Parcelforce clearance fee's (C&E duty etc)

[Dick Emery]

I've done some searching but could not find anything on the forums about this. I feel it's relevant.

OK if you have some time I would like you guys to read the following thread below.

Moneysupermarket.com - Parcelforce Clearance Ransom Charge

You will see it's about 'clearance fee's' charged by Parcelforce for 'releasing' imported goods. Apparently according to the postal act of 2000 sections 83,84 and 104 it is 'illegal' for a courier to hold a parcel in lien of payment. Yet this is EXACTLY what Parcelforce are doing on a daily basis! They are charging a fee for having to deal with C&E. C&E make their VAT and duty charges on your imported goods. They pass it to Parcelforce and Parcelforce SHOULD deliver it to you and invoice you for any additional administrative fee's. I have experienced this with another delivery company who invoiced me later on (Twice by mistake actually) but they did not delay delivery of my goods.

C&E wash their hands of it as they say it's not down to them to decide on any additional fee's once it is passed over to Parcelforce. C&E have NO easy way for myself and many others to pay the VAT and duty charges to them directly. Do they care? Of course not it's the bloody government and we all know how civil servants work (Or don't as the case may be).

So what should WE be doing to get this out in public and publicised so as to cause as much embarrasment to Parcelforce (and C&E too because they should make it much easier for us to pay directly)?

I have a parcel that is now being 'appraised' by C&E I imported from Japan and I expect to be charged a large fee.Plus the delay PLUS having to collect it from the local depot. I am wondering if it would be best to just collect the goods and pay the fee then try to claim the clearance fee back?

P.S. This is being paid for by a relative but that's not the point.

[1stlifeline]

I used to work for the Royal Mail and frequently dealt with the 'Duty to be paid items'

Whilst Im not 'up' on the legalities surrounding this I do know that we were not allowed to hand over any item until the duty was paid. The posties do not take the items out, they cannot collect the money. Instead a card was sent from the delivery office informing the customer that a parcel was waiting and that duty was to be paid on it.

One point though, if a letter is sent with underpaid postage it is not usually delivered, it is held at the office and the customer is informed that it is waiting for collection with payment due. Now I cant really see a difference. Why should you expect a delivery to be made when a fee is due on it. Why is it not acceptable to just pay the fee?

[1stlifeline]

Just to add, Im not saying we should blindly pay out without question whenever someone decides to charge a fee. I think I may have come across wrong the way I have written the last paragraph of my previous post. What Im trying to say is that I dont see how it cant be construed as 'willful delay of mail' if the service hasnt been fully paid for.


Just to add that really what should be happening is getting Parcelforce or Royal Mail to justify the charge as with the bank charge debate. It does cost money to handle the C and E items but the charge is extortionate compared to the cost they incurr.

[Dick Emery]

Because postage HAS already been paid. Your argument is that if the wrong amount is paid in postage so they hold the letter/parcel until correct postage is paid. In this situation correct postage costs HAVE been paid. The additional fee is 'unsolicited'. The customs duty and VAT should be invoiced and collected DIRECTLY. This does not occur and they ask the courier to collect it on their behalf. Then C&E wash their hands of it. C&E have NO agreement with the courier in regards of charging a clearance fee. The clearance fee is added by the courier of their own accord. I can understand why of course. But this should not be the case and the fee seems excessive. The courier will not say why the fee is so high and will not give a breakdown of the cost upon request. Please read that thread in it's entirety if you do not understand why this is being disputed.

[Dick Emery]

Clearly nobody is interested in this. Oh well. Suck it up as usual seems to be the case for most Brits. I was hoping there would be more interest in this. Perhaps I am one of the few people who give a damn.

[Technex]

Originally Posted by Dick Emery

Clearly nobody is interested in this. Oh well. Suck it up as usual seems to be the case for most Brits. I was hoping there would be more interest in this. Perhaps I am one of the few people who give a damn.

I couldn't agree more, this is disgusting!!!

I've just had to pay 26.69 - 13.50 of which were fees from ParcelFARCE.

And that's not even including the price of the original postage, which seems to just have made it to the CUSTOMS OFFICE!!!


Someone needs to do something about this, urgently. I have no problem just paying the VAT but all that crap which costs more on top is CRAZY.


BOYCOTT PARCELFARCE

[raydetinu]

We all have to pay C&E duty on parcels from abroad, whats the problem! its all based on the value of the goods declared by the seller. sometimes you can get away with it by them declaring its a gift or sample useually works on the smaller items.

[barracad]

Originally Posted by Technex

Someone needs to do something about this, urgently. I have no problem just paying the VAT but all that crap which costs more on top is CRAZY.


BOYCOTT PARCELFARCE

And do what instead? Use an alternative carrier who also charge fees?

In any event your plan is somewhat flawed, as if you're importing items you don't normally get a choice over which carrier is used.

[Technex]

Originally Posted by raydetinu

We all have to pay C&E duty on parcels from abroad, whats the problem! its all based on the value of the goods declared by the seller. sometimes you can get away with it by them declaring its a gift or sample useually works on the smaller items.

I don't mind paying duty and VAT but the amount of money for fees is just crazy. £13.50 to do what, them to push a button to let the package on it's way? To fill up the owners wallet with our hard earned money?