Parcelforce charge?

[Chrismcfall]

Just got a parcel siezed by customs....Got charged VAT on it, which I suppose is all fair, but what I dont understand too much is the handling charge Parcelforce put on top of that. Can anyone explain this to me a bit more?
Thanks, Chris.

[buzby]

It wasn't 'seized', it was simply held for payment of tax. ParcelForce* has a sliding scale to cover their costs it processing the additional paperwork required, and this is reflected in their charges - which will be separate from the tax duty to be paid, VAT on the goods, the service PF provide on clearing the item through customs, plus VAT for their charges.

*As does all the other carriers/couriers who handle non-EU deliveries

[bornwina]

Originally Posted by buzby

It wasn't 'seized', it was simply held for payment of tax. ParcelForce* has a sliding scale to cover their costs it processing the additional paperwork required, and this is reflected in their charges - which will be separate from the tax duty to be paid, VAT on the goods, the service PF provide on clearing the item through customs, plus VAT for their charges.

*As does all the other carriers/couriers who handle non-EU deliveries

This has just happened to me too. OK so they may be at liberty to charge a fee, even though when I had the same thing happen with Royal Mail I was not charged by Royal Mail I just had to pay the VAT, but Parcelforce are charging me £13.50!! I telephoned them for an explanation as to what this charge was and they said it was to cover their admin costs for holding the parcel and informing me of the customs charge via letter.

Well the last time I printed of a standard letter - not personalised - put the single sheet of A4 paper in an envelope and run it through a franking machine it didn't cost me £13.50.

Extortionate charges if you ask me - rip off Britain - again!!!

[Hobbie]

But your paper isn't "special" paper and your ink is just normal ink, and so on... [end of sarcasm] But if taking into account the whole letter process takes 5minutes to print/envelope up and post then ParcelForce staff are on over £500 per hour after deductions

As If I remember correctly, any "admin charge" must reflect the actual costs incurred.

I would be writing to them asking for a full breakdown of this "admin charge" and shouting alittle more. You wont win, but it will make you feel much better.

[MrShed]

Admin charge fights = worth doing. Except against a government backed agency. You will never ever get the charge waived....but as Hobbie says, a rant might make you feel better

[barracad]

Originally Posted by bornwina

when I had the same thing happen with Royal Mail I was not charged by Royal Mail I just had to pay the VAT, but Parcelforce are charging me £13.50!!

Royal Mail charge about £8 or £9 (not sure of exact amount) in addition to the customs charge.

Originally Posted by bornwina

Well the last time I printed of a standard letter - not personalised - put the single sheet of A4 paper in an envelope and run it through a franking machine it didn't cost me £13.50.

It's a little more work involved than simply sending you a letter.
From the HMRC website:

They handle packages for customs examination and, if required, open and re-pack them... also store packages if customs need to make enquiries; for example, when the contents have not been declared properly by the sender.

I imagine this list is not exhaustive as to what is involved in the process.

[bornwina]

It would appear that as I have not agreed to this additional charge prior to purchase of the goods, in that I have entered into a contract with the supplier and full shipping charges paid and NOT entered into a contract with Parcelforce for their part in the chain, I might not be obliged to pay this fee. They 'make' the contract that they bind us to but just cos they say we have to pay doesn't make it legal ... we have not agreed this contract.

They are not legally allowed to hold my goods to ransom if I refuse to pay.

See these threads:
EDIT: it appears I cannot post the links before making 5 posts ...
Basically ....

Parcelforce have already paid the duty on the package, which is your choice to pay or not. It's not their right to decide whether or not you want the parcel released from customs. So it's not their place to make that decision for you. The parcel is yours and they cannot hold it to ransom. They have the power to waive the fee. I like the guy who went to the depot and told them he was calling the police to report the item stolen. The volkzone thread is the best one.

[bornwina]

Originally Posted by barracad

Royal Mail charge about £8 or £9 (not sure of exact amount) in addition to the customs charge.

Unfortunately I have no control over who gets to handle my package when it arrives in this country ... this charge is 'invisible' and not something I have agreed to.

Originally Posted by barracad

It's a little more work involved than simply sending you a letter.
From the HMRC website:

I think you took my exaggeration a little too literally.

[MrShed]

Born, I understand your position. But understand this. You are picking the wrong fight, as this is unwinnable. This is NOT the same situation as, for example, the banks or utility companys. Parcelforce and the Royal Mail have legal exclusions from liability in certain areas in court - I have no doubt that this charge will full under this exclusion.

[barracad]

Originally Posted by bornwina

Unfortunately I have no control over who gets to handle my package when it arrives in this country ... this charge is 'invisible' and not something I have agreed to.

If you are importing goods into this country it's your own responsibility to check what duty and fees associated with the import before you make the purchase.

[bornwina]

I accept your comments and respect the fact that you are far more experienced in these matters than I am. I don't doubt that I will end up coughing up this charge, purely because I haven't got the front to see it to a satisfactory conclusion.

Unfortunately I am unable to post the links to the forum where I discovered that you can (legally) contest this charge.
If I refuse to pay the charge ParcelForce are not legally allowed to hold my package to ransom - called lien. Apparently delivery of my item is not dependent on me paying this charge.

I am still trawling through the other forum thread to get it clear enough for me to challenge ParcelForce but like most people I am not Watchdog / Don't Get Done Get Dom and as my confidence wanes so does my fighting spirit.

Good old rip off Britain

[MrShed]

If you have evidence to show that this can be legally challenged, I'm sure such information would be welcome here(I for one am happy to be proved wrong). Perhaps instead of the link, you could copy and paste some of the information here?

[bornwina]

Far too much detail to copy and paste here but as I have now made more than 5 posts I can put the link in.

The most relevant stuff is from post number 149

Don't Let Parcelforce Steal Your Cash! - Page 15 - VZi

It would be interesting to hear what people on this forum think of this guys research into the charges