[mchisy]

Hi

Does anyone know anything about customs charges ?

I bought a secondhand mobile phone off Ebay which should have arrived yesterday as the seller sent it out on a RMSD anyway it didn't turn up and then this afternoon i get a card through the door from the post office to say that they can't deliver it as there is a £43 customs charge to pay, does anyone know what this is all about ? i have asked at my local Royal mail office but they were a complete waste of time, all they would say is - its because customs have opened it !!! The phone cost me £80 plus £5.95 for RMSD and the seller put down for the insurance that the replacement value would be £200

Can anyone shed any light please

Cheers

[mjn]

Well, which country did you buy it from, and in which country are you based?

[loz]

VAT on £200 would be £35. Plus I think an £8 handling charge by PO - there's your £43

[mchisy]

Sorry it was bought from the channel islands and im in U.K.

[mchisy]

Originally Posted by loz

VAT on £200 would be £35. Plus I think an £8 handling charge by PO - there's your £43

So its done off the replacement value and not the actual cost ??

[loz]

Originally Posted by mchisy

Sorry it was bought from the channel islands and im in U.K.

From HMC

The Channel Islands and special territories listed in Section 9 are part of the EC for customs purposes but are not part of the VAT territory.

If you import goods from the Channel Islands or special territories you will be liable for import VAT in the same way as you would for those imports detailed in paragraph 1.5.

As the seller put £200 value, they have added vat on £200

[loz]

Originally Posted by mchisy

So its done off the replacement value and not the actual cost ??

Unless he put £80 value on the declaration how would they know what the price is?

If he declared the value at £200, then that is all customs have to go on.

[mchisy]

Originally Posted by loz

Unless he put £80 value on the declaration how would they know what the price is?

If he declared the value at £200, then that is all customs have to go on.

Great..............not