Customs charges, grrr
 

Bought an $80 item from the states, which has arrived at the local post office. I got a nice letter through the door to let me know, with a demand for £14 customs charge.

How the hell can I be charged 35% of the value of the item? Incorrectly marked, or is extortion standard practice for importing good?

Re: Customs charges, grrr
 

Re: Customs charges, grrr
 

Import duty & VAT generally amounts to around 1/3 value of the original purchase.

Re: Customs charges, grrr
 

It's such a rip off. Customs duty stinks. More money for doing nothing whatsoever. I want to know where all this stealth tax is going. I don't see any of it that's for sure. I just collect piles of £££ for the government for no payment back, and if I'm a day late I get clobbered with a £100 fine. I hate them.

Edit - just read Baph's reply. Uncharacteristically tame!

Re: Customs charges, grrr
 

There's an argument between two of the guys in the office here at the moment (religion, law, order, hitler, NHS, tax system etc etc).

I'm trying to stop myself laughing at them at the moment.

I'll be back to my usual self later :)

EDIT: Now it's moved on to immigrants and I quote "F*ing Hitler did some good things, even though he was the anti-christ."

Re: Customs charges, grrr
 

I though there was no duty on less than £50. Would be worth looking into.

Re: Customs charges, grrr
 

Quit yah whinging and pay the money before Lyn comes and gives you a long explination ;)

Re: Customs charges, grrr
 

Correct. I was charged about 50% duty for something I imported a couple of years ago, so consider yourself lucky that you were only charged 35%.

Re: Customs charges, grrr
 

Yeah Lyn posted a link in another thread a while ago (can't be bothered to search :rolleyes: ). You pay the duty of 3% (IIRC) then VAT on the total like with petrol. Bad luck getting noticed, often you get away with it.

Re: Customs charges, grrr
 

:smt037 Class!