I travelled outside EU over last Xmas break.
I lost a ring in foreign country.
Took weeks to contact lost property, they found my ring.
A relative fetched & posted ring to me.
Now Royal Mail slapped £10 import fee + £8 admin charge on the ring.
Ring was originally a gift to me on the occasion of DD's birth, 17 years ago, purchased in East Midlands. Of course I don't have a receipt or ownership documents. The gift giver won't have those items either. I don't even know what ring is worth. It's got sentimental value, though.
I'll talk to Delivery Office in next few days. Any advice how I might successfully appeal to not pay the £18?? Argh.
To avoid my first world problem trouble with lost property outside EU, I can only advise that you slap a pic of your valuable jewellery & other items now on your public facebook profile with date stamp, so you have some way to document items were in your possession in the UK for many years previously.