customs and excise charges - fed ex

[FatBellyHoHoHo]

had a letter today from Federal Express saying that there is £38.60 duty to be paid on an item from ebay.

Thing is, it's already been delivered so what happens if I don't pay?

Got to go to bed now but I'll read replies in the morning, thanks peeps

The taxman comes and rips out your toenails. Metaphorically, of course... well, probably metaphorically.

hmm so it's like a real tax bill then?
I've never had one of these before and was wondering how seriously it needs to be paid

yeap you have to pay, I had a few gifts sent to me via fedex when my DS was born and because the shipping bill didnt say they were baby gifts we had to pay nearly 100 pound.

There ae lots of new rules concerning customs and excise when receiving items from overseas particularily if they originated int he States.

oh well.. I'll have to suck it up then my bargain isn't such a bargain after all

Thanks everyone x

You've always theoretically been liable for this, but recently (last six months or so) they have really been cracking down. Anything over £18 value (about $30-$35) is liable for significant duty, plus normally even larger "handling fee".