To ask a potentially simple question?

[moanymandy]

I am after so advice....

I'm purchasing my wedding dress online, (eBay to be precise) and its being made and shipped from china. The info states that it's my responsibility to arrange the import duty and taxes etc.

Now I have had a look online and have calculated how much this will cost me. But I have no idea how it will work. What do I need to do? How do I arrange the payment, do I have to or will they contact me once it arrives in the uk??

Would appreciate any wisdom!

Hmmm.

I don't really know. Just wanted to post to say that I know someone who ordered a wedding dress from China off ebay and it was basically withheld by customs until she paid the fees.

I have no idea how you pay if upfront.

IME when it arrives in the UK it goes to customs and they tell you how much to pay. e.g your courier will send you a bill that you have to pay before they can pick it up from customs.

I've wondered this as well! Not wedding dress related though. Hopefully someone will enlighten us

I have a lovely wedding dress for sale never been used suit size 12-14 if your interested

I've bought clothes from america and the UPS guy asks you to pay at the door before he'll hand over the package

Hmm I've no idea! I suspect your contact details will be on the package so Customs will have the opportunity to get in touch with you to arrange payment if any is required. Are there not instructions where you found the info online?

you'll get a card thro the post telling you how much custom and excise charge to pay, you can pay online if I remember correctly or by phone.

Or it might just sail thro and nobody will notice. It's pot luck.

Thanks onebigwish, I'm guessing that's what will happen, they will let me know that I need to pay them. The website doesn't give much info on how it works!

When it is delivered to you, there will be a Cash on Delivery invoice with it. The courier will not be allowed to hand the dress over until you pay the fees.

Thanks everyone!

No, not much info online but there is a phone number for the hmrc so maybe they will enlighten me.

Think I'll just chance it and they'll let me know when they want my money!

when I've bought small items from china from ebay I got dockets through the door before the item arrived saying that my item was in customs, but never had to actually pay anything

Omfgkillmenow- what's the dress like? I'm looking to get a long sleeved one.

The courier company pay the duty when the item arrives and then invoice you for it. You usually have to pay before you receive the item, although the method depends on the courier - some will send you an invoice through the post and then you pay online and click the delivery option that suits, others (like UPS) will knock on the door with the parcel and you hand them a cheque before they hand over the goods.

When in doubt ask mumsnet!

Thanks all you have all been very helpful!

It will likely be around a 1/3rd of the price of the dress and delivery charge combined, and a "handling" charge added by the courier company. (20% VAT 12% duty)