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questin about customs fee

T

tbluhp

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 6, 2006
1,047
23
I got this email from someone I bought a package from in Hong Kong and they said I pay for it before it delivers, when I pay for it how like can a check be used. Also were do I go to pay for it? The service they used was ems speedpost.

Hello,

We have call EMS to deliver your package today but they said
you will have to pay for custom and clearance fee which is $400, So you
will have to pay the money today so that your package can be deliver
today. Thanks.

Also why do I pay it and not the seller in Hong Kong? Can I give a check instead of cash?
 
You'll need to give a few more details. Is this item bought on ebay or what. Also what country are you in. In Australia for example any item under $500 can be posted with no duty payable. For items more than that if it has to go through customs then you will have to pay a fee to a broker.
 
dogbone said:
You'll need to give a few more details. Is this item bought on ebay or what. Also what country are you in. In Australia for example any item under $500 can be posted with no duty payable. For items more than that if it has to go through customs then you will have to pay a fee to a broker.
Click to expand...

I bought it off a classified add website. I am United States and the seller is in Hong Kong.
 
OK so have you already paid the vendor for the item?

Has the item been shipped.

Is it in the States waiting for collection.

Have you checked with US customs what the situation is regarding duty payable?

Usually duty if payable is not paid by the shipper.

On the face of it, it looks like you will have to just pay the duty. There's not much you can do about it. Because duty laws vary so widely all over the world shippers cannot be responsible for that. It is up to the recipient to be aware of the local laws.
 
dogbone said:
OK so have you already paid the vendor for the item?

Has the item been shipped.

Is it in the States waiting for collection.

Have you checked with US customs what the situation is regarding duty payable?

Usually duty if payable is not paid by the shipper.

On the face of it, it looks like you will have to just pay the duty. There's not much you can do about it. Because duty laws vary so widely all over the world shippers cannot be responsible for that. It is up to the recipient to be aware of the local laws.
Click to expand...

How do I contact US customs?
 
Yes, and he said the sender is emailing him, telling him he has to pay more. Every time I've imported something (granted, I'm in the UK) that I've had to pay customs on, I've had a call or letter from HM Customs, or the delivery person has taken the payment when they give it to me (I think it might only be UPS that does that).

Also, the payment is done at your end, not the sender's. If the sender is saying you have to pay them BEFORE they'll ship it, it sounds dodgy.
 
SpookTheHamster said:
Yes, and he said the sender is emailing him, telling him he has to pay more. Every time I've imported something (granted, I'm in the UK) that I've had to pay customs on, I've had a call or letter from HM Customs, or the delivery person has taken the payment when they give it to me (I think it might only be UPS that does that).

Also, the payment is done at your end, not the sender's. If the sender is saying you have to pay them BEFORE they'll ship it, it sounds dodgy.
Click to expand...

Fair enough. I don't think anybody's very clear on exactly what's happening here, least of all the OP. :rolleyes:

It could be that the courier is trying to contact the OP so that they can take payment and clear the shipment, but have been unable to do so because of insufficient or incorrect information on the waybill. The sender may have contacted the courier for proof of delivery, only to be told that the item can't be delivered until the customs charges have been paid.

On the other hand, as you say, it could be a scam.
 
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