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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed at customs charges?

18 replies

PenguinBear · 25/01/2013 17:13

So cross and hormonally upset, customs have charged me over £100 customs charges on a gift.

How can this be? It's a birthday present for dd1 from my friend in the USA. I'm so upset that this has happened, we cannot afford to pay the customs charge and I feel upset about it. I don't know if they'll have shipped it back by the time I can afford it.

I've rung customs to complain and they said the only option is to pay it and then dispute it. Has anyone ever done this and won?

What do the bastards want? I don't know how they decide whether or not it is a gift, I can prove it but would it be enough? Would I have to send DDs birth certificate? The emails from my friend detailing that was sending it for DD? I feel so cross abou it and keep crying with frustration and feeling like an awful parent as I'm in the sh*t financially and can't even afford the customs charge for DDs present.

OP posts:
LadyMcSplodge · 25/01/2013 17:15

Don't be upset, it's not your fault. What was the item? Is it something very valuable?

eightytwenty · 25/01/2013 17:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
PenguinBear · 25/01/2013 17:34

Don't want to say what exactly as it would 'out' me!

She declared its 'value' as just over $600 ( although the item has nothing to do with money and has not been sold or bought.) The only reason she declared it was incase it got lost in the post and she had to claim for it.

OP posts:
yellowsheep · 25/01/2013 17:45

SCould be worse dh ordered. Stuff foe hos hobby from USA 2 month's after it arrived we had armed customs officers knocking at our door.... Then went to talk to him on his office site.... You do not want to be seen escorting armed police around his site especially when all the big bosses were in :) still at least everyone knows who he is now

meditrina · 25/01/2013 17:48

I think you're sunk by the valuation that she attached to the goods. Showing they are a gift isn't going to be crucial to any appeal as both duty and VAT are payable on gifts of that value.

From HMRC website "Goods sent as a gift that are over £40* in value are liable to import VAT. Customs duty also becomes payable if the value of the goods is over £135 but is waived if the amount of duty calculated is less than £9"

hermioneweasley · 25/01/2013 17:49

Well, if they didn't hold the recipient responsible for the tax, they would never get it - they can hardly chase your friend or senders abroad can they?

Original poster
PenguinBear · 25/01/2013 17:51

If I'd have known, I'd have said not to give the gift but dd knows now and is most upset that she can't have it, which is making me feel awful.

OP posts:
SpicyPear · 25/01/2013 17:53

YANBU to be sad and upset about the present. YABU to call customs bastards. They can't very well give random exemptions to people that afford taxes because they feel sorry for them. You or your friend should have looked into it properly before it was sent.

skullcandy · 25/01/2013 18:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
PenguinBear · 25/01/2013 18:09

I didn't think of that skull, but not sure I can ask, she would probably think I was rude if I asked that after she is kindly sent dd a present. :(

OP posts:
Tee2072 · 25/01/2013 18:12

$600? Wow

FatherHankTree · 25/01/2013 18:16

You could try a reclaim, but you'd only get the duty & VAT back if it had been charged in error and unfortunately it seems that it hasn't. It's still shit though :(

Is it brand new? If it's something that's not new, but valuable, you could possibly try a reclaim, I've done this, it's long-winded, but sometimes you get your money back.

NatashaBee · 25/01/2013 18:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gordyslovesheep · 25/01/2013 18:29

did she write GIFT in big letters on it

AntsMarching · 25/01/2013 18:35

I had customs charge me £3 VAT and £8 handling charge. So £11 all in. For a phone charger that I'd owned for over 2 years but had accidentally left at my parents' house. I refused to pay it as I'd already paid VAT on it when I bought it in the UK.

So they shipped it back to my parents house at the expense of HMRC. Served them right. My parents brought it over next time they visited. In the meantime I bought a replacement charger for £12. Yes it cost more but it was the principle of the matter.

sydlexic · 25/01/2013 19:26

I have had that before, it took a month but I got my money back. I think there are so many on eBay avoiding customs which is basically VAT by saying it is a gift that they are cracking down on it.

jendot · 25/01/2013 20:02

The customs charge sounds about right for $600 you still have to pay if it is a gift over a certain value!
(Prob best, although prob not legal! to let it be returned and the get friend to resend it with a lower value)

Toombs · 25/01/2013 20:36

It's a tax you are liable for so pay it. Frankly even if you weren't liable you should pay it, you have a moral duty to do so.

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