pay duties and file a complaint with eBay or Paypal. You did use PP I hope?
 
markyp23 said:
Firstly - it's from China; it's fake.
Secondly - get your money back ASAP through paypal.
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I doubt very much it is fake. I have been watching his sales for a couple of weeks and he has dozens to people in the UK and gets positive feedback. Many electronic products are there these days, hence them being sold for less.

I did pay through Paypal, but i would prefer the camera to my money back. I will email the seller and see whay they have to say.
 
Dr_Evil said:
Firstly, the seller should have marked it as a gift, then customs would not have held it there. They now probably want you to pay some duties over it.

If you really want the item, print your ebay purchase receipt and send it to customs, then pay the duties.

If you don't, just refuse to pay duties and file a complaint with eBay or Paypal. You did use PP I hope?
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Thanks Dr Evil, do you know that if i pay customs and they deliver the camera, is there anyway for me to get the seller to reimburse me what i paid customs? He should have stated it was coming from abroad.
 
You've been unlucky. Some things get through, some don't.

If you want your item you are going to have to pay the UK VAT charges.
 
ok

firstly you are right, it doesnt state in the auction anywhere that its coming from abroad

what i would do - pay any custom charges you need to, then email/phone the seller if needed, and say you would like a refund of these charges, as thats only fair as it didnt state anywhere in the auction where its coming from. Im pretty sure they will just refund you it, if they dont, then make a claim with paypal, you're pretty much guaranteed they will swing in your favour if you make a claim
 
ManCuBuS said:
You've been unlucky. Some things get through, some don't.

If you want your item you are going to have to pay the UK VAT charges.
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Thanks, do you know if the Vat would be charged on the £185 i paid, or the £330 it is worth. He also threw in a 2gig duo stick and carry case for free.

I wouldn't know what to put on the form where it says value of the item.
 
fendi said:
Thanks, do you know if the Vat would be charged on the £185 i paid, or the £330 it is worth. He also threw in a 2gig duo stick and carry case for free.

I wouldn't know what to put on the form where it says value of the item.
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It should be based on the value you've paid for it. I bought an Opteron 175 from the US for £120 delivered. The vat I got charged was based on that amount when that got stopped at customs. Also I doubt that there is anything the seller will do.

If it was me I would just pay the charges and get your item.
 
ManCuBuS said:
It should be based on the value you've paid for it. I bought an Opteron 175 from the US for £120 delivered. The vat I got charged was based on that amount when that got stopped at customs. Also I doubt that there is anything the seller will do.

If it was me I would just pay the charges and get your item.
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Even though i would hate to do it, i did get it for a bargain price.

Is it an ok idea to return the form completed, see how much they want me to pay. If i don't like the figure, open up a items not received claim with paypal?
 
Dr_Evil said:
Firstly, the seller should have marked it as a gift, then customs would not have held it there. They now probably want you to pay some duties over it.
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*Sigh*
Where exactly did you read that rubbish?
Gfts are NOT exempt from VAT & Import Tax.
Items marked as a gift are just as likely to be stopped at customs as the system has been abused so much.
 
fendi said:
Even though i would hate to do it, i did get it for a bargain price.

Is it an ok idea to return the form completed, see how much they want me to pay. If i don't like the figure, open up a items not received claim with paypal?
Click to expand...

You can't open up an "Item not received" claim because you have received it!
 
fendi said:
Even though i would hate to do it, i did get it for a bargain price.

Is it an ok idea to return the form completed, see how much they want me to pay. If i don't like the figure, open up a items not received claim with paypal?
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Yeah probably a good idea. Your process seems to be different from my experience however. My item was held at the regional post office HQ and then a customs bill posted out to me. I then took that bill to the HQ and paid over the counter and got my item there and then.

Have you got a scanner? I would be interested to see the form.
 
ManCuBuS said:
Yeah probably a good idea. Your process seems to be different from my experience however. My item was held at the regional post office HQ and then a customs bill posted out to me. I then took that bill to the HQ and paid over the counter and got my item there and then.

Have you got a scanner? I would be interested to see the form.
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I do have a scanner, but i am at work at the moment. I can make a copy later on today if you wish.

This really is a joke, why couldn't the seller just put his location has HK.
 
fendi said:
I do have a scanner, but i am at work at the moment. I can make a copy later on today if you wish.

This really is a joke, why couldn't the seller just put his location has HK.
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By all means do so. I would be interested. Also might be worth mailing the seller to moan about it.

Addition - Having reviewed the item again, you should have enough to file a dispute should you so require as the item location is marked as UK, hence there should be no fees to pay.
 
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I had this problem when I ordered a camera from HK. Apparently the seller I ordered from was on custom's 'watch' list, as he had been caught sending everything as a gift and then mis-labelling the value to try and get it through for free.

In the end I just phoned them up and acted stupid and just paid the VAT over the phone and it turned up 2 days later.
 
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