Greetings Beagles,
I am after some advice please...
In February FedEx delivered a small parcel sent from the USA. The item was a warranty repair in USA (Florida) sent back to me at no cost. However the sender put a value of $50 on the customs packaging. The parcel carrier was FedEx. The item arrived at my address in the UK and after a few days FedEx issued an invoice for £18.95 sent to my home address.
£6.95 Original VAT
£12.00 Advancement Fee
I contacted the seller/shipper and asked what this was all about? They assured me that they had paid all the shipping costs and the item should incur no VAT charges in the UK as it was an FOC repair under warranty. I didnt hear from Fed EX after that. I was travelling abroad for a few months when I have returned home to find a letter from Control account which appears to be a DCA who have purchased this debt. They have continued with correspondence and the debt has been increased to £36.45 with a warning that if I do not pay the full amount a further £40 will be added plus court and legal fees.
Now I find this a total scam as I beleive I do not owe the Govt nor the carrier any money. To make it worse the debt agency now wants a piece of the action. I rang FedEx and made some enquiries, was told that because the value of the item was $50 the VAT and handling charges were payable. I tried to explain and even offerred to pay the VAT but I was told that the matter was out of their hands and now I would need to ccontact Control accounts (DCA). I called CA and they have said that if I don't pay I will be taken to court as they have all the documentation from the shipment which is available to view online.
Can anyone advise me on this please? If I get the proper support I am more than happy to contest this at court. I have attached redacted copies of the invoice and letter from CA. Any advice will be gratefully received and appreciated. I would love to hear from folks who have taken on these scammers and contested the matter at court. My only concern is the piling up costs and whether it is worth fighting this. I would reluctantly submit to pay the VAT but certainly want to challenge the handling/advancement fee and the DCA charges.
Please help...
Badger
I am after some advice please...
In February FedEx delivered a small parcel sent from the USA. The item was a warranty repair in USA (Florida) sent back to me at no cost. However the sender put a value of $50 on the customs packaging. The parcel carrier was FedEx. The item arrived at my address in the UK and after a few days FedEx issued an invoice for £18.95 sent to my home address.
£6.95 Original VAT
£12.00 Advancement Fee
I contacted the seller/shipper and asked what this was all about? They assured me that they had paid all the shipping costs and the item should incur no VAT charges in the UK as it was an FOC repair under warranty. I didnt hear from Fed EX after that. I was travelling abroad for a few months when I have returned home to find a letter from Control account which appears to be a DCA who have purchased this debt. They have continued with correspondence and the debt has been increased to £36.45 with a warning that if I do not pay the full amount a further £40 will be added plus court and legal fees.
Now I find this a total scam as I beleive I do not owe the Govt nor the carrier any money. To make it worse the debt agency now wants a piece of the action. I rang FedEx and made some enquiries, was told that because the value of the item was $50 the VAT and handling charges were payable. I tried to explain and even offerred to pay the VAT but I was told that the matter was out of their hands and now I would need to ccontact Control accounts (DCA). I called CA and they have said that if I don't pay I will be taken to court as they have all the documentation from the shipment which is available to view online.
Can anyone advise me on this please? If I get the proper support I am more than happy to contest this at court. I have attached redacted copies of the invoice and letter from CA. Any advice will be gratefully received and appreciated. I would love to hear from folks who have taken on these scammers and contested the matter at court. My only concern is the piling up costs and whether it is worth fighting this. I would reluctantly submit to pay the VAT but certainly want to challenge the handling/advancement fee and the DCA charges.
Please help...
Badger
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