Originally Posted by
nheather
I’ve had an invoice some time after the event too.
I understand the argument that by doing this the courier is limiting the delays and getting the package to you as quickly as possible but what I object to is the lack of choice and transparency.
This is usually because items I have imported have been low value (£50-£100) and the courier admin fees have been disproportionate. I have had one item, cost £50 and the courier added £10 VAT (fine with that) and £15 for their admin fee (not fine with that).
My objections are:
Lack of transparency - you rarely get advised in advance that this will happen, you certainly aren’t advised up front what the courier admin fees are, and even if you went searching on the courier’s website, this information is usually very difficult if not impossible to find.
Lack of choice - I don’t get to choose the courier, nor do I get the choice to say “thanks for the offer, but no thanks, I’m not in a hurry so don’t mind the delay, let me pay the import taxes directly.
It is certainly a money maker for the couriers, often the ‘admin fee’ they receive is larger than the postage they charged so you can see why they are so keen to do it.
And sometimes it isn’t even the original courier that gets the fee. I’ve experienced where a international post office has been transported 1000s of miles, only to be picked up by Royal Mail to do ‘the last hundred yards’ and it Royal Mail that charge the admin fee - fantastic little earner for them.
I don’t mind paying import taxes and personally, I would like to see a system where you can declare those and pay them up front.
Cheers,
Nigel