FedEx duties charges

[atomant48]

I’ve just had a parcel (seat) delivered from (Belgium ??). I paid in sterling from their website and was charged “tax”. FedEx have delivered yesterday but I also got a text over the weekend asking for payment for duties and taxes as it’s from outside the UK.

The text is from a number that has a trail of previous texts so it is maybe legit but I’m confused they would deliver the package without the fees paid.

Does this sound legit ?? Interestingly I emailed the supplier and they said it’s a bit hit and miss but are more than willing to pay the charges - which is service I can’t complain about. But no one seems to know the actual process/rules.

So 2 questions really- do we think it’s legit (there seem to be lots of postage related scams) and if it is legit why are the courier companies delivering with outstanding fees ?? Just interested in thoughts.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Scam.
If there was only out standing dues, tax etc, it would not of been sent out to you.

 

[m_c]

FedEx deliver parcels before billing you for any duty/VAT that is due.
I'm registered on their website, so i get an email saying I've got a bill to pay.

If it's genuine, they'll eventually send a letter with the details.

 

[Barking Mat]

Hmm, maybe legit.

Leaving the EU, and all that.

 

[Tangledfeet]

Happened to Mrs TF; bought a nice warm, waterproof and very long horse-riding coat and got a bill several weeks later after it arrived from Scandinavia.

On the plus side it does get the goods themselves to you much, much quicker;.

 

[Pete.]

Yeah I've had invoices for the duty/vat weeks later. I don't recommend you ignore it but definitely use caution so you don't get turned over.

 

[Anguz]

Had the same... if you ignore they resend threatening late payment fees
Didnt think to tell the seller though

 

[Popcorn]

Not just from the EU either, I got stung with a parcel from the States. Since then I specify with my order that it doesn't come with FedEx and if they can't send it DHL or with another I cancel the order.
It's time we start playing these pratts at there own game.........

 

[atomant48]

just following op on this thread. Letter arrived from FedEx today with the breakdown of the charges etc. So it is legit. Luckily the seller is promising to refund the costs so it looks like a simple solution for me. But there doesn’t seem to be much consistency.

Ironically a car rotisserie I had ordered a while back arrived also late last week, via a different shipper but from
Spain as it turns out. About the same (retail) value and I didn’t get charged anything on that one

 

[julianf]

If you have a business FedEx account, as I do, then you can specify who pays the clearance fees etc.

In my experience FedEx is the least "hit and miss" of all of them. You enter the details on booking and then it's all digital.

Last month I had a job with another courier bounced back from France as someone along the way had removed the paperwork from the pouch and not put it back.

Had to resend with FedEx, digital processing. Delivery was more expensive but at least it worked.

Still, all this trouble with exports and imports to the largest and closest trade block is a small price to pay for all the benefits we are now seeing.