Yes, the first I heard about these additional payments was after I had alreadt signed for the parcels. The delivery man didn't state anything either. I feel that the process should be more transparent. They don't even have an online payment option, I had to wait on the phone for about 30 minutes in order to get through. And again I had to wait that long just to check that I didn't owe this late payment debt that they passed on to Control Account PLC in error.

iherb.com . A large supplement site.

Thanks RHOOD . If I hear back from Control Account PLC, or they keep bugging me, I'll report back. Hopefully it's the last I've heard of them tho .

ISSUE RESOLVED (I hope) I just called DHL (16:39 - 20 oct) after waiting about 30 minutes to get through , and they told me that this matter should not have been passed on to ControlAccount PLC on multiple accounts: 1) I paid DHL all outstanding monies due before this charge was passed on to control account plc. She stated that it was passed on after payment was already made and in error. 2) I am an individual and not a business. I sent off for full priced health products, and as such the act they state doesn't apply to me. It's a bit shoddy of DHL, to pass this on after I had paid, but I did take longer than is perhaps reasonable to pay (since I was away from the property) so perhaps I am lucky. She stated that she called ControlAccount PLC (she put me on hold) and that I shouldn't be hearing more from them. If I do I'll let you know. I'm glad I held out and didn't pay ControlAccount upon receiving their threatening letter.

Here is the scan. They appear to acknowledge that I have paid the principal overdue amount and that the charges are for late payment under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act. However, they go on to say that I shouldn't make payment to DHL, but should make it to Control Account instead which seems a bit fishy. Also, I find that this act only applies to businesses and not consumers: Section 2.1: I am a consumer. I didn't sell these health products on. They were for m own useage. I'm not sure if the responsibility is on me to prove that though. If I ever actually owed this 'late payment charge', I'd have thougt DHL would've asked me for it when I paid the duty and VAT (admittedly quite late). However they didn't, and stated that it was fine for me to order from them again and that the matter was resolved. This was either a mistake on their part, or this company are trying to make a quick buck on what is effectively a £0.00 debt. To be on the safe side, should I contact DHL about this matter? If I do, what are they likely to tell me? I think Control Account plc are trying to scare me into paying with this threat of additional interest accruing and legal proceedings. Further input appreciated . Should I contact them to tell them I am not paying, or is there any chance that I'm in the wrong here? Thanks for the advice so far guys.

Here's something from ControlAccount PLC stating that they won the DHL contract: Controlaccount Plc . Seems bizarre to me that DHL appear to have passed/sold on a late payment fee, after accepting the original payment? Surely once they accept the payment, then there is no case to be answered. It doesn't make any sense. DHL have never asked me for this fee, nor has anybody else until now. If DHL had told me that there is a late payment fee when I actually made the payment they asked for, then I'd have probably paid it then and there. However, they didn't, and instead they appear to have sold on this mysterious 'fee' that I'd never heard of until now. Thanks for the suggestion. Are they obliged to do this?

postggj - Yes, sorry, it is CONTROL ACCOUNT PLC. I read on their website that they won a contract with DHL. This suggests that DHL passed on the debt to them I assume, but that is contradicted by the fact that they appear to acknowledge in the letter that I have now paid the duty and VAT charges to DHL. It is also contradicted by the fact that DHL allowed me to pass the charges directly to them over the phone and without question, which suggests that the debt cannot have been sold on by the time I actually paid it. The money was taken from my account so i has been accepted and paid. They could've very easily have said "you now owe the money to xyz" but they didn't. The payment was accepted and appears to be acknowlegded even by Control Account PLC. So, in short I did take my time to pay the duty and VAT, but I was allowed to eventuall pay it. Surely they can't add these additional charges that I'd never heard of AFTER i have paid the money I owed them. RHOOD - I don't have all of the details here. Whether I should've paid the duty or VAT is less important now as I already paid it. The products were ordered from the iherb.com website and there was a breakdown of the payment but it was send about a week or so after the goods, which is why I didn't think about it at the time. In fairness to them they did send warning letters, but as I was aware I couldn't read them and was oblivious to all of this. I will get someone to scan in the CONTROL ACCOUNT PLC letter tomorrow so that others can see it. In short it appears to acknowledge that I have paid the duty and VAT, but suggets that due to late payment of duty and VAT I owe £40 in charges and that interest will be added daily. Maybe these are legal charges? EDIT: Also, be be clear, this is the first time that Control Accounts PLC have ever written to me.

I ordered some health products from the states, and they whisked their way to me in prompt fashion. All was well in the world. A few days later I travelled up north to a flat that I rent (I move between there and another property). When I returned home six weeks later, I noticed that I had a few letters from DHL and other companies that had been failed to be passed on to me. It appears that DHL had send requests for duty and VAT charges totally around £80 for the health products. A further letter from 'Robinson and Shori' (the legal arm of dhl i believe) was also there informing me that I had to pay or that they would commence legal action. I took the liberty of phoning DHL immediately, and they informed me that I owed them £80. I paid it there and then over the phone and thought that was that. However, days later I received a letter from 'account control plc' who apparently (after i looked it up) won a control recovery contract with DHL earlier this year. They send a letter informing that that due to late payment I owe them £40 in charges, and that interest will build up everyday. I had assumed that by fact that DHL allowed me to pay the ammount that I was told I owed them, this matter would be over. The letter appears to acknowledge that I have paid the original amount I owed. It seems that as I delayed payment through not being aware of the situation that things have become quite complicated. I really don't mind paying that £40 if I'm actually required to, as I suppose that it's my fault, but I am surprised that they allowed me to directly pay back the money I owed them if they are then going to pass on this process to a third party who then go on to demand further payments. It seems rather unusual to me. Should I pay?