Outrageous Customs charges

Complaints Corner
21
If you however can make it clear that you were and are the owner, the problem gets reduced. The same if you bought the painting on a flea market, for instance on the Seine in Paris. Most customs officials, in endless teachings, learnt to know the differences.

22
This thread is dead and was groaned at, however this was the first post that Google pointed me at that contained all my search terms, so I will respond to this.

My wife order some baby clothes from Next UK (who offers free deleivery). The total cost of the order was CHF59. The paperwork from DHL (who delivered it) added a CHF 52.50 Fracht (delivery) charge to the order bringing it to over CHF 110. This is over the chargeable limit of CHF 62.50 for clothes. So DHL charged me the CHF 8 tax and added their admin charge on top.

I called them, pointing out that the shipping was free, and so they could not add another CHF 52.50 on top! The guy from DHL explained to me how this works: He confirmed that the limit for ordering clothes (but may be other goods too) is CHF62.50. This amount is the sales value PLUS THE SHIPPING VALUE If there is not shipping value on the shipping invoice, Swiss customs will assume a standard shipping value or CHF52.50. So even though the shipping was included, because Next left the shipping value blank, the Swiss customs automatically addede CHF52.50 to the value of the purchase, which pushed us over the limit and have DHL the chance to levy their admin fee. So to answer your original post, if DHL delivers something and the valye > CHF62.50, then expdect a bill in the post. Also, if DHL delivers something costing > CHF 10 but the customs invoice does not have a shipping value, then expect a bill because >CHF 10 + CHF 52.50 = >CHF62.50. So you could refuse it at the door if the customs sticker has no shipping value.

(Like others said, get your retailer to put the shipping cost on the customs receipt and factor that into the total price)

23
That's strange because I've just had a parcel delivered from the USA, which contained $120 worth of 'stuff' and I'd ordered it from Paducah because the store was offering free international delivery.

It was the size of a full 35ltr. garbage bag, delivered by DHL, was brought up to my apartment on the 5th floor and cost nothing.

I order from this same store twice every year, when they offer free international delivery, and have never once been charged, either upon delivery, or in the post afterwards.

24
Count your blessings and move on. They don't check every single parcel.

I've had over 250 GBP delivered tax free, and an attempt to charge me 30 CHF extra for a 60 CHF coat.

25
And once in a while they even do what appears to be an audit.

I once received a bill about 6 month later, with a note saying that it had come to light that such-and-such a package should have been taxed, but was not. So please excuse the error, and pay up now, please.

26
Ceppych, our parcel was delivered fine, but the bill only came 3 weeks later. Since I have now taken a personal interest in this, I would be very greatful if after 4 weeks you still havent received a bill in the post (and you remember this post), if you can let us know.

Thanks

27
Ceppych, I'd be careful if I were you ...

28
Ceppych, it's time for you to move!!

29
Again, if a consignment arrives by normal mail, Swiss customs will NOT add CHF 52.50. They only will do so, if the stuff arrives by a courier company. As the courier-docs indicate the transport-charge, Swiss customs will use THAT amount accordingly. We are regular importers of small consignments and if the sender co-operates, things work as they should. And in case of DHL what matters is what service-level is chosen. If it is DHL-ground, the transport-charge will be comparable with normal mail. It is fairly easy, the import price is ex-works plus transport = C&F total

30
Ummm, wrong.

Swiss customs add 8%VAT, end of story (unless it's really heavy, then maybe a bit more).

The additional charges come FROM THE TRANSPORT COMPANY!

Complain to THEM!

Morons!

Tom