UK customs - Info that might help!!

[cossievinny]

Good for you, well done with the result. Hopefully the info should help some others also.

[Badboybez1]

RESULT!

[burnsy]

Yeah, nice one matey

[Dark Sith Lord]

Well done mate great Result!

[DarthStanley]

Great result Steve,congrats!

[Joe]

So why are you guys being charged so much only for you to find out you can get it refunded?

All those unchallenged custom charges over the years add up..

[Capetown]

So, I'm going to try this too.

I received a bill today for VAT + handing costs of €50. As the seller only has an eBay feedback of 13 (95% as a buyer) I think I can confidently prove that he is not a business and the transaction isn't liable for VAT. I therefore should have a strong case for getting my money back.

[e30318is]

Is it possible to pre pay customs? I am buying an item that will attract fees, the last time I had to pay customs they held it for over a week before writing to me. I was hoping to prepay the customs and get it sent for authenticating, before the 30 day Paypal time expires.

Cheers

[Caswellbot]

I know this is an old thread but I had to share this.

Steve is spot on with this info. If you are importing an item of "Historic Importance" or something highly collectible then you should only be paying 5 % . I made a claim after receiving my Proto 3 pack and after sending 2 letters and making 1 phone call I had a lovely cheque posted to me.

[Paul-itoy]

It's got to be worth trying top get the seller to mark the box in a manner that states the contents are 'vintage' or a similar term, a bit like AFA do when only offering a service. At least if you are charged it might be right first time rather than chasing it up for a refund.

'Old collectible toy' HMRC code 9705000090 5% VAT applicable only.

[Frunkstar]

I am on to HMRC tomorrow as I have a 2nd parcel in the process of getting VAT slapped on me within a month, hope I may even be able to claim back fro the one I have already paid for.

Thanks for this info Steve!

PS can this be made a sticky as was mentioned b4? as I am sure I am not the only one to find it useful & with luck wallet replenishing, thanks to Oto 4 linking me the page

[Capetown]

I can make it a sticky Frank but then you will almost have to scroll to see the first non sticky thread and I don't really want that.

Can move it to the reference guide though. What about that?

[Frunkstar]

Sounds like a plan Emiel - thank you as I think its a very relevant thread with a lot of buying items from all over the world & HMRC bending us right over & giving us a large portion

[Capetown]

Done.

[goonio]

I'm glad I found this post. I've just got home to a letter from customs charging me £25 for a parcel from USA. Annoying!