FedEx Express charges

[amazing1000]

I recently bought some equipment from Hong Kong and I was told that any Import Duty would have to be paid by me, so fine I agreed to that no problem.

Ok the item was delivered by FedEx Express and I had already paid for shipping.

However yesterday I received a letter from FedEx stating that I had to pay the duty due of £3.52,fine no problem there but then the surprise FexEx also wanted £10.00 for Admin making a total of £13.52.

This is a large % of the actual item which was £30.00.

Surely this is not right after all they got paid for delivery of goods and if they wanted the £3.52 they should have asked for this when the item was delivered.

 

Cheers

Edited July 18, 2010 by amazing1000

[chesham]

As a clearing agent for customs, they can charge for reasonable fees to process the entry for you. It does cost them money to actually lodge an entry with HMRC on your behalf. What is reasonable is the million dollar question.

 

The sheer number of items which pass through Fedex, DHL, TNT etc every day which need customs clearance, means that they simply pass through and small amounts will be invoiced after delivery.

 

However, are you saying that the seller in HK should have told you about the Fedex fees? they may not have known, it would differ in each country and some freight carries do not actually charge you anything under some circumstances.

 

Most contracts for worldwide shipping will have a clause stating that the cost does not include "local taxes or fees" as well.

[amazing1000]

Thank you for your reply greatly appreciated, just have to pay it and remember next time.

[ScarletPimpernel]

I have had this happen to me on a number of occasions, and responded by sending a cheque for the duty and a covering letter explaining that as I had no contract with Fedex, and they couldn't be bothered to ask me if I wanted them to act as my agent, I wouldn't be paying their fee. Never heard any more from them.

 

These admin fees are somewhat similar to bank charges; they are almost certainly disproportionate to the work involved, and are simply a generator of additional income.

[buzby]

The fee is standard, and you can almost guarantee that if FedEx or DHL is yoused you WILL be charged, with RM there's more lee way. The issue is not that the fee is disproportionate, but that HM Govt can't be bothered to do the work and have let the courier firms do it, and permitted a charge. Previously when Customs cleared it. you only paid the tax (as they were getting this income). Since FedEx have to account for the tax, they need paying too.

 

The bottom line remains the same, if you want to import goods bad enough, you need to factor in the full costs. Otherwise, buy goods that are already in the country.

[ScarletPimpernel]

How do you manage to make your posts sound so pompous and self-righteous, Raymond?

 

You may feel that the fee is not disproportionate, and that courier companies have some God-given right to charge someone whatever they like for performing a service, even though the person they are charging isn't party to any contract. I disagree.

 

Suppose you went to refuel your car. You go to the garage, fill your tank with £50 worth of fuel and go to pay. "That'll be £60", says the cashier. "But I put £50 of fuel in", you protest. "It's the VAT and duty, you see; we have to collect it for HMRC, and we're charging you £10 for doing it.". This doesn't happen, of course, because the filling station owners have included the cost of acting as agents for HMRC into the pump price; couriers could easily do the same.

[peterlucas]

Exactly.

 

I had this with Royal Mail before, I didn't know about the legal issues at the time so I paid it. When I found out on this forum I recovered the charge using Money Claim Online (settled pretty much instantly, there is very little chance of a claim this size being defended).

 

But here's the relevant law

 

Section J

Customs matters

Article 18

3 Postal administrations which are authorized to clear items through the

Customs on behalf of customers may charge customers a customs clearance

fee based on the actual costs.

http://www.upu.int/acts/en/3_parcel_en.pdf

 

See here for the full discussion http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/general-knowledge/151776-parcelforce-clearance-fees-c.html

[MARTIN3030]

"How do you manage to make your posts sound so pompous and self-righteous, Raymond?"

 

 

Well he has had lots of practice......13017 times !

[buzby]

Thank you for your support Martin

 

As to the question being asked, I could just as easily suggest that your response was a typical 'we are the victims' answer from someone who hasn't a clue how the world works, and feels that everything should be 'fair'. Sorry to burst the bubble, but the situation (as described) has existed since the UK Government decided to get out of tax collection and let others do the work for them. (And pass the cost purden to the taxpayers as a commercial service charge).

 

For you to assume this is pomposity shows a total lack of understanding, no doubt cause by the fact I disagree with your view. As I do with peterlucas, who also overlooks the fact that DHL is NOT a 'postal administration' but a commercial carrier.

 

It's common mistakes like these, that make ill informed speculation so dangerous.

Edited July 21, 2010 by buzby

[kiptower]

looks like "Time for the Chop"

 

[MARTIN3030]

Thank you for your support Martin

 

 

Its tongue in cheek.

Actually I have become accustomed to your posts now.

[buzby]

Unlike Lee's answering machine, who thinks I give a hoot at his childish antics....

[kiptower]

time you actually started giving proper information to posters not just your verdict of things, and as for the original post here , once again your wrong as per usual,

 

as for Lee there are about 6 people that inform Lee when there is a problem ,

 

your problem is that just because you dont like something you get nasty towards posters , if you cant be polite and respond , DONT RESPOND

[buzby]

Ah - you dish it out, but can't take the flak?

 

There's names for folk like you, but as this is a family forum, I'll refrain from spelling it out. Any other threads you want to show your petulance in or have you got over your hussy fit? If not, take it to the Bear Garden.

[kiptower]

your the one with the problem Raymond not me I dont have to take it anywhere, nor am i upseting posters with attitude

 

grow up , you do help some people @ times then you revert to the strange way of being aggresive ,

 

but i am not here to play you silly game of being the one to post the last post on a matter

[ScarletPimpernel]

Thank you for your support Martin

 

As to the question being asked, I could just as easily suggest that your response was a typical 'we are the victims' answer from someone who hasn't a clue how the world works, and feels that everything should be 'fair'. Sorry to burst the bubble, but the situation (as described) has existed since the UK Government decided to get out of tax collection and let others do the work for them. (And pass the cost purden to the taxpayers as a commercial service charge).

 

For you to assume this is pomposity shows a total lack of understanding, no doubt cause by the fact I disagree with your view. As I do with peterlucas, who also overlooks the fact that DHL is NOT a 'postal administration' but a commercial carrier.

 

It's common mistakes like these, that make ill informed speculation so dangerous.

 

 

How the world works must have passed me by whilst I was in various conflict zones around the world. I've seen lots of victims - and I can assure you that it puts lots of other things into perspective. I've been shot at, mortared and shelled, but I don't see myself as a victim (though it does prove that I can 'take the flak', literally). I do have a bit of a hard-on for fairness. I'm sure you'll forgive me, though, for not feeling that I have to justify myself to you, or take notice of your sanctimonious attitude.

 

Your ability to make statements and then refuse to admit that there may be another side to an issue, and your grandiose posturing, demonstrates a worrying inflexibility of thinking. I wouldn't care, except that it concerns me that those who aren't aware of your antics may take what you say as gospel, act upon it and suffer as a result. I'm not saying that everything you post is wrong; but it certainly isn't all correct.

 

It's ok to disagree, but just make your point and allow others to put theirs without suggesting that others are clueless and giving bone lecturettes on morals.

[amazing1000]

Oops! I seem to have started something.

All I wanted to know (and still do ) is do I pay the £10.00 admin charge ?

 

Regards

[kiptower]

no problem amazing hope you filtered out the unwanted advice and got the real answers you wanted ,

 

what we are here for

 

as for the £10 they have no right to it in the first place

Edited July 21, 2010 by kiptower

[amazing1000]

Thanks for your replies guys.

 

I have written this, will this suffice ?

 

Dear Sir,

 

Thank you for your invoice, but when I bought this item from Hong Kong the cost of carriage included shipping AND handling.

I myself did not enter in to any contract with you, I shall pay the duty of £3.52 involved but not admin charges of £10.00 after all you have already been paid for delivery of these goods.

 

Please find enclosed a cheque for £3.52.

 

Regards

[buzby]

your the one with the problem Raymond not me I dont have to take it anywhere, nor am i upseting posters with attitude

 

grow up , you do help some people @ times then you revert to the strange way of being aggresive ,

 

but i am not here to play you silly game of being the one to post the last post on a matter

 

No problem, I assured you. Just look at the graphic you posted, how disrespectful is that? Luckily you are not the arbiter of what is deemed to be 'sensible' behaviour. Even then, I'm told by you to 'grow up'. The dissing continues!

 

I've a better idea. Just ignore my posts, that way you'ne nothing to worry about and can can wind yourself into a tizzy with any other CAGger you like.

[buzby]

 

It's ok to disagree, but just make your point and allow others to put theirs without suggesting that others are clueless and giving bone lecturettes on morals.

 

I do make my point. It is the dissing from others who seem to believe they can and move on without a further thought, belies an immaturity that is breathtaking. As to your first para, I fail to see the relevance of this being anything other than a career choice. Of course there are know-it-alls in every walk of life, as are those with a myopic vision of their place in the world. Fortunately, until there is an actual experience most is conjecture on the part of the poster. But we are way off topic.

 

As to the point? Fedex have every right to charge for the services they provide, if an importer in unaware of this, that is their error and their error alone. Bleating about the 'unfairness' of it all is hardly a resolution - it was their lack of knowledge that exposed them to the problem in the first place.

 

I firmly believe if you use a service, you pay for it. If you're an importing virgin - you investigate the potential pitfalls, not blindly stumble along hoping for the best.

[MARTIN3030]

Thanks for your replies guys.

 

I have written this, will this suffice ?

 

Dear Sir,

 

Thank you for your invoice, but when I bought this item from Hong Kong the cost of carriage included shipping AND handling.

I myself did not enter in to any contract with you, I shall pay the duty of £3.52 involved but not admin charges of £10.00 after all you have already been paid for delivery of these goods.

 

Please find enclosed a cheque for £3.52.

 

Regards

 

 

Looks short and sweet and should get the message over.

 

Keep us updated as and when.

[buzby]

Flawed - in that the £10 fee was not for delivery, but the administration in recording the the duty payable, and for remitting it HMC. Since a refusal to pay the fee can be used by them to reject subsequent deliveries (assuming they are on the ball), whilst at the same time they keep any payment sent and flag it as the duty not paid, retaining any residue for their own coffers. I'd like to think HMC would pursue this, but I think we know the system is in such chaos the chances of that happening are slim.

[amazing1000]

Flawed - in that the £10 fee was not for delivery

But as stated it was for shipping AND handling, not just shipping.

Regards

[ScarletPimpernel]

I too would hope that if Fedex retained money lawfully owed to HMRC, that HMRC would then take it further. However, I understand that it's actually all done electronically so the chances of what would amount to criminal activity occurring are remote.

 

The simple fact remains that the person who instructed Fedex (i.e. the consignor) is the one with whom Fedex have a contract, which is to deliver the parcel to the consignee. The consignee is not party to the contract & has not asked Fedex to perform any service, nor agreed to pay Fedex anything at all.

 

Of course people who provide a service should be paid, but there needs to be an equality of arms. Before a tradesman does a job, he provides a quotation that the customer agrees to. We don't buy things from shops unless we know, and accept, the price first. It seems to me absurd that a company should impose an arbitrary charge upon someone who isn't even their customer.