Letter from a debt collection company.

[4F]

The Royal Mail work along similar lines, with regards "import duty". They open the item, place a value on it & decide that they want a percetange of what they feel the item is worth. Even replacements for faulty items, replaced by the manufacturer. Simple greed.

But the money gets paid to HMC&E so it is not Royal Mail who are keeping any vat / import duty collected. If you don't want to pay import duty then purchase the item in the UK, however of course this does not help the OP as she had no knowledge of this coming over.

 

[Lance Jack]

Sorry classic33, 4F is right about Royal Mail. Royal Mail is just the agent for collecting the money for HMC&E. Also, Royal Mail will not deliver the item until the fee, plus £8 handling charge, is paid. I thought this is how any delivery company would work, easier than trying to recover the money after delivery.
You sure this is not some sort of scam? Sounds strange not to have the correct details.

 

[MacB]

It's not a scam it's just how it works sometimes, I don't know the specific parameters but certainly I've received some goods that required settlement pre delivery and some where I got a bill after the fact.

As already mentioned no quibble about paying it but there's no way I'd pay an incorrectly made out bill. Also if the collection agency have added any fees then under no circumstances pay those. Until you have a correctly addressed bill the charge hasn't been made and so nothing is overdue.

 

[vernon]

There's no scam involved and it's hit and miss whether or not you get hit for import duty. Some USA companies are wised up and value their merchandise at just under the threashold for import duty to be charged. I recently took delivery of an item with an import duty charge of £1.15 and it was galling to have to pay the £8 collection fee on top.
As for the invoice with the wrong details on it, the unsettled debt can be listed against the address as well as the person identified on the invoice which can lead to a black mark by association.

 

[Lance Jack]

You would think that a large international company like Fedex would have decent admin in place so this would not happen. I would have done the same as Royal Mail (post 17) and not delivered it until the money is paid, or at least get the invoice details correct.

 

[Rob3rt]

The Royal Mail work along similar lines, with regards "import duty". They open the item, place a value on it & decide that they want a percetange of what they feel the item is worth. Even replacements for faulty items, replaced by the manufacturer. Simple greed.

If the letter isn't in your name & you opened it, you may be in trouble for not just returning it, with "Not Known At This Address" across the the front of the envelope.

Look at this a different way. If a bill arrived at your address, that wasn't addressed to you what would your actions be. Would you pay it or tell the company that sent the bill the person did not exist. They have to prove that the person does exist and that they have the correct person being billed

That is not how it works!

 

[subaqua]

That is not how it works!

no Royal mail staff open the parcel and if it is worth something they keep it for themselves and if not they break it then repack it and deliver it.

 

[vernon]

The Royal Mail work along similar lines, with regards "import duty". They open the item, place a value on it & decide that they want a percetange of what they feel the item is worth. Even replacements for faulty items, replaced by the manufacturer. Simple greed.

The Royal Mail do not open packages and value their contents. Parcels and packages from outside the EU arrive at one or two designated sorting centres where the inspection of the packages and customs declarations are undertaken by the Border Agency. The opening of any packages suspected of not containing the goods declared on the customs declaration label is done by Royal Mail staff but only under instruction of the Border Agency.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

If it hasn't got your name on it, it isn't for you.

 

[e-rider]

if it's not a huge amount - just pay it and stop fooling about! You already said that you have to pay it.

 

[classic33]

But the money gets paid to HMC&E so it is not Royal Mail who are keeping any vat / import duty collected. If you don't want to pay import duty then purchase the item in the UK, however of course this does not help the OP as she had no knowledge of this coming over.

When what is in the parcel is a direct replacement, from the manufacturer, for a faulty item already bought & paid for in this country. How can there be any duty owed.

Item had already been cleared by HMRC, who said that it was the Royal Mail who were with-holding the item. They'd opened the item, placed a value on the item inside & from there worked out the release fee. Which would have been payable to them.

 

[vernon]

When what is in the parcel is a direct replacement, from the manufacturer, for a faulty item already bought & paid for in this country. How can there be any duty owed.

Item had already been cleared by HMRC, who said that it was the Royal Mail who were with-holding the item. They'd opened the item, placed a value on the item inside & from there worked out the release fee. Which would have been payable to them.

Really?

 

[Lance Jack]

Straight from the Royal Mail website,

"Receiving mail from abroad
All mail that enter the United Kingdom may be examined by customs, but normally letters, postcards and packets containing only documents or similar forms of correspondence are excluded.
If you are receiving a package from overseas (unless it’s from another EU Country), please be aware that it may incur customs charges. Any package assessed as being liable for customs charges will also incur a Royal Mail handling fee of £8.
Any goods imported into the UK over the value of £15 are liable to import VAT. Gifts between private individuals over the value of £36 are also liable for VAT. Goods and gifts over these values may also be liable for customs duty. You no longer have to pay customs duty for goods up to the value of £135, however you will still be required to pay import VAT and excise duty where applicable.
Please note that these limits do not apply to alcohol and tobacco goods where both excise duty and import VAT may be charged. It is not permitted to send alcohol and tobacco products into the UK from another EU country unless prior arrangements have been made to account for the excise duty.
For more details please read the Royal Mail guide to receiving goods from overseas."

Royal Mail does NOT open you packet, it is examined by Customs.
However, this whole thing is about Fedex.

 

[oldfatfool]

The Royal Mail work along similar lines, with regards "import duty". They open the item, place a value on it & decide that they want a percetange of what they feel the item is worth. Even replacements for faulty items, replaced by the manufacturer. Simple greed.

Complete and utter bollocks. Royal Mail do not open anything, HMC do. HMC then release the item to Royal Mail. Royal Mail pay your duty for you before HMC release the item, hence why Royal Mail then go on to charge you an £8 handling fee. If you refuse to pay, you don't receive the item and it gets returned to HMC and Royal Mail get their cash back.

I would be very surprised if any company would deliver an item with a customs charge before receiving payment, you have not agreed to pay for the item so I doubt this letter after the fact would hold up in a court, let alone the fact it is addressed incorrectly, smells decidedly fishy to me.

 

[oldfatfool]

When what is in the parcel is a direct replacement, from the manufacturer, for a faulty item already bought & paid for in this country. How can there be any duty owed.

Item had already been cleared by HMRC, who said that it was the Royal Mail who were with-holding the item. They'd opened the item, placed a value on the item inside & from there worked out the release fee. Which would have been payable to them.

Yes HMC release/ clear after Royal Mail pay the duty HMC decide is due. There are that many people trying to avoid duty by putting false info on the docket, gift, replacement etc trying to con Customs, they just charge everything now.