Deanovski Posted 21 November, 2009 Share Posted 21 November, 2009 (edited) Basically My girlfriend has sent me a birthday present from new york and has sent it express mail so it arrives in 3 days( it even said on the package due for delivery on the 20th). It has arrived and i have been charged customs as expected for £10, also £13.50 fee for them paying it(they also said its a higher fee than usual because its express mail,what a joke). So i phone up the head office and she said i have to phone the depot its at and i can pay now and not have to wait for a letter in the post. So i ring up the skatesville office and he says i have to wait for my letter which ill get today(saturday) and ill get my package monday, guess what my letter never came. So im being charged more because my gf paid 38 dollars to send it quickly yet its taken 4 days now and by the time i get it will probably be 7 days. I don't mind paying my 10 pound customs but i am really annoyed and don't want to pay the 13.50 fee its ridiculous, any one with any advice or similar experience? Edited 21 November, 2009 by Deanovski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 21 November, 2009 Share Posted 21 November, 2009 Couldn't you have paid the customs charges up front to avoid getting stung at the end? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 21 November, 2009 Share Posted 21 November, 2009 or don't declare what was in it, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 21 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 21 November, 2009 My gf said to the woman at the desk will he get charged any customs tax and she said no,and when i asked parcel force she said that america wouldnt know or not. If she didnt declare what was in it they would have opened it all up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Master Bates Posted 21 November, 2009 Share Posted 21 November, 2009 Parcel Farce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 21 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 21 November, 2009 the big joke is they charged me extra because its express mail and its going to be 5 days late GOD I HATE THEM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 21 November, 2009 Share Posted 21 November, 2009 I don't understand the first post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 21 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 21 November, 2009 I don't understand the first post. Other people seemed to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swannymere Posted 21 November, 2009 Share Posted 21 November, 2009 They are a bunch of robbing ****s, they've been getting away with this scam for years. The charge for them paying is a complete ****-take, they have the monopoly so they can do what they like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 21 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 21 November, 2009 But do you think i have a case i mean the fact it should have been here friday and wont get here now till tuesday earliest? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swannymere Posted 21 November, 2009 Share Posted 21 November, 2009 But do you think i have a case i mean the fact it should have been here friday and wont get here now till tuesday earliest? No chance, you 'Guaranteed 3 day delivery' will have something in the small print to cover themselves - 'We guarantee that this parcel should reach you in 3 days, in the event it doesn't we are not held accountable - so tough ****'. I'd ask to speak to the depot manager and threaten small claims court action but to be honest it's less hastle to just pay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 21 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 21 November, 2009 Yeah i more than planned on it, if i got it monday. They said id get the letter today and i never did, even said i could phone up and pay and when i did they said i couldnt. they are f**kin useless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted 21 November, 2009 Share Posted 21 November, 2009 But do you think i have a case i mean the fact it should have been here friday and wont get here now till tuesday earliest? Will depend on the Terms and Conditions of the particular service used with USPS or whichever US company sends the item over to the UK for delivery, as the service was initially provided and paid for in the States. Can't comment on the fees that have been mentioned as I've never had any first hand experience of them, but can tell you that ParcelForce do have the right to hold the item until the customs charge has been settled, regardless of the service used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 21 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 21 November, 2009 I just feel i shouldnt have to pay 13.50 fee for them paying when its late any way, and its more than usual because its express its like the ultimate **** take.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted 21 November, 2009 Share Posted 21 November, 2009 I don't even understand how they calculate their fees, and I'm not even gonna attempt to. As the only reason it's late is down to the customs fee, not their failure to deliver, I'd hazard a guess that you won't get much joy complaining about it to ParcelForce. If, however, the potential of this situation occurring wasn't made clear when the item was posted, or at least covered in the T&C's for the service used, then I'd say there would be a decent case for your girlfriend to put in a complaint, or maybe even some sort of claim. All depends on the small print, basically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 21 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 21 November, 2009 well i asked parcel force if there was any way for this to be paid beforehand so i don get the fee and they said no. It is their failure to deliver because i cant pay the fees until i get their letter which i havent received today like promised. I think its ridiculous i have to wait for a letter from them before i get it, i spoke to head office they said to call the depot its at and pay so i dont have to wait i did so and the guy was like no you have to wait. just sucks i have to pay any tax on a bday present lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 22 November, 2009 Share Posted 22 November, 2009 just sucks i have to pay any tax on a bday present lol The customs fees don't discriminate between brithday presents or any other sort of package. Me thinks you're just having a general moan because you've been asked to pay and now you're getting all self-righteous about it. Just collect your parcel and pay up. Next time, think twice about sending stuff home when you know you may get collared for customs charges. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 22 November, 2009 Share Posted 22 November, 2009 Basically My girlfriend has sent me a birthday present from new york and has sent it express mail so it arrives in 3 days( it even said on the package due for delivery on the 20th). It has arrived and i have been charged customs as expected for £10, also £13.50 fee for them paying it(they also said its a higher fee than usual because its express mail,what a joke). So i phone up the head office and she said i have to phone the depot its at and i can pay now and not have to wait for a letter in the post. So i ring up the skatesville office and he says i have to wait for my letter which ill get today(saturday) and ill get my package monday, guess what my letter never came. So im being charged more because my gf paid 38 dollars to send it quickly yet its taken 4 days now and by the time i get it will probably be 7 days. I don't mind paying my 10 pound customs but i am really annoyed and don't want to pay the 13.50 fee its ridiculous, any one with any advice or similar experience? Are you saying that a customs fee of £10.00 suddenly balloons to £23.50 because Parcel Farce paid the customs fee up front? If so then that sounds like daylight robbery, £13.50 as an 'admin fee'? Ok, so they have you by the short and curlies, now it's Mexican Standoff Time. Pay up and collect or, if the prezzie is not of significant value, leave it to rot on their shelf until they decide to auction it, and not get all their £23.50 back? Then, when the GF asks where your lovely Fairisle sweater is, you can um and err while thinking of an excuse! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swannymere Posted 22 November, 2009 Share Posted 22 November, 2009 The customs fees don't discriminate between brithday presents or any other sort of package. Me thinks you're just having a general moan because you've been asked to pay and now you're getting all self-righteous about it. Just collect your parcel and pay up. Next time, think twice about sending stuff home when you know you may get collared for customs charges. He's not objecting to the customs charge, it's the fact that you have to pay Parcel Force a fee for paying the customs charge! I've paid a customs charge of £5.09 before and had to pay Parcel Force £8 on top of that because they paid the fee for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 22 November, 2009 Share Posted 22 November, 2009 If a company agrees to pay a fee to a third party on their customer's behalf in connection with the delivery of a service for which the customer has not yet paid I think it's fair to add a premium. They are exposed to the risk of you not making payment for the service and they sure as hell aren't going to get their tenner back from Customs. Unless you've already paid upfront then the premium is perfectly fair (although it shouldn't be too high). I'm unsure whether the premium in this case is £3.50 or £13.50. Obviously that is a separate point from the general lateness and service issues, which do sound quite annoying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swannymere Posted 22 November, 2009 Share Posted 22 November, 2009 If a company agrees to pay a fee to a third party on their customer's behalf in connection with the delivery of a service for which the customer has not yet paid I think it's fair to add a premium. They are exposed to the risk of you not making payment for the service and they sure as hell aren't going to get their tenner back from Customs. Unless you've already paid upfront then the premium is perfectly fair (although it shouldn't be too high). I'm unsure whether the premium in this case is £3.50 or £13.50. Obviously that is a separate point from the general lateness and service issues, which do sound quite annoying. I don't think anyone would object to paying £3.50 but £13.50 is daylight robbery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benjii Posted 22 November, 2009 Share Posted 22 November, 2009 I don't think anyone would object to paying £3.50 but £13.50 is daylight robbery. Yes, that seems excessive, I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 22 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 22 November, 2009 They told me the usual admin fee is 8 but because mine is express mail they charge even more. Soton joe as i have stated my gf sent me this package as it was meant to be a surprise present, as i have also said customs is to make people pay extra so that they arent getting things cheaply,correct? I havent paid a single thing for the present so really its just retarded because if she lived in York and sent this gift it would be no different than new york. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timebomb Posted 22 November, 2009 Share Posted 22 November, 2009 I ordered something from the States 3 weeks ago, it was sent by UPS, I got a card saying they had payed the customs duty of £6 and were charging me £10 admin. I would love to know how to pay these fees up front and stop the B*****ds making so much. If it's not possible then I wont be ordering anything else from there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sotonjoe Posted 22 November, 2009 Share Posted 22 November, 2009 Of course they'll charge a handling fee if they have to pay it for you, they're not a charity. The only way you can accuse them of being naughty is if they offer you no way of paying in advance. Out of interest, did your girlfriend take it to a Parcel Force depot in New York (if such a thing exists)? If not, and it was at some third party establishment, e.g. an American post office who gave you duff advice about prepaying, your claim lies with them and not Parcel Force. I still think you're getting your knickers in a twist unnecessarily to be honest. Perhaps I'm too laid back about these things, but I've paid equally scandalous 'customs charges' plus handling fees before and just look at it as part of the deal when it comes to having things imported. You'll live and learn and will no better next time if you really don't like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verbal Posted 22 November, 2009 Share Posted 22 November, 2009 And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why even the most law-abiding resort to smuggling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 22 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 22 November, 2009 She sent it with United states postal service and she asked them if id have to pay any import feees and they said no. Can you not understand that its ridiculous that im being charged more cos my gf paid for a faster service and i still dont even have it..? Again it was meant to be a surprise for me so its not like i was importing stuff. when i asked if there was a way to prepay it before it gets to england parcel force person said no because america dont know our lawes. Also im not asking them to be a charity if i pay them the 10 i owe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHAPEL END CHARLIE Posted 22 November, 2009 Share Posted 22 November, 2009 It's been many years since I've worked for any firm that will deal with Parcel Force - the last time I did the sheer number of items that would go missing in transit (otherwise known as stolen) was quite scandalous . Pay a bit more and use a proper firm such as Fed Ex or DHL ... etc . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 22 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 22 November, 2009 Yeah if she sends anything now shes going to use fed ex. Neither me nor her knew that parcel force deal with all royal mail parcels, she had never heard of parcel force and never wants to again lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted 22 November, 2009 Share Posted 22 November, 2009 Yeah if she sends anything now shes going to use fed ex. Neither me nor her knew that parcel force deal with all royal mail parcels, she had never heard of parcel force and never wants to again lol. Err, no they don't. Royal Mail deal with items posted using Royal Mail services, and ParcelForce deal with items posted using ParcelForce services. Anything sent from abroad to the UK, unless posted with a separate courier service, will be handled by Royal Mail/ParcelForce when it reaches the UK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 22 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 22 November, 2009 (edited) i asked parcel force why the royal mail didnt deliver my package and she said because royal mail deals with flats and parcel force do the packages. Edited 22 November, 2009 by Deanovski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted 23 November, 2009 Share Posted 23 November, 2009 i asked parcel force why the royal mail didnt deliver my package and she said because royal mail deals with flats and parcel force do the packages. It does depend on what service is used in the sending country, and how bulky/ heavy it is. No different to the postal system over here. Royal Mail can and do deliver large/ heavy items. Clearly the service that it was sent by wasn't one that Royal Mail deal with when it reaches the UK. As an aside, back to my courier comment, what I said isn't strictly true, as TNT deal with bulk mailshots. They collect them, they distribute them to the appropriate destinations across the country, but who actually delivers them to the customer? Royal Mail. And businesses think they're getting a better service by paying extra for a company to pass their mail onto Royal Mail to deliver, rather than just giving RM the business directly, thus saving them time and money. Odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 23 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 23 November, 2009 Still no letter , phoned up customer help and there were less help than aids. They said only way i can get my package is if i go get if not wait for the letter which can take up to 5 days, also said they will only waive the admin fee if customs waive the customs fee which they know they never will. Spoke to a manager who said i should have my letter by now, and hes going to phone me back. What a feckin operation they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 23 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 23 November, 2009 Lesson Learned - Pay custom fee's up front. If you actually had read what id said this was a surprise present from my gf, she even asked at the post office in new york if id be charged anything and they said no, i did not send this package my self. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctoroncall Posted 23 November, 2009 Share Posted 23 November, 2009 (edited) Not sure what is meant by customs fee/charge. Is that excise duty and/or VAT to be paid? It seems like some Parcel Force bureaucracy they have created to get money out of customers especially as this maybe classed as a gift... All goods imported into the UK from outside the EU must be declared to HM Customs & Excise and in most cases this includes goods bought over the Internet. If you are sent a gift with a value of £36 or less, and which complies with the following it will be free from customs duty and import VAT (this does not include alcohol, tobacco, perfumes and toilet waters): The customs declaration must be completed correctly. The gift must be sent from a private person outside the EU to a private person(s) in this country. There is no commercial or trade element and the gift has not been paid for either directly or indirectly. The gift is of an occasional nature only, for example, for a birthday or anniversary. Customs duty becomes payable if the value of the goods is over £120 but duty is waived if the amount of duty calculated is less than £7. There are a number of other circumstances where relief from some or all customs charges and it's best to talk to HMRC about it (at the depot that holds your package). Edited 23 November, 2009 by Doctoroncall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 23 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 23 November, 2009 i paid £10 customs(VAT) and it was declared for £50, and because they paid it for me they are charging me a further £13.50 admin fee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctoroncall Posted 23 November, 2009 Share Posted 23 November, 2009 i paid £10 customs(VAT) and it was declared for £50, and because they paid it for me they are charging me a further £13.50 admin fee. As you haven't stated all the information it's hard to see what they have done. If you are not satisfied write to: Customs and International Review and Appeals Team 7th Floor South West Alexander House 21 Victoria Avenue Essex SS99 1AA, but they would need to know every detail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 23 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 23 November, 2009 its not the customs fee im mad about its parcelforce charging me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctoroncall Posted 23 November, 2009 Share Posted 23 November, 2009 Well it's on their website about the charges... http://www.parcelforce.com/portal/pw/content1?mediaId=load105044&catId=2500042 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 23 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 23 November, 2009 yes..and its meant to be 3 days delivery and its now been 7 days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 23 November, 2009 Share Posted 23 November, 2009 yes..and its meant to be 3 days delivery and its now been 7 days I bet you anything they'll state it as 'working days' which 'will be a normal working week of Monday till Friday'. So! They're only 2 days late......quibbling barstewards. (Parcel Farce not you) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toomer Posted 23 November, 2009 Share Posted 23 November, 2009 I bet you anything they'll state it as 'working days' which 'will be a normal working week of Monday till Friday'. So! They're only 2 days late......quibbling barstewards. (Parcel Farce not you) I have worked in the parcels/haulage industry for thirty years all transit times do not include day of colletion, weekends and bank holidays. With regard to customs, rates and charges to EEU countries should include customs clearance other countries may differ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 23 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 23 November, 2009 I spoke to 3 different idiots on the help line all of which told me the 13.50 was charged by customs not them and when i speak to any one half sensible they say they were wrong -_-. My gf phoned up and as soon as they heard she was american started being a retard about how she pronounced depot, i really really hate parcelforce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essruu Posted 23 November, 2009 Share Posted 23 November, 2009 Is your relationship with this 'girlfriend' who lives in another country one of these cyberweb ones where you've only actually met on MSN and face to face on a webcam? Or was she possibly bought as a gift from someone on t'internet and you had to pay customs duty on her as well, so that's why you are getting so incensed by Parcelforce's reasonably charges? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bungle Posted 23 November, 2009 Share Posted 23 November, 2009 As an aside, back to my courier comment, what I said isn't strictly true, as TNT deal with bulk mailshots. They collect them, they distribute them to the appropriate destinations across the country, but who actually delivers them to the customer? Royal Mail. And businesses think they're getting a better service by paying extra for a company to pass their mail onto Royal Mail to deliver, rather than just giving RM the business directly, thus saving them time and money. Odd. As someone who uses both TNT and Royal Mail mailshots, I can say that TNT offer a far better deal on some services, but Royal Mail do on others. This is despite the fact that Royal Mail have a monopoly on the "final mile". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JackFrost Posted 23 November, 2009 Share Posted 23 November, 2009 A company I used to work for used parcelforce regularly at one time and whilst we didn't have any trouble with things being lost, the amount of damaged goods in (other) company standard packaging was ridiculous. When sending anything we had to mummify it. I remember one occasion when some **** delivered a couple of expensive touchscreens to us. He barged the door open, slammed them down on the floor and was generally rude. After we'd cut through the "please handle with care" tape he'd cracked them both. We had no end of trouble with them. Went to a different company and had hardly any other problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 23 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 23 November, 2009 Is your relationship with this 'girlfriend' who lives in another country one of these cyberweb ones where you've only actually met on MSN and face to face on a webcam? Or was she possibly bought as a gift from someone on t'internet and you had to pay customs duty on her as well, so that's why you are getting so incensed by Parcelforce's reasonably charges? oh how i love smug people like you. Yes we've never met even though we went on holiday together in the summer and in feb i went to see her for her birthday, and by december it will have been 4 times ive been to ny this year. I guess i havent me alot of her family and shes not met mine either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hatch Posted 23 November, 2009 Share Posted 23 November, 2009 Cant be arsed to read whole thread,... what was in parcel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanovski Posted 23 November, 2009 Author Share Posted 23 November, 2009 just phoned them up and had a right go at them theyve told me on the letter you get theres a number to call to claim your money back and it took them 4 days to tell me . Also the code they cant tell me ive managed to get and its be ing delievered tomorrow, what a **** up lol Its a birthday present i dont know lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EastleighSoulBoy Posted 23 November, 2009 Share Posted 23 November, 2009 Is your relationship with this 'girlfriend' who lives in another country one of these cyberweb ones where you've only actually met on MSN and face to face on a webcam? Or was she possibly bought as a gift from someone on t'internet and you had to pay customs duty on her as well, so that's why you are getting so incensed by Parcelforce's reasonably charges? oh how i love smug people like you. Yes we've never met even though we went on holiday together in the summer and in feb i went to see her for her birthday, and by december it will have been 4 times ive been to ny this year. I guess i havent me alot of her family and shes not met mine either. Considering this is the lounge I'm surprised you gave this the courtesy of an answer! WTF has your relationship got to do with this other poster? A poster who is clearly displaying a total lack of style. Obviously not an Apple product to enthuse about here then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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