[dwb]

I found this page which I think relates to FedEx customs clearance charges
Import Clearance (Ancillary Fees)

Select United Kingdom as the country/territory

Then scroll down to :

Pre-Payment (Direct Payment Processing)

or

Disbursement Fee

I think we get charged under one of those two headings but the charging structure is the same for both.
There are three tiers, set by the amount of Duty / VAT.
The first two tiers have a flat fee.
On tier 1 30% of 42.50 is 12.50 which happens to be the flat rate fee for tier 2.
VAT of 42.50 implies goods costing £212.50.
The upper limit of tier 2 is £510 so the % charge at the top end is 2.5% which is the rate applying above that ...
VAT of 510 implies goods costing £2,550 which is heading for Fulgarex territory.

So if the goods are given the correct customs code for Toy Trains as Babz listed above, they come in as duty free, so we just pay the VAT on the sterling equivalent of the total invoice which includes carriage charges.

So the lowest handling rate you can get from Fed Ex is 2.5% of VAT which kicks on goods valued at £2,550. I suspect most of us will not reach that level so we're probably looking at £12.50 for most shipments.

David

 

[Babz]

Hi David Thank you for your comprehensive response Thank you.
When I have received orders from MSL via DHL/ PARCELFORCE I have always had a copy of CN23 Customs Declaration with all the commodity codes on it so I can check everything is okay.
I think FedEx have removed them so now we have no way of Checking at the moment.
I have asked the MD of MSL for a copy but as of yet he has not come back to me with a copy. I am not letting this go with the past record of Fed Ex.
I will keep everyone posted.
Babz

 

[Babz]

Hi Everyone Just to give you an update. I have had some success with The Md of MSL.
If I order from MSL again the staff have been told that my Deliveries will be done through DHL/ Parcelforce which I am comfortable with because they give a detailed Customs label detailing what you have been charged for.
Now if there was Duty on there I then take it up with HMRC with the appropriate Cn23 and the invoices from MSL and of course the very simple form to reclaim the Duty.
No big deal. As I had a business sometime ago before the single market I used to import every week and nothing has materially changed from that time.
When I have resolved the next part I will keep you informed. Babs

 

[dwb]

I am looking forward to hearing if Fed Ex fulfil their obligation to supply an invoice detailing the VAT and other charges. I can imagine HMRC would be less than impressed if there's a company out there claiming money on their behalf without providing the details.

David

 

[Babz]

David my sentiments entirely That's the Fraud bit. Will keep you posted.
Babs

 

[SimonBoulton]

Just for info but Menzels Lokshuppen are still using DHL

 

[Adrian]

Oh dear.
It's FedEx for everyone apparently. Its the only drop down option that I have as well.

Freight cost (lowish) from MSL used to be the reason for buying from them. Not anymore.
Good thing that I dont have any money to spend.

 

[Babz]

Good Afternoon Everyone A bit of Bad News and Good, Through my own investigation and asking MSL some pertinent Questions I have got to the bottom of this.
MSL did not provide commodity Code to FedEx
Fed Ex Could not work out which country the Parcel was coming From ( DE ) = Germany ( Prats )
Fed Ex Used the Wrong Commodity Code
Fed Ex have provided me a Detailed Invoice and Fed Ex transport Documents after much pressure given by me.
Have now filled in the reclaim of Duty Form Which is (C285CDS v 4.0 )
Just sent this & relevant Docs to HMRC.
Fed Ex must be the most useless courier in the world judging by what loads of people say about them incompetence of the highest order.
Hope this helps someone now or in the future.
Babs

 

[dwb]

Thanks for posting those details Babz
I would press 'like' on the post but that seems wrong somehow for such a mess...

David

 

[Babz]

David Thank you I totaly agree. They do not deserve to be in business. I do know you appreciate what I have put up. Thank you.
Have a Great weekend.
Babs
Ps David if you hold down the like button there are other emjoi's if that is the correct term. B

 

[Babz]

David How nice B

 

[John Edge]

Hi Babs, All,
Just to add to this story a little if I may. . . .
When I was testing my new loco at Dougies the other day (playing trains!), he was receiving texts first advising of a FedeX delivery to which he put a note on his front door saying please knock on the garage door, then another text saying we were not in!!!
Poor Doug then got awfully frustrated trying to organise a delivery for the Friday (yesterday) so I took over and did it for him.
The odd thing was, it came on Thursday! Fortunately they were in at the time.
This is the IC white BR103 from Lippe, I haven’t seen it outside the packaging yet but it does look good. Whether there will be a separate bill for tax, I don’t know, no demands so far.

From this, I deduce the FedeX website/app is poor and their delivery drivers impatient at least.

 

[Babz]

Hi John That does not Surprise me. They are a shambles to say the least.
The person who delivered mine was a real grumpy sod as if it was to much bother. I will send you a pm.
Babs

 

[dwb]

The FedEx tracking is not a patch on the DHL/ParcelForce combination ...
I considered downloading the FedEx tracking app for my phone from the Google Play Store but recent reviews didn't think much of it.
TNT which is owned by Fed Ex came in for some flak in the news recently for their abject failure to deliver passports ...
All in all, a company in need of a thorough over haul...

David

 

[Adrian]

<snip>
All in all, a company in need of a thorough over haul...

David

Yeah, don't hold your breath. This a US company where customer care is directed at shareholders. We're just resources in that game, to be exploited however.
(I just turned in Denis, from The Holy Grail)

 

[Babz]

I ment to say earlier I went to a local FEDEX warehouse near where I live. When I got there it was an Ex TnT facility and the staff are really hacked off because of the amount of complaints about FedEx directed at them. Not happy at all. TNT Where a good outfit in my flying days now the others have got there claws into them they will not have any good staff left.
Babs

 

[SimonBoulton]

I always found DPD to be the best courier company. Not sure why but the last couple of parcelforce deliveries have been without the time slot notification, maybe they struggled too much to stick to them. My last two parcels from MSL have been deliveries by FedEx and they arrived without any issues, except the delivery day changing on one. They were below £135 though so that may have helped. A mate had a loco that attracted a VAT charge and he had a lot of trouble with paying it on the website

 

[cbrooks122000]

Heads up EVERYONE I discovered to my horror that MSL have changed couriers to Fed Ex. They are charging Duty , Vat, and fee of min 2% before delivery.
There is No Duty on Model Trains from Europe according to HMRC Documents codes. The bill I am being asked to be paid is £ 33. 50 on top of VAT of £177.00 plus Fee of £12:50 . Before Delivery. Now hear is the sting, I have dealt with this company before and they will charge but not provide the paperwork to get the refund from HMRC. Great Cash flow. Not Unlike Royal mail who do provide a sticky label with all the costs and details on.
I have informed MSL if they continue using FED EX I will not purchase anymore.
Babs

I must admit I am surprised, I did a bit of reading up about this when I was having an argument on another forum. The way I read it is the supplier in Europe charges VAT in line with what the UK wants and that is it. Unfortunately at the moment there seems a lot of confusion all round. It is probably the supplier you bought it off forgot to provide the necessary documentation.FED EX seem to be always trying it on anyway.

 

[Babz]

CBrooksThere is no confusion. It is a matter of the Customs agent as well as the courier it seems that MSL have given the paperwork side to FEDEX Who do not know there A- se from there Elbow. Releiving the MSL staff of the paperwork the invoices are the only bit of paperwork sent with the parcel
Now to get onto the legal bit. If your company in the Eu andwant to do business with the UK they have to be registered for VAT and have to collect taxes for HMRC on amounts of less than £135.00. After that I understand that it comes VAT free till the point of Entry into UK the Customs charge VAT and possibly Duty. The fee is charged by the courier as they effectively pay the Taxes for you for in advance.
We as receivers do not have a choice on how the taxes are paid as the UK government now collects the taxes for the UK before Brexit it went all to the EU now it all goes to GB. That's how I understand it. It also depends which country has what agreement cross border. By the way there is No import duty on Model Trains from the EU. But there is from the USA of 4% plus VAT
Babz

 

[cbrooks122000]

CBrooksThere is no confusion. It is a matter of the Customs agent as well as the courier it seems that MSL have given the paperwork side to FEDEX Who do not know there A- se from there Elbow. Releiving the MSL staff of the paperwork the invoices are the only bit of paperwork sent with the parcel
Now to get onto the legal bit. If your company in the Eu andwant to do business with the UK they have to be registered for VAT and have to collect taxes for HMRC on amounts of less than £135.00. After that I understand that it comes VAT free till the point of Entry into UK the Customs charge VAT and possibly Duty. The fee is charged by the courier as they effectively pay the Taxes for you for in advance.
We as receivers do not have a choice on how the taxes are paid as the UK government now collects the taxes for the UK before Brexit it went all to the EU now it all goes to GB. That's how I understand it. It also depends which country has what agreement cross border. By the way there is No import duty on Model Trains from the EU. But there is from the USA of 4% plus VAT
Babz

Ok I bow to your superior knowledge. I must admit I buy very little from Europe for the very reasons you mention but I buy an awful lot from the US, originally Classic Bike Parts but now more general things. The process is pretty painless, EBay and Amazon even charge all the taxes up front, even if the Supplier isn't either of these two they attach a Customs Declaration document where they highlight what the item is which allows our Customs to charge the relevant VAT, Import Duty and in the case of Royal Mail a relevant collection fee. I do remember Fed Ex in the past charging me well over the odds for some reading material which at the time was zero rated. I just stopped dealing with that firm.