International Imports to the UK

[Renfield]

As some of you know, I have only fairly recently relocated to the United Kingdom. And since then, I've mostly been occupied with things other than classical music orders that I generally now do not have the funds to place!

But that said, I am keen to start exploring the option, for whenever I have the financial capacity, of importing certain items that I cannot find in Europe, such as those exclusive American orchestra in-house box sets.


And I've found myself wondering how exactly the import process works, for the United Kingdom, as well as the relevant fees. I am so far aware that imports under £18 do not incur customs charges.

But what if I were to import, say, a $100 box set? How exactly would the process work?

In other words, how would any fees be incurred, and how would they be applied in practice? Where do I pay them? Is it different for items dispatched by courier, than by regular post? (I would assume it is.)


If it wouldn't be too much trouble, I would be obliged to anyone with relevant first-hand knowledge, who could enlighten me.

[Lethevich]

It's a mysterious process  A few times they've held something and directed me to a site to pay (which will be VAT at 17% of the product's value, and an additional handling/delivery fee) for something - this can be done online and the letter will direct you towards the site.

Once I got hit for a customs fee for something they delivered anyway (DHL) and I simply elected not to pay as I thought it was a nonsense fee, and I never had any followup letters about it. A strange system.

[Renfield]

It's a mysterious process 

I had a feeling this would happen...

A few times they've held something and directed me to a site to pay (which will be VAT at 17% of the product's value, and an additional handling/delivery fee) for something - this can be done online and the letter will direct you towards the site.

How much was the handling fee? Was it set, or proportional to the item's weight?

(If you remember.)

Edit:

I'm asking due to my wariness, after horror stories of paying close to 100% of the item's value to get customs to let a package go, in Athens. Another reason I am one of the least surprised UK residents to read of Europe and the IMF coming down so hard on Greece.

[Lethevich]

I think it was a blanket fee for some guy hacking open the box and going "NAW DUDE". The delivery fee wasn't much, but then it wasn't a particularly box (a few CD boxed sets). I could imagine if it was an exercise bike or something, it could be a painful hit to take.

Edit: re. your edit, the fees won't be that large, the country isn't batty enough, but the primary issue is it negating any savings made by purchasing overseas. But if it's unavailable elsewhere, it shouldn't be that bad.

[Novi]

Ditto Lethe's post about random enforcement.

I don't think I had the option of sorting it out online though, but had to go to the nearest depot to pay and collect. The handling fee's a set rate, around £7 or so (a few years back though). I think the postie just left one of those red 'sorry you were out' cards.

[Renfield]

Edit: re. your edit, the fees won't be that large, the country isn't batty enough, but the primary issue is it negating any savings made by purchasing overseas. But if it's unavailable elsewhere, it shouldn't be that bad.

Yes, that is my rationale: as long as fees stay within reasonable parameters, the end result (i.e. the item) is likely to be worth it.

Thanks a lot, Lethe and Novi!

[Papy Oli]

Renfield,

you may find some more info there :

HMRC page on import

[Renfield]

Renfield,

you may find some more info there :

HMRC page on import

And that is the one page in that entire site I seemingly managed to miss both of the last two times I looked for it!

Thanks, papy.