Royal Mail Extortion ( £8 handling charge)

[wicanspirit]

Personally, our view is that the matter revolves around transparency of fees. Having just received one of these packages from one of our suppliers with an Import Duty of £0.00, Excise Duty of £0.00, VAT of £6.19, Other costs of £0.00 and a Royal Mail International Handling Fee of £8.00 which was completely unexpected it should have been made clear at the time of purchase that this additional charge may be applicable. We do not blame the supplier either as he may have not known about the additional charge.

Most people are aware that there is a chance of additional charges being applied to imported goods but, as an online shop owner, it is exceptionally difficult and time consuming to present every single charge to the consumer at the time of purchase. This resolves down to the fact that it is incredibly unclear and difficult to locate all this information from the postal supplier, either by speaking to them or digging through their website. Even the staff themselves seem unable to clearly state what fees could be applicable throughout the postage process, although their systems seem to be able to quickly apply the claimed charges - ergo... someone must know the process.

It is our opinion, in the interest of trying to present a clear and transparent shopping experience for our customers, that the fees, handling charges and postage costs that will applied from the time the purchase leaves our hands and arrives in the hands of the customer should be made as clear as humanly possible by the postage supplier. Without this being forthcoming from the postage supplier then this problem will continue to exist and complaints reoccur.

[avenger]

posting it on multiple forums doesnt change anything

[wicanspirit]

No, perhaps it won't. However, since this one MAY be monitored by Royal Mail then perhaps... just perhaps... someone may think that a valid point has been raised and might consider doing what they can to work in better co-operation with businesses to try and resolve the problem. This will, in the long term, reduce their costs by reducing the number of complaints received.

[avenger]

No, perhaps it won't. However, since this one MAY be monitored by Royal Mail then perhaps... just perhaps... someone may think that a valid point has been raised and might consider doing what they can to work in better co-operation with businesses to try and resolve the problem. This will, in the long term, reduce their costs by reducing the number of complaints received.

what would RM do?
contact every business in the world?
its simple
you buy from abroad,ergo its you who checks with HMRC what duties maybe payable(there are many catagories)
If its coming by RM,its duty+£8
simples

[wicanspirit]

Through effective use of their website then the answer is, YES. It will enable a business to locate this information for themselves or make their own enquiries with RM to ensure the clear information can be supplied.

[avenger]

Through effective use of their website then the answer is, YES. It will enable a business to locate this information for themselves or make their own enquiries with RM to ensure the clear information can be supplied.

you seem a little confused
they get the info from HMRC. that is who deals with customs duties

[IcanthelpthewayIam]

although their systems seem to be able to quickly apply the claimed charges - ergo... someone must know the process.

Yes they know the process for this country not them all, and the process for the uk is detailed on the royal mail website

http://www.royalmail.com/delivery/mail- ... s_redirect" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Receiving mail from abroad

All mail that enter the United Kingdom may be examined by customs, but normally letters, postcards and packets containing only documents or similar forms of correspondence are excluded.

If you are receiving a package from overseas (unless it’s from another EU Country), please be aware that it may incur customs charges. Any package assessed by HM Revenue and customs as being liable for customs charges will also incur a Royal Mail handling fee of £8.

Any goods imported into the UK over the value of £18 are liable to import VAT. Please note that with effect from 1 November 2011 the £18 threshold will be reduced to £15. Gifts between private individuals over the value of £40 are also liable for VAT. Goods and gifts over these values may also be liable for customs duty. You no longer have to pay customs duty for goods up to the value of £135, however you will still be required to pay import VAT and excise duty where applicable.

Please note that these limits do not apply to alcohol and tobacco goods where both excise duty and import VAT may be charged. It is not permitted to send alcohol and tobacco products into the UK from another EU country unless prior arrangements have been made to account for the excise duty.

It is our opinion, in the interest of trying to present a clear and transparent shopping experience for our customers, that the fees, handling charges and postage costs that will applied from the time the purchase leaves our hands and arrives in the hands of the customer should be made as clear as humanly possible by the postage supplier. Without this being forthcoming from the postage supplier then this problem will continue to exist and complaints reoccur.

Royal Mail can only provide you with the information on the charges they will apply to incoming goods, as at last count there is over 190 different countries each with differing import charges, differing tax rates, differing rates for different items coming into their country, constantly changing exchange rates and often changing tax rates, all of which could change from date of posting to the date of arrival in the country of destination it is unfeasible to advise you how much a charge will be in a third party country in a few days let alone a few weeks,

giving you an example, if you import something from the US and person puts value down as 100USD on the declaration form, if he posts it today what is 100USD going to be worth in £ next monday when it arrives in the country to calculate the VAT due on arrival? the exchange rate will have changed may go down or up so as such no one can tell you how much the charge is going to be next week thats why the charge is applied to the buyers end of the chain

[wabbithunta]

This has happened to a few of my customers on some of my deliveries, as they too got clobbered by C&E duty on "imported goods" from overseas. They had been waiting for items, a birthday gifts etc and they got these about a week after they were due. Their items got held up and then they are surcharged and the "duty"applied.
A suggestion for you for future use..

Get the people who are sending you the goods to simply list the items as "N.C.V." (No Commercial Value) and if they are happy abut this (some won't do it) and you are ok with that too.. ie the items are not overly expensive then they should pass through the system far easier. I've used this method when I've been sending items to the USA and also when I've been in the USA sending them back over here. The only time items got held up was at Xmas one year when they were held at Customs over Xmas in the USA and I received them a week later. I know this happened because I checked online and the shipping details listed every movement. No charge was applied to these items either.

Also a customer on my delivery had an item delivered late last month too, this was from the USA and the same thing happened. C&E surcharge on the item and I suggested this methoed to them and the next delivery they got (same item) was received when the delivery was actually expected and on time too.

[wabbithunta]

Ain't that typical! Been on here talking about this subject and surprise, surprise this "subject" reared its head at work today and on delivery! Yet another two people on deliveries in my office have had surcharge cards dropped through their doors and they've been stung for £25 and £55 each. Is this something that is becoming more and more prevalent or just pure coincidence as I used to see the occasional surcharge card of this nature once or twice a year on delivery and now they are like London buses.. none for ages then loads come along at the same time!
It makes me wonder if this is C&E or the Gov trying to get more money out of people.. sneaky "backdoor taxes" etc. As I said I only saw a few of these and now it's like they are coming out of the woodwork!

[somerset]

The best laugh is when they have been waiting in the queue in callers office for 10 minutes to pay. They hand over a bank card and i have to say " Sorry cash only "

[bobbybobbob11]

Today I received a parcel from the USA with a value declared of $19. Ended up costing a lot more than that after RM take their bit.

[eric the viking]

Today I received a parcel from the USA with a value declared of $19. Ended up costing a lot more than that after RM take their bit.

And ? If they had taken a bit it should be less.