Flash light, UPS, Customs and excise = confused

[Peteaud]

I want to order stuff from the USA but the charges are always a no no.

 

[welsh dragon]

My neighbour bought something from america that cost £70.00. He received a letter telling him that total import charges were £200.00. How absurd is that, that the charges that are made are ridiculous and have no bearing where the cost or value of the item is concerned.

There is no way that these charges can be made to work and in my oppinion it is wrong to try to make people like me to feel guilty, when in fact fhe government is trying to fleece people, charging them exorbitant amounts. Amounts that they have simply picked out of a hat or so it seems.

 

[Globalti]

Picked out of hat is correct. They couldn't believe you would import something costing as little as £70.

 

[welsh dragon]

Picked out of hat is correct. They couldn't believe you would import something costing as little as £70.

I bought something from ebay that In fact only cost £5.00. I didn't realise it was coming from China. Can you imagine what I would have done if they had tried to charge me say £20.00. ?

I bet this happens a lot..

 

[screenman]

In many years of importing I have never been asked to pay duties like some of those mentioned. There is an appeal system available should you feel the amount is not correct.

 

[welsh dragon]

Do you seriously think people are going to go to the trouble of appealing when something only costs £20.00 to start with. Its more hassle than it is worth. Bugger that, they will just send it back and be done with it.

 

[nickyboy]

My neighbour bought something from america that cost £70.00. He received a letter telling him that total import charges were £200.00. How absurd is that, that the charges that are made are ridiculous and have no bearing where the cost or value of the item is concerned.

There is no way that these charges can be made to work and in my oppinion it is wrong to try to make people like me to feel guilty, when in fact fhe government is trying to fleece people, charging them exorbitant amounts. Amounts that they have simply picked out of a hat or so it seems.

1) Do you think the UK should have a system of controls over what is imported into the UK?
2) If the answer is yes, who do you think should pay for this system?

The reality is that the cost of processing a small importation is disproportionately large in comparison with a large importation. The importation system is designed for large-scale imports and works fine for that. It doesn't work fine for small imports but this is the reality. It costs as much to process a piece of paper with a large number on it as one with a small number on it

 

[welsh dragon]

The system clearly isn't working. If you are so concerned in making sure that tax is paid on absolutely everything including things that only cost £5.00 what do you propose they do. ?

 

[screenman]

Make things in the UK that are to expensive to bring in.

WD I was reffering to your neighbour and the 70 to 200 tax. How they come up with this flgure with the maximum import tax being 85% on average I think it is about 9% What I bring is is set at 3.5%

 

[nickyboy]

The system clearly isn't working. If you are so concerned in making sure that tax is paid on absolutely everything including things that only cost £5.00 what do you propose they do. ?

Stop trying to sell £5 stuff to UK. Unless you scrap the entire importation system you can't make this into an economic transaction

 

[welsh dragon]

Make things in the UK that are to expensive to bring in.

WD I was reffering to your neighbour and the 70 to 200 tax.

I know that, but they really did try to charge him that amount. He nearly had a nearly attack. Lol he was green he looked so sick. I think for people like me who order things first and only realise later that they are coming from abroad it is harsh in fhe exfreme to be charged amounts that are over and above the value of the item we have purchased. The rules need to be simplified and made clearer, and maybe some common sense needs to be used by the tax office. They seem to have a thing about making things so difficult to understand and to make work. Its a minefield. Surely things can be simplified. ? It must also be impossible for people like you who have to navigate importing items on a daily basis.

 

[ASC1951]

1) Do you think the UK should have a system of controls over what is imported into the UK?..

Controls over safety or criminality, yes. But not controls to stop citizens from buying goods which people overseas are able to make more cheaply or of better quality.

The reality is that the cost of processing a small importation is disproportionately large in comparison with a large importation. The importation system is designed for large-scale imports and works fine for that. It doesn't work fine for small imports but this is the reality. It costs as much to process a piece of paper with a large number on it as one with a small number on it

Then don't have an expensive bureaucracy to back up protectionism. It's us, the citizens, who are being stiffed.

 

[welsh dragon]

Stop trying to sell £5 stuff to UK. Unless you scrap the entire importation system you can make this into an economic transaction

You can buy a lot of stuff costing less than £5.00. That are imported. Why stop. ? The things we are talking about are things that can be bought from say amazon, ebay and other outlets. They are selling to individuals not companies. You cant stop these items being sold or bought. You have to be reasonable. Maybe you should calm down a bit and not take things quite so personally. It is christmas after all.

 

[welsh dragon]

We are talking about the little man being shafted again, every which way he turns. Being reasonable is the order of the day. Happy christmas. smile.

 

[nickyboy]

You can buy a lot of stuff costing less than £5.00. That are imported. Why stop. ? The things we are talking about are things that can be bought from say amazon, ebay and other outlets. They are selling to individuals not companies. You cant stop these items being sold or bought. You have to be reasonable. Maybe you should calm down a bit and not take things quite so personally. It is christmas after all.

What are you talking about "personally"? I don't work for HMCE, nor do I import or export anything. I'm just explaining how the world of business actually works. The fact you don't like it is unfortunate but there you go