I've been tracking a delivery from Enlightened. This is the first time I've ordered anything from the States and the current status of the tracking shows it has cleared Customs and is now at a Post Office.
In other people's experience does this mean I've escaped Import Duty?

If it's coming via Royal Mail then they charge duty & VAT on delivery. Usually... but not always, they sometimes slip through if you're lucky. Will be based on the value of product advised by the seller.

Sorry, double post

Yep, no way of knowing until it arrives - very much a lottery.

Thanks all, I'll just have to be patient

Sometimes I've been asked to pay duty before delivery.

Sometimes got a letter, and reminders! after delivery.

Sometimes (less often) nothing.

Yup...it's very much a game of chance. My hit rate is 50/50 at the moment...seems every 2nd item (usually the less expensive one) gets hit.

Greetz

S.

Hi Paul

I'm very interested to know how the whole purchase/shipping/tax thing pans out for you. Just about to pull the trigger, having missed the Black Friday 10% discount, grrr.

ianfitz wrote:Sometimes I've been asked to pay duty before delivery.

Sometimes got a letter, and reminders! after delivery.

Sometimes (less often) nothing.

After delivery, how does that work?

When caught for it I usually get a card or email demanding payment before delivery. Dunno about tracking status.

voodoo_simon wrote:

ianfitz wrote:Sometimes I've been asked to pay duty before delivery.

Sometimes got a letter, and reminders! after delivery.

Sometimes (less often) nothing.

After delivery, how does that work?

they send an invoice in the post. ANd then a reminder. AND then another reminder...

I'm at work but I can see a message on the tracking saying that the addressee is being notified of charges and the item is being held. Suspect the notification will be a card waiting on the doormat at home

So the letter from Parcel Force arrived today and the ransom was as follows:
Customs Duty: £0
Excise Duty: £0
VAT : 20%
Clearance Fee (whatever that is?) £8

Delivery now on Monday. Dealing with EE has been so simple and efficient. Ordered on Nov 1st and it's been in the UK for a week.

Just hope it lives up to my expectations!

It's the £8 fee that I object to - I don't mind paying duty and VAT, if the item is just not available in the UK.

Anybody know if it's possible to arrange the payments before hand? (if only to prevent Porcel Farce from getting any of my money)

As much as I bitterly resent paying Parcelfarce £8 for handling, it is a business after all with share holders demanding more profit.
They pay to release your item from HMRC and hope that you actually want your item enough that you'll actually pay them and have it delivered/turn up at the delivery centre.
I still resent them despite understanding what they're doing.

It's £8, do you expect them to sort out all the duty issues for the few quid they'll be receiving for parcel delivery?

I know it burns a bit but like Taylor says, businesses do nowt for free.