alan2525

I just ordered some ironmongery from the USA as I couldn't find a UK supplier for the types of cabinet handles I was after.

The actual price of the items was actually approx £2 more than buying from the UK including a crazy shipping charge of $45 dollars (more than the cost of the items), the handles were solid cast brast with a nickel plated finish, similar ones in the uk were just cheap press steel ones... (Insert suitable comment about RIP-OFF Britain here)

Anyhow the point of my rant is - when the items were delivered I had to pay VAT, which was expected but I was also charged a Brokerage Surcharge of £11. What exactly is this? Because I bought 24 small doorhandles there's an extra tax of 50p on each handle? Is this like a doortax charge? Will I be charged eachtime I open and close the draw or something?

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wonwinglo

Alan,it sounds like a customs charge,recently I ordered some software from the U.S.A which came via Fedex,they billed me an amount which they said was the customs they had paid on my behalf,it seems normal practise,the only thing is they also charged me another £14 which was put down as 'Admin' made for expensive way to get the software,buyers beware,it happens all the time.
If they were delivered by Fedex or similar then it sounds as if your purchase could have been the same ?

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Mankster

The "brokerage charge" is the the delivery companys charge for paying the taxes on your behalf to allow the package to clear customs. It varies frot company to company.

alan2525

It was nice of them to charge me an extra £11 quid ontop of the 9 quid vat though.

I think i'll ask the seller if they can just mark the item as a "gift" in future.

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Tailspin14

That is something else. I just bought some paints and a model from a company in the UK and it was pretty reasonable when it came to the shipping charges and all.

wonwinglo

Be aware that many of the big shippers use this system,they certainly pay the customs charge on your behalf,however also bill you for this money spinning brockerage charge which you were not aware of.
I got caught out the same way,unaware that in my own case Fedex were doing the delivery,whilst a first rate fast service you pay highly in the end,sometimes making the purchase not viable,be careful !
Many companies refuse to mark items as 'gifts' so check first if you do not want any nasty surprises.

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'And there I was oil on my goggles from a broken pipe,then I looked at the altimeter,all I could see was the makers name !'
www.wonwinglo.scale-models.net/

ajg141

Last year I had occasion to buy some replacement parts for a sub from the USA. These arrived quickly and with no customs charges despite being described correctly on the padded envelope. They were admittedly not terribly expensive (under $30 from memory). I have considered buying other more expensive items but have been kind of put off the idea by the post/customs charges. Does anyone know if there is a specific item cost that triggers customs interest - or should all such imported items from the USA be subject to these charges. And if so - how does one work out what they are likely to be? Is it simply the standard British VAT rate or are there additional import duties? And is that additional 'brokersge charge' calculated as a % of the purchase price or is it a flat fee? Maybe there's a site somewhere that explains all this - haven't found it yet though.

Andrew

BigJBB

Hello all, my good lady is n Optometrist, Her work would normally provide all of the equipment required to do the job. On this occassion she wanted an unusual Volk lensfor checking the retina while the eye is dilated. The lens was comparably cheaper fron US or ex UK but not available in the Anodised colour she wanted. Import duty was £64 in addition to the VAT and import duty. This took a $200 product up to £350 after all of the charges. A really Mad way to keep Gordon Brown in a job..

cheers

Jim

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enjoy model boating on www.paddleducks.co.uk and www.edinburghmodelboatclub.org

Bunkerbarge

It could be worse, it could be keeping Prescott in a job then you would get hacked off with it all!!!!

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flytilbroke

The Delivery companies are effectivly charging something similar to import duty when goods are sent to the Scottish Highlands and Islands. Even when the south of England and into Northern Ireland is further in distance. The bug,,, are happy to use our oil and gas though without paying the same surcharge.

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