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

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

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. I think you took my exaggeration a little too literally.;-)

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.

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!!!

How glad I am that I read all three pages here ... good stuff!! I had heard through various people that it was difficult getting out of an Esporta contract. I have completed my 12 month commitment period even though due to a change in circumstances have not been able to use the gym since last October. Because of the commitment period of 12 months I carried on paying the fees even though financially it's crippled me. Thinking the cancellation notice was one month, I was just about to write my cancellation letter to Esporta and got out my contract so that I could quote the Period of Notice as stated in their Terms and Conditions and was shocked to read that it is 3 months!! I have Creditors coming at me from all sides and cannot afford to give 3 months notice. I need the monthly subscription fee to Esporta as my Creditors do not see that as an essential expenditure ... gym membership is after all a luxury. Thanks to everyone who has given their personal accounts and suggestions I will give them one months notice using the OFT recommendations. At the end of the day it doesn't matter a jot to me if they take legal proceedings they can't have what I haven't got and any court in the land will see that. What's one more CCJ gonna do to me eh?

Hi I'm so glad to have found this forum. Today was a mare of a day having had two most unsatisfactory telephone conversations with NatWest Collections Centre in Birmingham. Then I start browsing the various sections and threads and have found out so much useful stuff relating to virtually all of my financial problems. I have been in the habit of caving in under the threats and pressures that companies exert on you but have found out that I really can take control and that is exactly what I am going to do. Thank you to the people who run this place and to the users whose experiences have already started to fill me with confidence