Anyone had stuff shipped from USA?

It's unusual to pay import duty however you will have to pay vat on the price of the item including shipping costs and a handling fee from whoever delivers the item in the UK. Some delivery companies you have to pay up front other will take card payments at the door.

Best of luck.

I had to pay £22 on top of the delivery fee charged by a US company in december last year. IIRC £8.50 was a Parcel Force 'handling charge'. The remainder was determined on the commodity code of the items in the parcel.

£35 total shipping on an order of $108...not good.

I put the US postal tracker number into the Parcel Force tracker and they said it was at their Standstead depot.

I went around the Parcel Force / Customs / Parcel Force loop because initially both said the other had my parcel.

It was eventually explained to me that although it was at a Parcel Force depot, it was in a secure customs area.

They also couldn't tell me when it would be released because they don't operate a first in - first out system!

Since it was a christmas present it was a nervy time.


Other items I have ordered from the states from both domestic and commercial senders have been delivered with no additional charges.

It's unusual to pay import duty however you will have to pay vat on the price of the item including shipping costs and a handling fee from whoever delivers the item in the UK. Some delivery companies you have to pay up front other will take card payments at the door.

Best of luck.

Yep i ordered a laptop and monitor and ending paying over £100. Hold your stuff to ransom.

[punyXpress]

Originally Posted by BanannaMan

Not that I would have any experiance in that sort of thing....
Wouldn't be right to cheat the Brown out of it's fair share of taxes.

Quite right!