Devon TRF Group Forum

Tigerman · Expert

Buying from the States

TTR · Powermonger!!

I bought a s/h part from the US and the guy put $25 value on the Customs form so it was pence over the UK customs limit and I paid £3.19 VAT.

Not bad but the killer was an additional £10 Parcel Force handing fee furious

Harty · Devon's Best

I always get items from the US and tell the supplier to mark the value at no higher than 20$ or at zero, stating that the item is a warranty replacement. It always seems to work for me, with zero charges

wackyracer · Powermonger!!

Harty wrote:
I always get items from the US and tell the supplier to mark the value at no higher than 20$ or at zero, stating that the item is a warranty replacement. It always seems to work for me, with zero charges

That title is getting closer to you harty biggrin

jacks · Expert

We are just about to go into battle with Border force over a £185.00 import duty on Nicks BMX which he took to Oz in a suitcase but was sent back from NZ by his brother. Total bill he had to pay to get the bike out of parcelforce was £231.42!!! Just printing the relevant forms from customs to fill in, we've got a copy of his invoice from green machine who built the bike for him, and off we go. Wish us luck.
I think customs are slapping on charges and hoping they don't get challenged. Well we're challenging this one.

Mike Wright · Clubman A

Ming wrote:
I've found that parcels from China/Hong Kong etc that are marked as "samples of.........whatever" seem to escape import duties.
Certainly seems to work with shoes, sunglasses, beads etc. Not sure about BMX bikes though.......

I did have to collect about £100 in duty from a woman who's husband bought a didgeridoo from Australia

I think they make it up as they go along with charges as its never consistent I order anything from the US. I was once sent as a gift a new 3d bike camera system for testing and they charged me £50 extra which was a bit tight I thought

-- Edited by Mike Wright on Saturday 20th of July 2013 09:22:00 PM

Ming · Devon's Best

I've found that parcels from China/Hong Kong etc that are marked as "samples of.........whatever" seem to escape import duties.

Certainly seems to work with shoes, sunglasses, beads etc. Not sure about BMX bikes though.......

I did have to collect about £100 in duty from a woman who's husband bought a didgeridoo from Australia confuse

maggotman · Clubman A

just baught a cr500 engine from ther best part of 900 inc postage

gaschef · Devon's Best

If you get stuff brought in by DHL or UPS, they seem to have more packets that miss customs. than the USPS / Royal Mail route and you don't have to pay parcel farces handling charge, and whats more you will probably get the parcel undamaged

In the US it is a federal offence to avoid or conspire in the non payment of duty, that is why many US sellers say they will not mark packages incorrectly, the penalty 5 years in a federal prison. So dont be surprised if your request is turned down

Also bear in mind it is an offence in the UK to avoid paying duty, if you have asked someone to help you it's conspriarcy, that is a jail offence in the uk .if you are going to ask for paperwork to be incorrectly marked for Christ sake don't ever put it in an email and especially one going to the states

It is also worth bearing in mind that UK Customs do not need a warrant to search or sieze property that they believe has avoided duty, or is otherwise illegal. If you had put a part on a bike they will sieze the complete unit not just the part. Its never worth the hassle. Stuff in the states is cheap enough to make it good value in the UK even after paying transport and duty.

If you do get caught your name and address are flagged, and any further packages you may order will get the full treatment from HMRC

-- Edited by gaschef on Tuesday 23rd of July 2013 06:26:54 AM

Harty · Devon's Best

gaschef wrote:
If you get stuff brought in by DHL or UPS, they seem to have more packets that miss customs. than the USPS / Royal Mail route and you don't have to pay parcel farces handling charge, and whats more you will probably get the parcel undamaged
In the US it is a federal offence to avoid or conspire in the non payment of duty, that is why many US sellers say they will not mark packages incorrectly, the penalty 5 years in a federal prison. So dont be surprised if your request is turned down
Also bear in mind it is an offence in the UK to avoid paying duty, if you have asked someone to help you it's conspriarcy, that is a jail offence in the uk .if you are going to ask for paperwork to be incorrectly marked for Christ sake don't ever put it in an email and especially one going to the states
It is also worth bearing in mind that UK Customs do not need a warrant to search or sieze property that they believe has avoided duty, or is otherwise illegal. If you had put a part on a bike they will sieze the complete unit not just the part. Its never worth the hassle. Stuff in the states is cheap enough to make it good value in the UK even after paying transport and duty.
If you do get caught your name and address are flagged, and any further packages you may order will get the full treatment from HMRC

-- Edited by gaschef on Tuesday 23rd of July 2013 06:26:54 AM

If you dare nothing,

then when the day is over,

nothing is all you will have gained.

jacks · Expert

jacks wrote:
We are just about to go into battle with Border force over a £185.00 import duty on Nicks BMX which he took to Oz in a suitcase but was sent back from NZ by his brother. Total bill he had to pay to get the bike out of parcelforce was £231.42!!! Just printing the relevant forms from customs to fill in, we've got a copy of his invoice from green machine who built the bike for him, and off we go. Wish us luck.
I think customs are slapping on charges and hoping they don't get challenged. Well we're challenging this one.

One month later - and no reply yet from Border Force. Also I can't find any telephone numbers to ring the nice customs chappies on.

Biff · Expert

Telephone
Excise and Customs Helpline
For Excise Duties and customs telephone enquiries
Opening hours
8.00 am to 6.00 pm, Monday to Friday
Closed weekends and bank holidays
0300 200 3700

Any help??

jacks · Expert

Thank you Mr Biff. I'll have a go tomorrow.

TTR · Powermonger!!

Sad to report that Parcel Farce's minimum charge for dealing with imports sent from the States via USPS appears to be a whacking £13.50 wink

A lot of extra cost on an order for four wheel spacers

Beware evileye

Nige · Expert

TTR wrote:
Sad to report that Parcel Farce's minimum charge for dealing with imports sent from the States via USPS appears to be a whacking £13.50
A lot of extra cost on an order for four wheel spacers
Beware

Bought a pair of Zeta wheel spacers from the states (none in UK) last month with no charges.

Jerry atterick · Expert

Hey, better to go over, box up and ship back!

Takes about a month.

Might have to do it again.

Now thats a jolly, bit strong for a pair of wheel spacers though! Tee hee.

jacks · Expert

jacks wrote:
jacks wrote:
We are just about to go into battle with Border force over a £185.00 import duty on Nicks BMX which he took to Oz in a suitcase but was sent back from NZ by his brother. Total bill he had to pay to get the bike out of parcelforce was £231.42!!! Just printing the relevant forms from customs to fill in, we've got a copy of his invoice from green machine who built the bike for him, and off we go. Wish us luck.
I think customs are slapping on charges and hoping they don't get challenged. Well we're challenging this one.
One month later - and no reply yet from Border Force. Also I can't find any telephone numbers to ring the nice customs chappies on.

We had good news. All the money back except the Parcel force handling fee. Hooray.

Jerry atterick · Expert

Result.

Tiz a wind up - shouldnt be that way.

TTR · Powermonger!!

Latest parcel from the States took 4 days to get to Heathrow. Trouble is it has so far taken 10 days to clear Customs and it still hasn't left for the Exeter Parcel Farce depot

delvey91 · Devon's Best

Bought 4 quad wheels with tyres from the states came within a week and no customs charges at all

TTR · Powermonger!!

Bet the sender didn't use USPS Jack

delvey91 · Devon's Best

Nope it was DHL !