Ebay/Customs Question..

fendi · 19 Jun 2007 at 09:43

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

fendi · 19 Jun 2007 at 09:50

markyp23 said:
Firstly - it's from China; it's fake.
Secondly - get your money back ASAP through paypal.

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.

fendi · 19 Jun 2007 at 09:52

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?

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.

fendi · 19 Jun 2007 at 10:01

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.

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 · 19 Jun 2007 at 10:18

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.

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?

fendi · 19 Jun 2007 at 10:24

stoofa said:
You can't open up an "Item not received" claim because you have received it!

So from this post there is nothing i can do?

fendi · 19 Jun 2007 at 10:25

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.

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 · 19 Jun 2007 at 11:20

I'll give customs a ring in an hour when i get back for lunch and see what they will say.

I'll explain the situation and say nowhere on the auction did it say HK or abroad, not sure if they are ever leniant but i would be more than happy sending them some proof of this.

fendi · 19 Jun 2007 at 11:31

Maybe so.

I don't think there is any kind of dispute i can open with Paypal though to claim back the tax paid. The only thing i can do is tell the seller i will report him to ebay and neg him with factual comments.

fendi · 19 Jun 2007 at 11:34

markyp23 said:
Just claim all the money back then and if pay him back the total minus tax.

You can't just claim back money, Paypal will want me to send back the item before they refund me. They will want a tracking number as proof of return.

fendi · 19 Jun 2007 at 11:38

markyp23 said:
That's strange it happens all the time...

Anyway take it up with ebay.

Ebay don't actually do anything, they are just a venue. Yes they could NARU the seller but that wouldn't get me any money back.

Still i will see what customs have to say, also, hopefully the seller will respond to my email.

fendi · 19 Jun 2007 at 12:59

So i have spoken to customs and excise, they said vat would be around £36, and a handling fee for £13, totalling around £50. Wow.

Time to email the seller. I will tell him that i am not prepared to pay that sum as he hasn't listed anywhere that it is from abroad, i will be claiming back my money via paypal, i will report him to ebay for using false location of item (hopefully he will get kicked off ebay), and i will leave him negative feedback.